England, 1869. Rodrigo Vermilion is a hunchbacked little person, scorned by society because of his differences and seemingly destined to be down on his luck. But then he meets wealthy businessman Isaac Brookes and his sons—ne’er-do-well Tom and socially awkward George—and prosperity beckons. With Vermilion’s Big Idea, the Brookes’ family fortune, and a secret ingredient (think the “coca” in Coca-Cola), Rhubarilla is born—a rhubarb-flavored fizzy soda pop that is fated to sweep the nation. But success is short-lived. Isaac’s wife Sarah dies of a long illness, and Tom takes advantage of his father’s grief to humiliate Vermilion. Can hapless George rise to the challenge take responsibility of the soft drink business, and put the pieces of his family back together? A detailed, violent, and loving account of persistence, forgiveness, and consumer demand, Intoxicated is as much a tale of one family’s tragedies and triumphs as it a story of invention and creation. Drink-while-you-read: A good old-fashioned glass bottle of classic Coca-Cola.

posted Aug 20, 2009 at 2:40PM

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