FIERCE CHEMISTRY A HISTORY OF UK DRUG WARS

Britain’s long battle with narcotics is an ugly trip

Author Harry Shapiro Publisher Amberley Publishing Price £20 Released Out now

In Fierce Chemistry: A History of UK Drug Wars, Harry Shapiro charts a battle that has been waged for decades and across eras. In doing so, he weaves an intriguing tale of narcotics, crime, cash and politics that’s often very shocking indeed. Shapiro’s book focuses on the United Kingdom, but places its narrative very clearly in an international and historical context. From the ancient spice road to the birth of worldwide trading routes, Shapiro opens the book with a brief history of the trade in stimulants from tobacco to alcohol, opium and beyond. With this solid historical context established, Shapiro embarks on an ambitious analysis of the history of narcotics in the UK, beginning over 100 years ago with concerns over Chinese opium and ending in 2020 with debates over drug use and legislation raging as fiercely as ever. In doing so, he tells a fascinating and eye-opening story in which narcotics such as heroin and cocaine, once heralded as miracle cures, became the centre of a bitter war that has yet to find a victor.

Drawing on a wide variety of resources including government archives, interviews and private documents, Shapiro’s attempts to unravel the complex history of drugs in the UK have resulted in an immensely readable book. Fierce Chemistry: A History of UK Drug Wars should appeal to a wide readership, from history enthusiasts to those with an interest in more contemporary issues. It poses some very difficult questions, and doesn’t shirk from telling what is sometimes an ugly, unvarnished truth.