Mr Smiley: My Last Pill and Testament

by Howard Marks

Howard Marks is the most famous drug smuggler of his age, and a hero to a generation. On his release from one of America's toughest prisons, Howard made a promise to himself to go straight. No more drugs, no more smuggling, no more fake passports. He would retire to a quiet life with his family in the Balearic Islands of Spain. It didn't quite work out that way. This was the mid-nineties, the height of the ecstasy and clubbing boom, and Ibiza was at the very centre of the vortex for the 'E generation'. Pills had taken the place of marijuana, Paul Oakenfold had replaced The Rolling Stones as the music of the masses, but some people are just born for life on the other side of the law. It wasn't long before Howard found himself trying pure ecstasy and rubbing shoulders with some of the king-pins of the pill trade. These included some of Britain's most notorious gangsters, who were laundering millions of pounds of gold stolen from the legendary Brink's-Mat bullion raid. As Britons descended on Ibiza ahead of one of the greatest summers of the nineties, Howard was preparing for his most outrageous operation yet. Incredibly funny, moving and scabrous, Howard Marks' Mr Smiley follows a journey to the heartland of the clubbing and British crime scene. It is also a fitting last word from one of Britain's best loved bad boys.

Genres: Memoir, Crime, Nonfiction, True Crime, Autobiography

320 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2015

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Howard Marks (born Dennis Howard Marks) was a Welsh author, former teacher and drug smuggler who achieved notoriety as an international cannabis smuggler through high-profile court cases, supposed connections with groups such as the CIA, the IRA, MI6, and the Mafia, and his eventual conviction at the hands of the American Drug Enforcement Administration. At the height of his drug career, he was said to have controlled 10% of the world's hashish trade.

Marks attended Balliol College, Oxford between 1964 and 1967 to study Natural Science, with a Physics (B.A., Oxon). Among his friends at Balliol was the epidemiologist Julian Peto, and the journalist Lynn Barber. After this he studied Physics (Grad. Inst P.) at the University of London (1967 to 1968). Then, he went back to Balliol, Oxford (1968 to 1969) to study History and Philosophy of Science (Dip. H.Ph. Sc.) and then he went on to the University of Sussex (1969 to 1970) to study Philosophy of Science.

Following his release from prison, Marks published a best-selling autobiography, Mr Nice (Secker and Warburg, 1996), which has been translated into many languages. In addition to Mr Nice, he compiled an anthology called The Howard Marks Book of Dope Stories (Vintage, 2001) and more recently a follow-on from his autobiography; Señor Nice: Straight Life From Wales to South America. Señor Nice differs from his previous book as drugs are not central to the story and, while autobiographical, the book is more Marks' own exploration of his ancestor, the pirate Sir Henry Morgan. His ex-wife Judy Marks has also written her autobiography of their life together entitled "Mr Nice and Mrs Marks" published by Ebury Press, 2006.

He is also the subject of a biopic starring Rhys Ifans as Marks entitled Mr Nice, named after his autobiography of the same name. Chloë Sevigny plays the role of his wife Judy. The film was released in October 2010.

Marks was a campaigner for the legalisation of cannabis and tours the world with a one-man show. Marks recorded the song 'Grow More Weed' with the UK dub punk band P.A.I.N.
Within the world of music, Marks has managed the Welsh rock band the Super Furry Animals for a period of time in the late 1990s. He also co-recorded a song 'Three men in a boat' with his long time friend Lee Harris. The record was later remixed by River Styx (Musician, rap poet) and released on the album 'Angel Headed Hip Hop' on Genepool/Universal Ltd.

Marks stood for election to UK Parliament in 1997, on the single issue of the legalization of cannabis. He contested four seats at once: Norwich South (against future Home Secretary Charles Clarke), Norwich North, Neath and Southampton Test. The average vote was over 1%. This led to the formation of the Legalise Cannabis Alliance (LCA) by Alun Buffry in 1999.

From 1999 to 2000 he was the honorary rector of Glasgow Caledonian University.

On 25 January 2015, it was announced that Marks had inoperable colorectal cancer.He died of the disease on 10 April 2016, at the age of 70.

