Absinth - History in a bottle

Crystal clear in the bottle, potent emerald green in the glass, and 144 proof - absinthe is (was) as illicit as it was intoxicating. It's also among history's most notorious liquors- romanticized and maligned in equal measure. Here for the first time is an illustrated exploration of absinthe's legendary allure.

Sipped by Oscar Wilde, Baudelaire, van Gogh, Manet, Toulouse-Lautrec, Picasso, and many other prominent artists and writers, absinthe was first used in ancient Greece for its healing powers. In nineteenth century France, it became a symbol of decadence and soon a scapegoat for the social and political ills of the period, leading to its ultimate prohibition.

From wil stories aboiy its celebrated users to compelling insights into its influence on art, this lavishly illustrated book features over 60 color and 100 black-and-white reproductions of paintings and other absinthe-related art, including posters for and against the controversial spirit. For all those interested in art, literature, liquor, or decadence, Absinthe is history in a bottle.