The Existential Drinker

Drinking to excess has been a striking problem for industrial and post-industrial societies who is responsible when an individual opts for a slow suicide? The causes of such drinking have often been blamed on genes, moral weakness, disease (addiction), hedonism, and Romantic illusion. Yet there is another reason: the drinker may act with sincere philosophical intent, exploring the edges of self, consciousness, will, ethics, authenticity and finitude. Beginning with Jack Londons John Barleycorn: alcoholic memoirs the book goes on to cover novels such as Jean Rhyss Good morning, midnight, Malcolm Lowrys Under the volcano, Charles Jacksons The lost weekend and John OBriens Leaving Las Vegas, and less familiar works such as Frederick Exleys A fans notes, Venedikt Yerofeevs Moscow-Petushki, and A. L. Kennedys Paradise. -- .