What do you think?
Rate this book
Opium: A Portrait of the Heavenly Demon
An exquisitely illustrated and fascinating short history of opium culture.
"Opium" will open people's eyes to the bizarre and shocking history of a drug that began with use in religious ceremonies, then raised high hopes as a cure for many ills in Victorian times and was regarded as an embodiment of the romantic East, leading to its horrific consequences today.
In her meticulously researched text, Barbara Hodgson delves into the nature and history of opium, focusing on its exotic incarnation as a drug to be smoked. As well as examining its factual history—in memoirs, science, and travel books—she explores portrayals of opium use in fiction and film.
The book captures the heady essence of the opium era and is packed with illustrations that trace the changing image of the artifacts and apparatus of opium use; illustrations of opium dens in Hong Kong, New York, San Francisco, Toulon, and Canton; portraits of drug-taking writers; lurid covers of nineteenth-century illustrated newspapers and twentieth-century pulp-fiction drug titles; and stills from drug-related films.
Text and images in this beautifully designed book perfectly evoke the insiduous allure and devastating dangers of opium smoking.
"Opium" will open people's eyes to the bizarre and shocking history of a drug that began with use in religious ceremonies, then raised high hopes as a cure for many ills in Victorian times and was regarded as an embodiment of the romantic East, leading to its horrific consequences today.
In her meticulously researched text, Barbara Hodgson delves into the nature and history of opium, focusing on its exotic incarnation as a drug to be smoked. As well as examining its factual history—in memoirs, science, and travel books—she explores portrayals of opium use in fiction and film.
The book captures the heady essence of the opium era and is packed with illustrations that trace the changing image of the artifacts and apparatus of opium use; illustrations of opium dens in Hong Kong, New York, San Francisco, Toulon, and Canton; portraits of drug-taking writers; lurid covers of nineteenth-century illustrated newspapers and twentieth-century pulp-fiction drug titles; and stills from drug-related films.
Text and images in this beautifully designed book perfectly evoke the insiduous allure and devastating dangers of opium smoking.
160 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1999
4 people are currently reading
263 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Hodgson
26 books78 followersBarbara Hodgson is a book designer with a degree in archeology and a diploma in graphic design. She began her career in book design by working for Douglas & McIntyre, moving from freelance designer to art director prior to taking on freelance work for other publishers and ultimately forming the book-packaging company Byzantium Books with Nick Bantock in 1993.
Designing books led to writing books: Hodgson is the author of No Place for a Lady, Dreaming of East, and Italy Out of Hand, all published by Greystone Books, and several other highly praised non-fiction books. She is also the author of four acclaimed illustrated novels Lives of Shadows, Hippolyte’s Island, The Sensualist, and The Tattooed Map.
Hodgson’s books are unique in that they combine her writing with a multitude of illustrations of various types drawn from a wide range of sources, including engravings, lithographs, photographs, stereo-cards, postcards, movie stills, and pulp magazine and novel covers. These days, the flea market is the consummate collector’s primary source of research and inspiration.
Barbara Hodgson lives in Vancouver.
Designing books led to writing books: Hodgson is the author of No Place for a Lady, Dreaming of East, and Italy Out of Hand, all published by Greystone Books, and several other highly praised non-fiction books. She is also the author of four acclaimed illustrated novels Lives of Shadows, Hippolyte’s Island, The Sensualist, and The Tattooed Map.
Hodgson’s books are unique in that they combine her writing with a multitude of illustrations of various types drawn from a wide range of sources, including engravings, lithographs, photographs, stereo-cards, postcards, movie stills, and pulp magazine and novel covers. These days, the flea market is the consummate collector’s primary source of research and inspiration.
Barbara Hodgson lives in Vancouver.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 6, 2025
i got this at a library book sale because it looked like a nice coffee table/bookshelf book. i am glad i read it, though. a nice combination of written text and visuals, and i learned so much about opium and the culture around it, which is very different to opioids
January 30, 2016
If you read this, you will know everything you were ever curious about regarding opium. Very informative read. Very recommended
July 31, 2022
Hodgson, Barbara - Opium: A Portrait Of The Heavenly Demon
Profusely illustrated, glossy book on smoking poppies.
Lots of pages wandering notorious "Chinatowns," the cultivation and trade of opium, not to mention tons of ink scribbled by authors. Hopeless addicts and annoying do-gooders.
