Absinthe, a Franco-Swiss fairy

Beneficial plant, regenerative elixir, then sulfurous aperitif, absinthe captivates.

Mugwort, reputed to be soft to the touch and bitter in taste, absinthe is the symbol of lost illusions. Born in 1797 in the Franco-Swiss Jura, Mother Henriod's absinthe liqueur charmed the whole world before being banned in 1915. Nowadays, the most contradictory rumors still circulate about it. Did the Green Fairy drive people mad or make them brilliant?

This book finally settles the debate and opportunely reminds us that the Grande Areuse of Val-de-Travers was also nicknamed Madame Hope as well as Our Lady of Forgetfulness.

Find here the history of distilleries, the great Parisian cafes at "parsley time," the saga of the "holy herb" from Madagascar to New Orleans, and the passionate debates that led to its prohibition during the Great War's carnage. In any case, Blanche Laverte is forever a myth.