The Last Opium Den

very short, sly-as-s**t essay about author's attempt to find a true-blue dive of an opium den. The bad news: it's not in new york city. The good news: he succeeds, albeit in southeast asia. the writing, as his always is, no matter what he's writing about, will charm the pants off you and your significant other.

This is an essay disguised as a little book and a very finely written essay at that, a meditation on the quest for opium. Tosches' conceit is that he suffers from diabetes and that the opium is his only cure. But his real mission is to discover in opium life's most ethereal and sublime pleasures. He contrasts the higher pleasures with those phony snobs who, fond of detecting black licorice and bell pepper in their expensive wines, repel Tosche so much with their philistinism that he goes on an exotic quest for not just elusive opium dens but the faraway pleasures of the senses. In many ways Tosches' sensibility reminds me of the TV and writing persona of gourmet gadfly chef Antony Bourdain who disdains popular culture attractions and always looks for food in the dark margins of the far reaches of the world. Bourdain fans will like Tosches and vice versa.

Excellent essay! Tosches is verbally endowed and puts his skills to work with this tale of finding the elusive pure form that countless drugs are now derivitives of. The original magazine article is reprinted here thankfully, in a more worthy setting for such a nice piece of work. Pondering the length of this, I feel that Tosches receives bonus points for brevity's sake in not feeling compelled to add filler and detract from the greatness here. I have a feeling that this won't be in print forever. I encourage you to get your copy now.

'O learn to read what Silent love hath Writ'A very profound book that clearly describes the search for the ultimate experience, the desire to live. It clearly shows how if we won't do everything in our power to save our own lives then we would be breaking the law of God.Make rules as you go...

I read this when it was published in Vanity Fair a few years ago. Just a few paragraphs into it I realized I was reading a writer of incredible talent and importance. I've since bought a couple of his other books which I'm looking forward to reading, but I can't imagine that they maintain the same intensity and intelligence which this work has. I hope I'm wrong as this guy delivers a high which you don't find just anywhere, and I want to experience it again.His style has a cat-like present-tense to it throughout. Edgy. Dangerous and in danger. You find yourself as curious about the author as you are about the journey he describes. I see some Hunter S. Thompson similarities, not because of the opium theme of this work, but because of the non-stop riskiness of the entire proposition. This is a new level of erudite gonzo journalism; focused, disciplined, researched, no-holds-barred. Toshes' mind is in some extreme place, at times beautiful, at times ugly, always interesting.When I read this I actually felt a sense of sadness as Tosches personifies in my view the absolutely perfect writer. If I were a writer, this is the way I would want to write. Envy reared its ugly head in my benevolent heart! I'm currently reading "Following the Equator" by Mark Twain and it is filled with charming informal anecdotes and vast discoursive rambling by that great master. I keep saying to myself that Twain would find his equal in Tosches, both being intellectual virtuosos of the highest order. They digress similarly: verbal jam sessions to the outer edge of the collective experience.Read this book if you are interested in opium, or the history thereof. More importantly, read this book if you want to read a great writer weave a spell. A writer of this magnitude doesn't come along very often, and unless you are on the prudish side you will be totally and royally blown away. If you are on the prudish side, push past it and absorb this writer who perfectly conveys in-the-moment perspective. It was a new literary experience for me and it might be for you as well.