The Pursuit of Oblivion: A Social History of Drugs - Softcover

Richard Davenport-Hines is the recipient of the Wolfson Prize for History and a fellow of the Royal Historical Society. He writes for the New York Times, TLS, Sunday Times, and The Independent. He lives in London.

“Pragmatic and persuasive, full of fascinating lore and intelligent interpretation... overwhelming evidence and penetrating analysis.”
- Boston Globe

“Factually detailed and rich in anecdote.”
- Boston Phoenix

“A good read: lively, anecdotal, and written with the reader in mind.”
- D.M. Fahey, Choice

“A well-drawn, comprehensive account of a troubling subject.”
- Kirkus Reviews

“The best general account of the subject...thoroughly researched and expertly written.”
- Roy Porter, Literary Review

“Starred Review. A sharply opinionated history of drugs...encyclopedic in scope and varied in perspective...difficult to dismiss.”
- Publishers Weekly

“An impressively researched and exhaustive volume...[that] should be considered definitive.”
- San Diego Union Tribune

“The most important study on this subject in years, perhaps ever.”
- Phillip Knightley, Sunday Times [London]

“His book is a technical triumph: well researched, well-written, well presented. . . . Moreover, it is convincing.”
- Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, The Independent

“Highly absorbing...an extremely impressive work.”
- Christine Keneally, The New York Times

“America has exported bad drug policy since the Civil War, the book shows.”
- The Week

“Accomplished with authority and flair.”
- Virginia Quarterly Review

“A stern and sustained history...first-rate scholarship...a powerful indictment of mostly failed policy.”
- Washington Post

“An amazing, knock-your-socks-off book, argued with depth and cunning....A stunning and vital book.”
- James R. Kincaid, Aerol Arnold Professor of English, University of Southern California

“[A] highly literate and readable account...an author who is thoroughly conversant with the international and intercontinental aspects of drug policy.”
- Philip Jenkins, author of Synthetic Panics