Confession of an English Opium Eater: Also The Lives of Shakespeare and Goethe is a book written by Thomas De Quincey in 1888. The book is a collection of three essays that explore the author's experiences with opium addiction, as well as biographical sketches of two literary giants, William Shakespeare and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The first essay, Confessions of an English Opium Eater, is a personal account of De Quincey's addiction to opium and its effects on his life. He describes his initial experimentation with the drug, his increasing dependence on it, and the physical and psychological toll it took on him. The essay also explores the cultural and historical context of opium use in England during the 19th century.The second essay, On the Knocking at the Gate in Macbeth, is a literary analysis of a scene from Shakespeare's play Macbeth. De Quincey examines the significance of the knocking at the gate in the play, arguing that it represents the ultimate futility of human ambition.The third essay, On the Life and Genius of Goethe, is a biographical sketch of the German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. De Quincey explores Goethe's life and work, including his contributions to literature, science, and philosophy.Overall, Confession of an English Opium Eater: Also The Lives of Shakespeare and Goethe is a thought-provoking and insightful book that offers a unique perspective on addiction and literary history. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the works of De Quincey, Shakespeare, or Goethe, as well as those interested in the cultural and historical context of opium use.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.