Also poets, painters, thrill seekers, the lost set.
Lurid paperback covers grace several pages.
For me, the best were terrific vintage adverts.
Yer kid giving you trouble? Give 'em candy laced with narcotics!
Profusely illustrated, glossy book on smoking poppies.
Lots of pages wandering notorious "Chinatowns," the cultivation and trade of opium, not to mention tons of ink scribbled by authors. Hopeless addicts and annoying do-gooders.
Also poets, painters, thrill seekers, the lost set.
Lurid paperback covers grace several pages.
For me, the best were terrific vintage adverts.
Yer kid giving you trouble? Give 'em candy laced with narcotics!
March 3, 2019
This is a lot like her other book titled "Morpheus", which I recommend.
This books has lots of photos and drawings/details. Goes over the Opium Wars and who was involved, famous people-actors, poets, politicians, etc.. who indulged (and also were ruined for it), a chapter on San Francisco's Chinatown, and my favorite chapter about The Writers' Muse. I do admit the side bars were kind of annoying for me, but the book packs so much info I really can't complain.
This books has lots of photos and drawings/details. Goes over the Opium Wars and who was involved, famous people-actors, poets, politicians, etc.. who indulged (and also were ruined for it), a chapter on San Francisco's Chinatown, and my favorite chapter about The Writers' Muse. I do admit the side bars were kind of annoying for me, but the book packs so much info I really can't complain.
January 8, 2023
I bought this book a few years ago because the address printed on the postcard pictured on p. 111 is the same address at which my wife's grandmother was born in 1895. The book is an easy read, full of photographs, prints, and drawings portraying primarily two hundred years of opium use in its various forms. For a book its size, it has a great bibliography and index. A great introduction to the world-wide trade in opium.
February 3, 2024
Lots of interesting facts about opium that I didn't know.
From its making, spreading across the word, humane destruction fro the abuse of the substance to today's opium replacements. Very interesting read 📚 👌
From its making, spreading across the word, humane destruction fro the abuse of the substance to today's opium replacements. Very interesting read 📚 👌
November 21, 2025
Like many similar books, it has little substance. It concentrates it's energy on illustrations and a constant barrage or tiny facts in innumerable notes and sidebars. Interesting material overall but organized in such a haphazard mess that there's little one can glean from this little volume.
October 25, 2017
While not at all the source I seek for information on ancient opium trade in the Near East, highly informative!
April 24, 2018
A hauntingly beautiful little book with amazing illustrations and info!
April 4, 2025
学到了很多
October 17, 2016
A very light overview. Nicely bound and illustrated.
February 22, 2017
If you enjoy period pictures / etchings / photo cards, then this is the book for you. If you actually want to learn something, not so much. Dull, dull, dull reading.
December 7, 2014
I picked this up on a lark in a used book store today; the title was intriguing and a quick glance hooked me in.
This is however very much an overview of Opium's presence in pop culture and its influence in literature. Some interesting facts are sprinkled throughout (who knew Rhubarb was a much desired import to europe as a laxative? or that Yen originally meant you are craving opium?)
The photos and illustrations I found quite fascinating as this touched on an area of history I honestly had never really spent much time thinking about. I had no idea how pervasive the opium trade actually was ( I admit I live under a rock at times)
I was secretly hoping for more (I guess I am left with a craving?). I feel like the author planted lots of carrot seeds ( just brushed the surface ) when I was hoping for a little more depth.
Decently indexed so as to be used for a reference ( for what I am not yet sure ).
This is however very much an overview of Opium's presence in pop culture and its influence in literature. Some interesting facts are sprinkled throughout (who knew Rhubarb was a much desired import to europe as a laxative? or that Yen originally meant you are craving opium?)
The photos and illustrations I found quite fascinating as this touched on an area of history I honestly had never really spent much time thinking about. I had no idea how pervasive the opium trade actually was ( I admit I live under a rock at times)
I was secretly hoping for more (I guess I am left with a craving?). I feel like the author planted lots of carrot seeds ( just brushed the surface ) when I was hoping for a little more depth.
Decently indexed so as to be used for a reference ( for what I am not yet sure ).
March 30, 2014
Talks more about how opium is included in literature and the opium dens then the effects on people. Net quite what I was expecting.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews