A Short History of Drunkenness
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4.5 • 11 Ratings
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- £5.99
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- £5.99
Publisher Description
THE PERFECT READ FOR ANYONE WHO ENJOYS A TIPPLE . . . OR TWO . . . OR TEN!
Almost every culture on earth has drink, and where there's drink there's drunkenness. But in every age and in every place drunkenness is a little bit different. Tracing humankind's love affair with booze from our primate ancestors through to Prohibition, it answers every possible question:
What did people drink? How much? Who did the drinking? Of the many possible reasons, why?
On the way, learn about the Neolithic Shamans, who drank to communicate with the spirit world (no pun intended), marvel at how Greeks got giddy and Romans got rat-arsed, and find out how bars in the Wild West were never like the movies.
This is a history of the world at its inebriated best.
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'This book is a laugh riot. I mean the way the author has presented it is hilarious and to the point' Goodreads Reviewer
'Highly entertaining. Cheers! Bottoms up! Good health!' Goodreads Reviewer
'It can make a good gift for someone with a sense of humour and appreciation for the magical powers of alcohol' Goodreads Reviewer
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Etymologist Forsyth (The Etymologicon) presents an entertaining jaunt through intoxication over the ages, from prehistoric times to Prohibition, with equal parts enlightening data and delightful color commentary. He takes readers on a tour of an ancient Sumerian tavern (where the law dictated that bartenders failing to give correct change would be executed), and elucidates the differences between inns, taverns, and alehouses in medieval London. He explores religious and cultural rituals related to drinking over the ages, including ancient Egypt's orgiastic Festival of Drunkenness, the Greek symposium, and the Roman convivium, where one's designated seat at the table spoke volumes about one's social status. Forsyth quotes literary sources extensively, including The Epic of Gilgamesh, Beowulf, The Canterbury Tales, and Animal Farm, as well as both the Old and New Testaments. While some of the material covered will be familiar, Forsyth also includes some lesser-known details, like the provenance of the phrase "Dutch courage" and the history of the British "Rum Corps" in Australia. Forsyth's clever sense of humor and flair for perceiving subtle historical ironies make for livelier and more amusing reading than any cold recitation of facts.
Customer Reviews
History of drunkenness
Amusing short history worth a read
Packed with interesting laugh-aloud facts
Written with great style and panache, rendering a whole load of facts readily digestible. Thoroughly enjoyed this and actually learnt a surprising amount, too.