Horror Story Review: "The American's Tale" by Arthur Conan Doyle

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Jefferson Adams (apparently a common American name) is an American visitor to the London social semi-literary circle. He left his mark at one club by carving his initials in the panel of the smoking room door and in tobacco stains on the Turkish carpet. He entertains the company: "It air strange, it air, but I could tell you queerer things than that 'ere--almighty queer things. You can't learn everything out of books, sirs, nohow. You see it ain't the men as can string English together and as has had good eddications as finds themselves in the queer places I've been in. They're mostly rough men, sirs, as can scarce speak aright, far less tell with pen and ink the things they've seen; but if they could they'd make some of your European's har riz with astonishment. They would, sirs, you bet!" And yes, that’s exactly how we Americans speak, just in case anyone out there has never heard an American accent. He further asks his audience if they’ve ever been to Arizona, a land he describes: “[g]rass as hung over a chap's head as he rode through it, and trees so thick that you couldn't catch a glimpse of blue sky for leagues and leagues, and orchids like umbrellas!” By which it’s safe to assume Conan Doyle was never in Arizona. (Also, it’s worth noting that Arizona was not a state at the time he wrote this.) Mr. Jefferson Adams makes mentions of one of the area plants, the “fly-catcher.” "’Diancea muscipula,’" murmured Dawson, our scientific man par excellence. "’Ah, Die near a municipal, that's him!’” Well, seems one Joe Hawkins—“Alabama” Hawkins— had it in mind to go kill a Brit, like the ones taking up space in Simpson’s bar. The only one he could find was Tim Scott, an unassuming man, who lived at the far end of Flytrap Gulch. The next day, Scott is still healthy and Alabama can’t be found. This is a silly little story with a streak of jingoism in it a mile wide. It’s hard for me to either dislike or like it as I found it simply too far-fetched. Author Arthur Conan Doyle is, of course, best known for his Sherlock Holmes mysteries, which I happen to love. This is one of his, well, misses. The text of the story is available at the link below. _____ Title: “The American’s Tale” first published in London Society, Christmas Number, 1879-1880 Author: Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) Source: ISFDB _____ *An earlier version of this review appeared at another site. It has been updated and expanded for its inclusion in myLot*