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Robin Marchesi
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A Small Journal of Heroin Addiction Paperback – December 1, 2000

by Robin Marchetti (Author)
3.6 out of 5 stars 7
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Robin Marchesi's brilliant autobiographical book is at once a fine work of literature, and an uplifting if grim inspirational work to encourage those grappling with drug addiction. In any case, it is fascinating reading for the poetically minded in general. Mr. Marchesi's journal intermingles equally powerful threads of pure poetry and stream of consciousness prose. In Part I (Rosales), Mr. Marchesi vividly and richly captures the true story of his travels across Europe in 1979 and the epiphany of his incarceration in the Spanish Foreign Legion prison at Ceuta. In Part 2 (Mission) he recounts his journey to San Francisco around 1999 to rescue a young protege who was badly hooked on junk. Mr. Marchesi echoes something of the dark intensity of the earlier Beat Generation (a touch of Kerouac, Ferlinghetti, and City Lights) as well as his own 1960s generation. More importantly, he convincingly and artistically captures the timelessness of what happens when human beings and dangerous substances mix in bad ways. Despite moments of despair, he never loses sight of his optimism.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    148 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Clocktower Books
  4. Publication date
    December 1, 2000
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 0.5 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0743300521
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0743300520
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Clocktower Books (December 1, 2000)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 148 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0743300521
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0743300520
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.5 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.6 out of 5 stars 7

About the author

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Robin Marchesi

Robin Marchesi

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Customer reviews

3.6 out of 5 stars
3.6 out of 5
7 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Me and my thoughts
5.0 out of 5 stars A Fantastic Find!
Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2017
A Small Journal of Heroin Addiction is an autobiographical journal written by Robin Marchesi and details two interesting periods of his life. It is presented in two parts – the first written as a heroin addict from a Spanish Prison in 1979, and the second written on a trip to California 20 years later to help a friend with a heroin addiction.

The book is written as a mixture of poetry and prose, creating a unique blend of raw candor and fluent storytelling. I think readers of this book will walk away with vastly differing thoughts on the Author’s experiences. My impression in the first section is that he clings to his manuscript as if it represents hope – hope of getting out, hope of never going back, hope of creating something new. Alternatively, or perhaps in addition, his journal entries may be more of an escape or therapy while living in the harsh, unpredictable conditions of prison. The second section seems more clear – that the author is looking for redemption, a desire to, hopefully, pass along his escape from heroin to an addict from the next generation.

However a reader may interpret the author’s intention, this book is an exceptional read. I found myself eagerly awaiting the outcome, wanting to skip ahead to see how it all ends, and yet, not allowing myself to miss any of his writing along the way.

If you read this book, and you absolutely should, you will thoroughly enjoy his writing and perspective, from beginning to end.
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4.0 out of 5 stars Helps You to Get Inside...
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2005
Verified Purchase
This small journal of an heroin addict certainly helped to broaden my awareness and sensitivity to some aspects of addiction. This book resolved my personal issue/question of real people wanting to regain control.
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L. Sehdeva
3.0 out of 5 stars Misleading Title
Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2005
This book focuses on the author's experiences in a Spanish prison and his efforts, decades later, to get another junkie into rehab. It does not deal directly with the author's own struggle to overcome heroin addiction.

The prose accounts of the author's first-hand experiences are more interesting (and in my opinion more skilfully written) than his poetry. I would like to see these prose sections expanded. The book could also benefit from more copyediting.
8 people found this helpful
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James B
5.0 out of 5 stars nothing else like it
Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2004
I just wanted to express the compassion that i felt after reading this book.

In a sort of twisted way this is a funny book. Marchesi's slant on the things that he experienced, particuarly in the first half, represents a truely unique perception on things. For example the names that he gives the people he meets, tend to be truly detached from reality. And yet all the while you just can't help but feel the big black cloud of emotion that hangs over him for a good deal of his journey, until eventually it shifts.

And it does shift. it shifts with such grace and beauty that i can't discribe it. an incredible feeling of freedom, from a pain that you thought would never end, like intolerable suffering that eventually dissolved and suddenly everything in the entire existence of this world unfolded to reveal it's true and most beautiful side again.

For me, I don't regret buying this book for one second. I don't enjoy fiction books but it was the experiences of the author that drove me on to keep reading. This is great book, give it a chance like i did.
8 people found this helpful
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John T. Cullen
5.0 out of 5 stars Discoverer/Publisher speaks up
Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2001
This book is a literary masterpiece. We submitted Mr. Marchesi's autobiographical book to the Frankfurt ebook awards 2000, thinking that he would surely receive the recognition this book deserves-instead, while taking nothing away from those who did win hard-earned recognition, true e-book authors like Mr. Marchesi were ignored in favor of print authors whose works were digitized as an afterthought to make them eligible for the e-book awards. This is the book that should have won at least one major prize in that competition. This is an important milestone, a 50-year unhealth check on the mores and the drug habits and the literary scene of the 1950's Beat Poets. This beautiful prose/poem book tells a wrenching story of a sojourn in hell on a *bateau ivre*, actually a Spanish Foreign Legion prison on Ceuta, an island on the cusp of Europe and Africa. Diagnosis: the white lady is deadly and dangerous as ever, insinuating herself into lives, ruining worlds, destroying decency. The author, Robin Marchesi, a true survivor of those trenches, is later able to rescue a fellow addict in San Francisco's Mission District. When this book first crossed my virtual desk as a submission from Mr. Marchesi, I read the first few sentences and was hooked (no pun intended). I still consider myself lucky that an original literary work of this quality should be my great fortune to discover and publish to the world. If I do nothing else with my publishing career, this one slender volume will be worth all of it, and more. Right on, Robin Marchesi, for this update from the road-shoulder between heaven and hell.
14 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Carter Brune
5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent book well worth the read.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 4, 2014
Verified Purchase
I enjoyed the book very much - I liked the creative fashion in which the narrative/story was conveyed. The journey was presented intelligently with subtle but effective references to articles bright!
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