TRADER HORN (1927) – This book was the quasi-autobiographical account of Alfred Aloysius Horn, a British trader in Africa during the 1800s. Ethelreda Lewis added pertinent commentary to each chapter.
For newbies to the Trader Horn legend, this book did for tales of adventuring in Africa what the quasi-autobiographical writings of the likes of Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson and Buffalo Bill Cody did for Wild West excitement. There were multiple film adaptations of Trader Horn, plus elements of this book were imitated in fictional accounts of jungle adventures to a degree not seen since H. Rider Haggard’s tales of Allan Quatermain.
I personally have no doubt that Alfred A. Horn embellished his experiences like Wyatt, Bat and Buffalo Bill did, so there is no real way of separating fact from fiction in this book, that’s why I classify it as both myths & legends AND neglected history. Continue reading