My Lady Nicotine: A Study in Smoke

by J. M. Barrie

Overview

In "My Lady Nicotine," J.M. Barrie, the brilliant author behind the beloved tale of Peter Pan, invites us to a bygone era where tobacco reigned supreme as the vice of choice for many. Set against the backdrop of the late 19th century, Barrie's enchanting memoir serves as a captivating time capsule, offering a glimpse into a society where smoke-filled gentlemen's clubs were hubs of intellectual exchange and camaraderie. With his signature wit and eloquence, Barrie shares intimate anecdotes and musings about his personal tryst with the enchantress, Lady Nicotine. He regales us with tales of memorable characters he encountered during his tobacco-fueled escapades, from fellow writers and artists to everyday people who found comfort and solace in the embrace of the fragrant smoke. Beyond the laughter and camaraderie, Barrie unflinchingly examines the allure and darker side of smoking. In candid reflection, he delves into the addictive nature of tobacco and its potential pitfalls, creating a nuanced narrative that celebrates the pleasures of smoking while acknowledging its risks. Join J.M. Barrie on this literary journey into the heart of a bygone era, where smoke and stories blend harmoniously to paint a vivid picture of a time when the aroma of tobacco filled the air and ignited the imagination. "My Lady Nicotine" is a charming and thought-provoking exploration of a world steeped in tradition, where the allure of this enigmatic lady leaves an indelible mark on those who dare to embrace her.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789358046564
Publisher:	Pharos Books Private Limited
Publication date:	02/09/2023
Pages:	152
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.35(d)

Read an Excerpt

CHAPTER II MY FIRST CIGAR It was not in my chambers, but three hundred miles further north that I learned to smoke. I think I may say with confidence that a first cigar was never smoked in such circumstances before. At that time I was a schoolboy, living with my brother who was a man. People mistook our relations, and thought I was his son. They would ask me how my father was, and when he heard of this he scowled at me. Even to this day I look so young that people who remember me as a boy, now think I must be that boy's younger brother. I shall tell presently of a strange mistake of this kind, but at present I am thinking of the evening when my brother's eldest daughter was born perhaps the most trying evening he and I ever passed together. So far as I knew the affair was very sudden, and I felt sorry for my brother as well as for myself. We sat together in the study, he on an armchair drawn near the fire and I on the couch. I cannot say now at what time I began to have an inklingthat there was something wrong. It came upon me gradually and made me very uncomfortable, though of course I did not show this. I heard people going up and down stairs, but I was not at that time naturally suspicious. Comparatively early in the evening I felt that my brother had something on his mind. As a rule, when we were left together, he yawned or drummed with his fingers on the arm of his chair to show that he did not feel uncomfortable, or I made a pretence of being at ease by playing with the dog or saying that the room was close. Then one of us would rise, remark that he had left his book in the dining-room, and go away to look for it, taking care not to come back till the other had gone. In thiscrafty way we helped each other. On that occasion, however, he did not adopt any of the...

Table of Contents

Chapter I.	Matrimony and Smoking Compared	9
Chapter II.	My First Cigar	19
Chapter III.	The Arcadia Mixture	26
Chapter IV.	My Pipes	35
Chapter V.	My Tobacco-Pouch	45
Chapter VI.	My Smoking-Table	51
Chapter VII.	Gilray	58
Chapter VIII.	Marrion	66
Chapter IX.	Jimmy	75
Chapter X.	Scrymgrour	82
Chapter XI.	His Wife's Cioars	90
Chapter XII.	Gilray's Flower-Pot	97
Chapter XIII.	The Orandest Scene in History	105
Chapter XIV.	My Brother Henry	117
Chapter XV.	House-Doat "Arcadia"	124
Chapter XVI.	The Arcadia Mixture Again	132
Chapter XVII.	The Romance of a Pipe Cleaner	140
Chapter XVIII.	What Could He Do?	149
Chapter XIX.	Primus	156
Chapter XX.	Primus to His Uncle	164
Chapter XXI.	English-Grown Tobacco	173
Chapter XXII.	How Hhroes Smoke	182
Chapter XXIII.	The Ghost of Chkistmas Eve	189
Chapter XXIV.	Not the Arcadia	196
Chapter XXV.	A Face That Haunted Marriot	203
Chapter XXVI.	Arcadlans at Bay	210
Chapter XXVII.	Jimmy's Drnam	217
Chapter XXVIII.	Gilray's Dream	224
Chapter XXIX.	Pettigr Ew's Dream	231
Chapter XXX.	The Murder in the Inn	238
Chapter XXI.	The Perils of not Smoking	243
Chapter XXXII.	My Last Pipe	251
Chapter XXXIII.	When my Wife is Asleep and All the House is Still	259