La Diva Nicotina

On October 12, 1492, after an arduous voyage, his crew near mutinous, his provisions exhausted, Christopher Columbus landed on a small island he believed to be part of China. He was met by representatives of the local tribe who offered him gifts of beads, fruit and dried leaves. He threw the latter in the sea. But Columbus and his crew did not remain ignorant of these leaves' powers or purpose for long. LA DIVA NICOTINA traces the history of our relationship with a plant whose only function is to stimulate, from its beginnings amongst the ancient civilisations of South America to the present day. From Mayan gods to Marlboro Man, from Casanova to President Clinton, LA DIVA NICOTINA examines the roles tobacco has played in its long association with men and women, including its functions as spiritual messenger, as sexual ambassador, as a cure for cancer, global currency and ultimately as an assassin. Ever since the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas, tobacco has been central to western civilisation, and in some cases has been the cause of revolutions and the birth of nations. Tracing its development from ritual refreshment to universal habit, LA DIVA NICOTINA is a fascinating and witty dissection of this dangerously seductive plant.