The Strange and True Tale of Horace Wells, Surgeon Dentist

by Michael Downs

Fiction. In 1844, Horace Wells, a Connecticut dentist, encountered nitrous oxide, or laughing gas--then an entertainment for performers in carnival-like theatrical acts--and began administering the gas as the first true anesthetic. His discovery would change the world, reshaping medicine and humanity's relationship with pain. But that discovery would also thrust Wells into scandals that threatened his reputation, his family, and his sanity--hardships and triumphs that resonate in today's struggles with what hurts us and what we take to stop the hurt. In this novel, Michael Downs mines the gaps in the historical record and imagines the motivations and mysteries behind Wells's morbid fascination with pain, as well as the price he and his wife, Elizabeth, paid--first through his obsession, then his addiction. The book is a love story, but also a story of what love can't redeem; of narcotic dreams and waking insanity; of humbug and miracle; of pain's destruction and what pains can never be eased. Following Wells throughout New England and across the ocean to Paris, the novel immerses the reader in the nineteenth century, conveying through rich physical description and telling dialogue the tragic life of a dentist who gave everything to rid the world of suffering.

Genres: Historical Fiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published May 9, 2018

About the author

Born in Hartford, Connecticut, Michael Downs is the author of three books, including the novel, THE STRANGE AND TRUE TALE OF HORACE WELLS, SURGEON DENTIST (Acre Books, May 2018).

His first book, HOUSE OF GOOD HOPE: A PROMISE FOR A BROKEN CITY, won the River Teeth Literary Nonfiction Prize. THE GREATEST SHOW (LSU Press, 2012), his second book, is a story collection inspired by the famous Hartford Circus Fire of 1944.

With Jim Hock, he wrote HOLLYWOOD'S TEAM: GRIT, GLAMOUR and the 1950s LOS ANGELES RAMS (Rare Bird Books, 2016).

He served as a U.S. Fulbright Scholar in Kraków, Poland in 2021-22. His other awards include literary fiction fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Maryland State Arts Council, and he has published stories in the Best American Mystery Stories series (2001, 2002). A one-time newspaper reporter, he teaches creative writing at Towson University in Maryland and lives in Baltimore.

Reviews

[Renee(Reneesramblings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the Book Description
In this novel, Michael Downs mines the gaps in the historical record and imagines the motivations and mysteries behind Wells's morbid fascination with pain, as well as the price he and his wife, Elizabeth, paid--first through his obsession, then his addiction.
My Thoughts
Anyone who knows me would be surprised to see me interested in anything related to a dentist. I am a fully vested member in a dental phobic program and I doubt any of the dentists(who have been fortunate enough, not) to have had me as a patient will ever forget my racing heart, cold and hot sweats and how getting me in the chair can require( shall we say), an inordinate amount of patience. For the record, nitrous oxide may be the only reason I dutifully visit my dentist twice a year, so phobic or not, I was intrigued by the blurb about this book.
Horace Wells was introduced to nitrous oxide and a light bulb moment occurred. He believed this could be used in dentistry and other medical procedures to assist patients in managing pain. A series of unfortunate events, including an unscrupulous former partner, Horace's precarious mental health, and some wild adventures occur and alas it is not Mr. Well's destiny to be successful in his quest. This is a story about love, obsession and how pain can destroy a life. The 19th-century setting vividly came to life for me and the story kept me engaged with interesting characters and an intriguing tale.
I won a digital ARC from a Shelf Awareness promotion. Thank you, Michael Downs, Acre Books( and especially Nicola who assisted me with an issue) for this book When I visit my dentist next month, I am definitely taking him a copy. He talks to me a lot to try and keep me calm and I do believe he will like The Strange and True Tale of Horace Wells, Surgeon Dentist.

[Linda Mclean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael Downs depicts a fascinating personality for Horace Wells, an eccentric and obsessive dentist with manic behavior. I could not put the book down because I always wanted to see what Wells was going to do next. Downs beautifully imagines the messy details of a chaotic life, portraying the agonizing struggle of Wells’s brilliant mind. Despite his decisions and behavior throughout his life, Wells achieves quite a bit in a short amount of time. The details about what life was like without modern medicine allow the reader to better imagine life in the 1800’s, rather than romanticizing the time period as so many novels do. I found myself thinking more about the things I take for granted. This book was a beautiful and complex exploration of the concept of pain.

[Coty Poynter · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a lovely sort of book. The kind that you begin reading and soon after feel a connection with the titular character, Horace, and his family. It’s a pleasantly unpleasant journey through the life of a man who merely want to help others suffer less. And it holds up with many of the issues ongoing today. Highly recommend giving this a read. Michael Downs has written a wonderful book, filled with many touching, beautiful moments, and insight that we all need to hear every now and again.

[Roni O. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the great fortune to attend a reading event for this book. In just the few excerpts that Downs shared, there was a magnetism that drew the listener in to hear more.

I read the book in a weekend because I couldn’t put it down. Downs brings the reader into Wells’ story of history and humanity holds them there, long after the book is finished.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is accomplished and evocative work, much more epic than it seems on the surface, following this relatively unknown historical figure who deserves more attention. It has the sweep of a biography with all kinds of daring fictional infill -- great historical fiction with a contemporary resonance. Once you start reading, you'll want to return to it every day. Highly recommended.

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully complex look at pain and humanity. Few can say they have no fear of dentists, yet those fears pale in comparison to that which patients in Wells’ time endured. Wells is driven by the desire to ease that pain, and the impact of his journey stays with the reader long after the book ends.

[Sheri Venema · Rating 5 out of 5]

I kept thinking about this book after I finished it; the mark of a good book (for me) is one that makes me ponder, think, question. Michael Downs travels easily to 19th century New England, immersing the reader in the customs, fashions and philosophies of the times he writes about. But most fascinating is the musing on pain - how people expected to live not only with daily, chronic pain, but also to incur intense pain in operations, amputations, tooth extractions and the like. The meaning they found in pain was that God intended it. Horace Wells thought otherwise. His lonely battle to prove that pain could be relieved brought him to ruin - the man who helped us rethink our relationship with pain could not ease his own. As he slips toward his end, Downs helps the reader travel every step with him. Downs' lovely sentences, whether he's writing about crossing the ocean, the death of a horse, or the love story of Horace and Elizabeth, make for a compelling read.