Experiment with Hashish in Fountain Court
Poet involved
What happened
In the early 1890s, Arthur Symons hosted an afternoon in his rooms at Fountain Court, London, where he and fellow writers experimented with hashish. This gathering included notable figures like John Addington Symonds and Ernest Dowson, reflecting the era's fascination with altered states of consciousness. The experiment not only highlighted the bohemian lifestyle of the time but also influenced Symons's artistic explorations.
Literary impact
This personal exploration of altered states aligned with decadent pursuits of sensation and artificial paradise, informing essays like his later Vanity Fair piece on hashish and opium. It enriched his poetry's emphasis on heightened perception, dreamlike imagery, and the boundaries of consciousness.
Source: Wikipedia
