Psychedelic Refugee: The League for Spiritual Discovery, the 1960s Cultural Revolution, and 23 Years on the Run by Rosemary Woodruff Leary (review)
New York History December 1, 2023 Devin R. Lander
Rosemary Woodruff Leary's unpublished memoir, now published as 'Psychedelic Refugee,' recounts her life at the center of the 1960s counterculture and psychedelic movement, overshadowed by her famous husband Timothy Leary. The memoir, assembled from fragmented drafts by editor David F. Phillips, portrays her as a strong catalyst who enabled Timothy Leary's fame and legal battles, while enduring financial strain, notoriety, and the end of their marriage. After helping him escape prison, she lived 23 years on the run under an assumed name until 1994, while Leary regained celebrity status. The work provides insight into a key but eclipsed female figure in psychedelic history.