The Masters and drinking

[quasimodo1]

To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme. No great and enduring volume can ever be written on the flea, though many there be that have tried it.
Herman Melville. Question: On any given great writer, what effect do you think alchohol had on their work, assuming they were drinkers?

[ladymacbeth]

Well Poe possibly died from alcoholism which put an end to his works. Hemingway was a big drinker, and he killed himself. Sure these guys wrote some great stuff while "under the influence," but think of what they still had left in them when they died.

[quasimodo1]

In starting this thread, my intent was not such a narrow focus, i.e. a whole range of subjects such as what conditions aid a writer and his "muse", whether it is helpful, neutral or stifling to be sipping and scribling. The effect will be positive for some; there will be shades of grey; and some won't even find their pen. The archtype of the writer or artist in the cafe is no longer the prevalent scenario although I'm sure many writers are aided by a touch of the spirit. On another level...I raise the issue because it is problematic for me and not in the least helpful. Still, the tradition of writers as part-time profligates lives on. quasimodo1

[PeterL]

Some writers use, or have used, alcohol as a pogo stick rather than a crutch. Alcohol can be an aid to concentration; Kurt Vonnegut, Jr was said to have spent many days in a bar, staring into space with a drink in his hand. After some time, h would write down what he had thought up.

What has been, or presently is, considered a large amount of alcohol has changed over time. Today's heavy drinker would look like a tea-totaler compared with a typical drinker of 250 years, when wine was often served by the pint and hard liquor was served by the gill (4 ounces), rather than by the shot (1.5 ounces).

[b0mbtrack]

all geniuses in history liked their drink, not just writers of books, but of music, science, and religion as well. But they weren't geniuses because they drank.

[Mortis Anarchy]

I think a lot of the greatest artists (writers as well as musicians etc.) Have used pain as inspiration or 'pogo sticks' haha, I liked that analogy.:D

But I agree, booze doesn't make anyone a MASTER.

[Mortis Anarchy]

Every great artist has to suffer in some way...

[b0mbtrack]

i agree, every great artist that has come about has suffered in some way, but they still had something other than suffering that made them great.

[Mortis Anarchy]

i agree, every great artist that has come about has suffered in some way, but they still had something other than suffering that made them great.

Oh of course. I think suffering just brings out that spark that makes their art even greater. No, then if that were the case, many other people would be amazing writers, musicians, artists, dancers, etc.

[b0mbtrack]

very true

[ellen c]

Truman Capote is a modern example of the effect of excessive drinking - he never wrote anything as good as In Cold Blood again - am I right?