Absinthe: The Green Goddess

Let me begin by making it very clear that this is neither an instructional manual, historical view of absinthe, or a trashy neo-pagan text equating alcoholism with spirituality. "Absinthe" is a brief and lucid illustration of an absinthe bar in New Orleans in the early part of the 20th century. It captures the psychology of absinthe wonderfully, especially the poisonous absinthe of New Orleans, and the beautiful torment of a person enjoying its spell. The work is typical of a Crowley short story he decided to transcribe from one of his diaries verbatim, and his characteristic oscilating precision tempts the reader into experimentation. "Absinthe" is absinthe from the inside of a drinker's putrefying brain.By no means am I discouraging the exploration of the drink. Like most things worth trying, the risk is negligible.