Why do Americans find it appealing to create and live in artificial worlds--whether in space, at Disneyland, in computer networks, or in our own minds?

At the time of its release in 1860, Baudelaire's "Artificial Paradises" met with immediate praise. Beautifully wrought, this portrait of the effects of wine, op

This sensational anthology features a rich tapestry of voices exploring the powerful role that mind-altering drugs have played throughout history. It brings tog

This is a study that traces the influence of drugs on French literature. The first three chapters acquaint the reader with various aspects of the use and effect