The English Opium-Eater

Robert Morrison's biography is astute and revealing, quarrying new sources. -- John Carey * Sunday Times 22.11.09 *
I knew that I was on to a good thing with ths book before the page numbers were even out of roman numerals... This was a lively life, and this is a lively life... -- Sam Leith * The Spectator 5.12.09 *
Morrison writes... with a combination of perspicacity and generous puzzlement... Thanks to Morrison... The life is clearer than it has ever been. -- James Purdon * The Observer 6.12.09 *
Robert Morrison's biography is impressive, the first biography of De Quincey in almost thirty years, and is the first to use all his published and unpublished works. -- Tom Paulin * The Literary Review Dec 09 *
The time was ripe for a new biography and Morrison has done his man proud. This is an exceptionally well-balanced account. -- Jonathan Bate * Book of the Week - Sunday Telegraph - 13.12.09 *
Morrison provides a compelling survey of De Quincey's work as a biographer, satirist, economist, political commentator, translator, linguist and classicist. -- Duncan Wu * The Independent 08.01.10 - Book of the Week *
a book which is full of insight and careful reasoning... Morrison does a superb job of literary detection going through a life of lies, procrastination and deceit, and teasing out whatever truth there is to be had. -- Jad Adams * The Guardian 09.01.10 *
This isn't a debunking biography, just a properly sceptical one, and it's clear that Morrison's enthusiasm for the man and his writings does not obscure his judgement. -- Suzi Feay * The Tablet 04.03.10 *