Posted by Andy on August 24, 2013 at 06:09:23 user AndyG.
This news story caught my eye.
Meanwhile, Arthur Ransome's Bohemian life in London was spent at a time when there were few laws regarding drug use. For example, cocaine and cannabis weren't made illegal in the UK until the 20s/30s.
Had he contact with drugs? Surely yes.
And he must have been aware of R.L.S.'s cocaine-binge that produced Jekyll and Hyde, and of the opiates downed in quantity by the Lakeland poets. He worked in industries (publishing, journalism) that today are more "liberal" in their attitudes to drug use. He mentions, (I believe in the Autobiography) of morphine following treatment whilst in Russia.
Did he try them recreationally?
I wonder.
Andy