Ethetreda Lewis

An intriguing hand written letter dated December 27, 1927 by Ethetreda Lewis, the editor of the popular book, Trader Horn. In the letter, from Johannesburg, she references the popularity of the book about Alfred Aloysius, who was also known as "Trader Horn". Actually Trader Horn was the first film shot on location in Africa. It featured many authentic shots of African wildlife and a great deal of inauthentic plot. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1930. Starring Harry Carey in the title role, Edwina Booth, Duncan Renaldo, Mutia Omoolu and Olive Carey, the movie tells of the fictional adventures of real-life trader and adventurer Alfred Aloysius "Trader" 'Horn', ("Horn" was a pseudonym) on safari in Africa. The fictional part includes the discovery of a white blonde jungle queen, the lost daughter of a missionary, played by Miss Booth. The realistic part includes a scene in which Carey as Horn swings on a vine across a river filled with genuine crocodiles, one of which comes very close to taking his leg off. The film was written by Cyril Hume (dialogue), John Thomas Neville, Richard Schayer and Dale Van Every, from the book by Alfred Aloysius Horn and Ethelreda Lewis, and directed by W.S. Van Dyke.
-- 1929 edition of the book, Trader Horn. Printed by Grosset & Dunlap with Illustrations from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Productions. Edited by Ethelreda Lewis and Foreword by John Galsworthy...subtitled "Being the Life and Works of Alfred Aloysius Horn."