In 1821, Thomas De Quincey published 'Confessions of an English Opium-Eater,' an autobiographical account that candidly explored the pleasures and pains of opium addiction. This work became a bestseller and is considered a significant contribution to the literature of addiction, offering insights into the psychological and social implications of drug use. De Quincey's narrative style and philosophical reflections influenced later writers and thinkers, making it a key text in the Romantic literary canon. His exploration of addiction continues to resonate in contemporary discussions of substance use.

Thomas De Quincey's 'Confessions of an English Opium-Eater' published in 1821 established the drug memoir genre, profoundly influencing Romantic and Victorian poets. Themes of addiction, dreams, and the sublime became central to their works, reflecting the complexities of human experience.