What was the Club des Hashischins?
Q: What was the Club des Hashischins?
A: The Club des Hashischins, also known as the Hashish Club, was a Parisian group that explored using drugs, mainly hashish, to get creative ideas. It was active from 1844-1849.
Q: Who were some of the members of the club?
A: Some of the most important literary and intellectual people in Paris were members of the Club des Hashischins, including Dr. Jacques-Joseph Moreau, Théophile Gautier, Charles Baudelaire, Victor Hugo, Honoré de Balzac Gérard de Nerval, Eugène Delacroix and Alexandre Dumas père.
Q: Where did they hold their monthly séances?
A: The monthly séances were held at the Hôtel de Lauzun (at that time called Hôtel Pimodan) on Île Saint-Louis.
Q: What ingredients went into their drug mixture?
A: The drug mixture consisted of coffee mixed with hashish and spices such as cinnamon, cloves nutmeg pistachio sugar orange juice butter and cantharides. It had a thick green consistency like jam.
Q: Did any member write about their experiences in the club?
A: Yes - Théophile Gautier wrote an article titled "Le Club des Hachichin" which was published in Revue des Deux Mondes in February 1846. Additionally Dr. Moreau wrote a book in 1846 about cannabis and drug taking experiments conducted by members of the club called "Hashish and Mental Illness - Psychological Studies".
Q: How did Baudelaire feel about taking drugs for creativity?
A: Baudelaire believed that while taking drugs could give people ideas it quickly affected their personality so much that they felt they could only create while under its influence.
