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The Pursuit of Oblivion A Global History of Narcotics
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The Pursuit of Oblivion A Global History of Narcotics Hardcover - 2002

by Richard Davenport-Hines


From the publisher

Spanning Five Centuries and several continents in a sweeping portrait of addiction, The Pursuit of Oblivion traces the history of the use and abuse of narcotics, revealing their subtle transformation from untested medicines to sources of idle pleasure and, relatively recently, to illegal substances. Richard Davenport-Hines, an eminent, prize-winning historian, uncovers the centrality of drug abuse in our modern industrial society, from the drug habits of Charles Dickens and John F. Kennedy to today's $400 billion annual worldwide trade in illicit drugs (the same volume as the oil industry). A vivid portrayal of the people and events that have shaped the history of narcotics, The Pursuit of Oblivion reveals that, contrary to the assumption underlying current drug policies, our need to escape reality and our body's need for physical pleasure are both ineradicable aspects of our humanity, unchangeable by government initiative.

First line

IN THE 1670s an English merchant seaman called Thomas Bowrey (1649?-1713) was plying his trade along the coast of Bengal together with other English sailors.

Details

  • Title The Pursuit of Oblivion A Global History of Narcotics
  • Author Richard Davenport-Hines
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Edition First American e
  • Pages 576
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher W. W. Norton & Company, Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
  • Date September 30, 2002
  • ISBN 9780393051896
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The Pursuit of Oblivion: A Global History of Narcotics
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The Pursuit of Oblivion: A Global History of Narcotics

by Richard Davenport-Hines

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The Pursuit of Oblivion: A Global History of Narcotics

The Pursuit of Oblivion: A Global History of Narcotics

by Davenport-Hines, Richard Treadwell; Davenport-Hines, R. P. T.

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W. W. Norton & Company, 2002. Hardcover. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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The Pursuit of Oblivion: A Global History of Narcotics

The Pursuit of Oblivion: A Global History of Narcotics

by Davenport-Hines, Richard Treadwell; Davenport-Hines, R. P. T.

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W. W. Norton & Company, 2002. Hardcover. Good. Former library book; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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The Pursuit of Oblivion : A Global History of Narcotics
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The Pursuit of Oblivion : A Global History of Narcotics

by Davenport-Hines, Richard

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The Pursuit of Oblivion : A Global History of Narcotics
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The Pursuit of Oblivion : A Global History of Narcotics

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The Pursuit of Oblivion: A Global History of Narcotics
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The Pursuit of Oblivion: A Global History of Narcotics

by Davenport-Hines, Richard Treadwell, and Davenport-Hines, R P T

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W. W. Norton & Company, 2002. Hardcover. Good/Good . 104x24x148. An x-library copy. A chronicle of drug abuse throughout the last 500 years traces how drugs transformed from untested medicines to illegal pleasure sources, describing people and events that shaped its history, famous users, the industry today, and related issues.
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The Pursuit of Oblivion: A Global History of Narcotics
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The Pursuit of Oblivion: A Global History of Narcotics

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The Pursuit of Oblivion: A Global History of Narcotics
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The Pursuit of Oblivion: A Global History of Narcotics

by Richard Davenport-Hines

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Pursuit of Oblivion: A Global History of Narcotics
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Pursuit of Oblivion: A Global History of Narcotics

by Davenport-Hines, Richard

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New York: Norton, 2002. 576pp. Extremities book & Dj lightly rubbed; small chip top spine Dj. Illus.; endnotes; biblio.; index.. 1st Am.. Hb. VG/VG-.
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