The Devil in the Bottle

Slade's Devil

The Devil in the Bottle

For some time I’ve promised to publish Legal Tender, a new novel about Joseph A (Jack) Slade, in October. If any of you have been looking for it, I apologize. It obviously didn’t appear in October.

Nor will it appear anywhere. I’ve changed the title to The Devil in the Bottle.

Joseph Slade, in my view, was a tragic figure. He had all the makings for a long and respected life. He could have been one of those architects of the West that we read about. He had a sound business sense, a charismatic personality, a talent for leadership and management, and courage. He attracted people, inspiring great liking in men. His wife loved him fiercely, and he apparently returned that love. They were capable of great kindness, too, as when they adopted a young half-Indian boy whose family had been killed by some of Slade’s employees.

Aristotle defined a tragic figure as someone brought from a high place to a low one through a flaw in his own character. That fits Slade.

His tragic flaw was his inability to control his drinking. He was an alcoholic who would periodically go on binges, endangering people and destroying property. His alcoholism cost him his job as a division manager with the Overland Stage Company and eventually led to his downfall.

For Joseph Slade had a devil, and the devil was in the bottle.

(The illustration above is courtesy Ricardo Dos Reis, of Sintra, Portugal.)

8 thoughts on “The Devil in the Bottle

  1. Jeremy Lape

    Perfect!

    Can’t.

    Wait.

    (It’s only been, oh, 16 years since I’ve been waiting for the definative work on Slade…)

    1. Carol Buchanan

      Thanks for the comment, Jeremy, but wait until you read it before you decide if The Devil in the Bottle is definitive or not! Your long interest in Slade makes me very interested to know what you think of this book. I hope you and other readers won’t be disappointed!

      Carol

  2. John Putnam

    I must admit, the fellow in the picture does have an eerie, otherworldly look about him. The Devil has a fascination for all of us and we all know the effects of too much booze, but I’d hate to meet that fellow on a dark, moonless night.

    Good choice.

    1. Carol Buchanan Post author

      Thank you, John! The artist, Ricardo Dos Reis, certainly captured the devil’s leer, didn’t he? I’ll be excited to see how the graphic artist uses the picture in the cover design. It’s great to know you’re in favor of it, too!

      Carol

    1. Carol Buchanan Post author

      Thank you, Kae! The new title just felt “right,” and when I looked at Ricardo’s picture, the two fit together so well I couldn’t resist.

      I’m happy you like it, too!

      Carol

  3. George Stringfellow

    I for one like the change in title better. Attention grabbing and still significant. Anxiously awaiting the new release date.

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