Books on Writers and Alcohol?
September 11, 2006 11:39 AM Subscribe
I'm looking for books dealing with writers and alcohol, or writers writing about alcohol. I own four books on the subject:
The Thirsty Muse: Alcohol and the American Writer
Alcohol and the Writer
A Drinking Companion: Alcohol and Writers' Lives
The Muse in the Bottle: Great Writers on the Joy of Drinking
Two books by journalists:
Pete Hamill--A Drinking Life
Caroline Knapp--Drinking: A Love Story
posted by Prospero at 11:52 AM on September 11, 2006
Pete Hamill--A Drinking Life
Caroline Knapp--Drinking: A Love Story
posted by Prospero at 11:52 AM on September 11, 2006
Jim Atkinson, a long time writer for Texas Monthly , wrote a little book called The view from Nowhere that was about finding the best bars in America. It comes off much more as a road trip book than a real guide, and there was plenty of musing about alcohol in it. He's since gone on the wagon
posted by cosmicbandito at 11:56 AM on September 11, 2006
posted by cosmicbandito at 11:56 AM on September 11, 2006
So... you're looking for non-fiction books? I'm not sure I follow "writers writing about alcohol".
Regardless, I offer up Paradise, by AL Kennedy.
posted by dobbs at 12:07 PM on September 11, 2006
Regardless, I offer up Paradise, by AL Kennedy.
posted by dobbs at 12:07 PM on September 11, 2006
Witness to the Fire: Creativity and the Veil of Addiction is a good book (it uses Dostovesky, Eugene O'Neill, Jean Rhys, and Jack London) that talks in general about addiction, and some about alcohol in particular.
posted by ejaned8 at 12:09 PM on September 11, 2006
posted by ejaned8 at 12:09 PM on September 11, 2006
You might really enjoy the three books that Frederick Exley wrote. They are fictional autobiographies that deal with his drinking. The first is called "A Fan's Notes." I found them to be among the best books I have ever read.
posted by flarbuse at 12:23 PM on September 11, 2006
posted by flarbuse at 12:23 PM on September 11, 2006
I'll second the recommendation of Pete Hamill's A Drinking Life (and provide the Powell's link to it)
posted by terpia at 12:28 PM on September 11, 2006
posted by terpia at 12:28 PM on September 11, 2006
The scholarly Equivocal Spirits is a good read (and by a former professor of mine).
posted by MrMoonPie at 12:31 PM on September 11, 2006
posted by MrMoonPie at 12:31 PM on September 11, 2006
The mere mention of the combination of drinking and writing would not be complete without the mention of Charles Bukowski
posted by horsemuth at 12:52 PM on September 11, 2006
posted by horsemuth at 12:52 PM on September 11, 2006
Moskva-Petushki. A Russian classic.
posted by londongeezer at 1:02 PM on September 11, 2006
posted by londongeezer at 1:02 PM on September 11, 2006
Although I have yet to read it, A Tragic Honesty: The Life and Work of Richard Yates must deal with alcohol and writers, since Richard Yates was a raging alcoholic as well as an excellent writer. He wrote some fiction about raging alcoholic writers, too.
posted by scratch at 1:11 PM on September 11, 2006
posted by scratch at 1:11 PM on September 11, 2006
Response by poster: So... you're looking for non-fiction books? I'm not sure I follow "writers writing about alcohol".
Well, both would do. For example, "The Muse in the Bottle" is poetry/fiction mostly.
posted by Gnostic Novelist at 1:18 PM on September 11, 2006
Well, both would do. For example, "The Muse in the Bottle" is poetry/fiction mostly.
posted by Gnostic Novelist at 1:18 PM on September 11, 2006
New Orleans author Poppy Z. Brite has been writing a series of books starting with Liquor: A Novel, featuring alcohol in many forms as a major theme.
posted by Mr. Gunn at 1:26 PM on September 11, 2006
posted by Mr. Gunn at 1:26 PM on September 11, 2006
The Crack-Up by F.Scott Fitzgerald
Under The Volcano by Malcolm Lowry
Big Sur by Jack Keroauc
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 1:32 PM on September 11, 2006
Under The Volcano by Malcolm Lowry
Big Sur by Jack Keroauc
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 1:32 PM on September 11, 2006
Keith Abbott's Downstream from Trout Fishing in America: A Memoir recounts Richard Brautigan's writing career, which included much booze. (Abbott was a close friend.)
posted by unclewilly at 1:34 PM on September 11, 2006
posted by unclewilly at 1:34 PM on September 11, 2006
Drinking, Smoking, and Screwing: Great Writers on Good Times
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 2:04 PM on September 11, 2006
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 2:04 PM on September 11, 2006
Jack London's autobiographical John Barleycorn deals quite a bit with his alcoholism, as well as chronicling some of his intriguing life.
posted by Sloben at 4:25 PM on September 11, 2006
posted by Sloben at 4:25 PM on September 11, 2006
Stephen King's On Writing is highly worthwhile in its own right, and touches on King's alcoholism and its impact on his writing.
posted by ewiar at 7:17 PM on September 11, 2006
posted by ewiar at 7:17 PM on September 11, 2006
Under The Influence: The Literature of Addiction may be another to consider. While not all selections are in reference to alcohol, there are quite a few.
posted by sillygit at 9:46 PM on September 11, 2006
posted by sillygit at 9:46 PM on September 11, 2006
Oh man, I wish I'd seen this earlier. I own (reprint of): The True Drunkard's Delight, by William Juniper - which has provided me with endless Bachic inspiration. Looks like there are some cheap copies here.
posted by punkbitch at 12:06 AM on September 25, 2006
posted by punkbitch at 12:06 AM on September 25, 2006
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posted by Gordion Knott at 11:45 AM on September 11, 2006 [2 favorites]