The Cigar

For cigar lovers, this book is the ultimate feast for the senses -- a celebration of a luxurious ritual that has been practiced the world over for centuries. From the days when Christopher Columbus introduced the glories of the leaf to the capitals of Europe, Conrad wittily narrates the fascinating social, political, & cultural history of this pleasure. Many of the influential personalities of the 19th & 20th cent. smoked cigars, including Winston Churchill, John F. Kennedy, Albert Einstein, Sigmund Freud, & Groucho Marx. Once considered a mostly male pastime, smoking has crossed social barriers & is today embraced by sophisticated women. Includes color & B&W photos, film stills, cartoons, & literary excerpts, this handsome book is the ultimate in cigar lore.