Reviews

[alba ੈ✩‧₊˚ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lo siento, pero no ha sido para mi. La narración se me hizo confusa al no establecer una cronología. Yo no sabia nada de el y de su historia, quería que el libro me la contase.

Supongo que era una segunda parte de su primera novela, mea culpa

[Laxen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Compared to Mr Nice which is a great book, not only how it is written but also that it represents a bit of history in a larger sense.

I did not expect anything when reading this book but still comparing it to Mr Nice. It was rather bland but still interesting getting to know a bit more about the man.

Rest in peace Mr Marks.

[Pete daPixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sadly, this really is Howard's last pill and testament. A memoir that follows on smoothly from the bestseller 'Mr Nice'. 'Mr Smiley' was published in 2015, just months before Marks' death from cancer on 10th April 2016. Coincidently my sister's birthdate, who knew the man for many years in Mallorca.
The book is a very well written and fast paced page turner, exposing the dangerous, complex and brilliantly ingenious world of the drug smuggling empire. The brief review on the front cover from Sunday Times writer Lynn Barber is succinct and accurate, 'A grimly realistic but beautifully written account of what a life of crime actually entails...almost worthy of Raymond Chandler.'
I admit to a great admiration of Howard Marks, a modern day rogue Robin Hood, and saddened to hear of his passing earlier this year. It is approaching fifty years since I was involved in a very large LSD bust, thanks to a grass, and avoided a stretch, thanks to a powerful barrister.
Well Georgia Sam he had a bloody nose
Welfare Department they wouldn’t give him no clothes
He asked poor Howard where can I go
Howard said there’s only one place I know
Sam said tell me quick man I got to run
Ol’ Howard just pointed with his gun
And said that way down on Highway 61

[Aled Owen-Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thing is when someone writes a successful memoir (and Mr. Nice deserves its success because it's a great book) there is inevitably a follow up. The problem is all the good bits have gone into the first book and there's nothing worth reading in the subsequent books. I should have learnt my lesson with Señior Nice but I gave Howard the benefit of the doubt, which is why I got half way through before giving up. I only hope he got what he wanted out the book deal. He hasn't gone down in my estimation at all, I'd like to add. Diolch Howard.

[Gerry Howley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admit to not having fully read any of his other books so I can’t compare, and so this is the first Howard Marks book I’ve read. I thoroughly enjoyed this. It’s an absolute page turner. I found it suspenseful and full of twists and turns. It’s incredibly easy to read, and I read it in only a few sittings! I will recommend this to friends.

[Will · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of the same from old Howard, although this tale jumps about a little too much. Started off very well with the London, Mallorca and Berlin yarns but gets a bit lost when explaining the money laundering ecstasy scam. A lot of loose threads remain unresolved and I found the ending unsatisfying, although possibly Howard knew his time was up.

[Jo Brand · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed this in the beginning but it soon got very boring. I felt like he was really scraping the bottom of the barrel with his last book.

[Jacqueline King · Rating 2 out of 5]

Scrapping the barrel. Mr Nice was such a good and informative book and he’s really missed the ‘mark’ here.

[Ross Sutherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very readable, very well written. Important piece of social history! Loved it.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have no idea if this is an autobiography, fiction novel or a piece historical fiction set in the near past? Entertaining enough but I suspect most of it is codswallop.

[Lee Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dreadful and should of stuck to drug dealing rather than writing.

[Kevin Heathcote · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nowhere near as good as Mr Nice, tries to create a bit of suspense in the story telling but sadly fails

[Louise Moody · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is better than mr nice as being an OG raver this book is far more relatable even if it’s not 100% true it makes a very good read totally recommending this book 🫶🏻

[Daniel Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy Howard's book and was lucky enough to meet him many moons ago. I was having a laugh with him and told him one of my pals read Mr Nice and smuggled some pot to Ibiza and didn't get caught!! He laughed and little did I know that at the time, he was involved in a £1M ecstasy smuggling scam!! haha, nice one Howard...

[Polly Tiller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written book about the drug trade a few decades ago. Fascinating information.

[Dylan Bookiams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made me smile