This is a review of the short story Green Tea, written by Sheridan Le Fanu and published in his collection Green Tea and Other Weird Stories. Read my review of The Haunted House in Westminster here. I’ve kicked off 2025 reviewing Victorian-era ghost and horror stories.
Green Tea is set in London, where Dr. Hesselius attempts to treat Reverend Jennings, who is being tormented by a demonic monkey. Jennings’ symptoms match OCD almost perfectly, upsetting visualizations, trouble performing normal, everyday tasks, and increasingly angry, abusive thoughts.
Dr. Hesselius recognizes Mr. Jennings’ symptoms at once, although the story is coy about whether he misinterprets the cause of his patient’s malady. I am not talking about the trigger, green tea (which the doctor identifies), but whether or not his tormentor is a hallucination or a demon from Hell. It might not matter: if symptoms are treated sometimes the sufferer will be able to deal with the cause, especially if we are talking about mental illness, which is what this story is really about.
Unfortunately, Mr. Jennings dies before the doctor can even begin treatment. Dr. Hesselius is M.I.A. when his patient needs him the most. This is not because of a plot-based emergency. The doctor simply leaves town for a day or so, and Jennings – who is in crisis – does away with himself. I am unsure why Dr. Hesselius, an intellectual prodigy, didn’t leave notice of where he’d be in case of an emergency, but since I am not myself an intellectual prodigy I’m sure I wouldn’t understand the answer.
Dr. Hesselius isn’t the type to blame himself – and I don’t know how much blame he deserves, since he was willing to treat Jennings – so he blames his patient, FOR NOT WANTING TO BE CURED. This is typical, especially when mental health is concerned. It also applies to medical professionals! Ever go to a doctor and realize you know more about the nature of your disease than your physician?
Green Tea is a longer story, and the language is a bit of a slog, but it’s worth the time and effort. I wouldn’t call this story scary. I think unnerving would be the better word, especially the idea of devils appearing as animals. The scariest thing is the indifference of the doctor to poor Mr. Jennings, who must suffer alone. Recommended for lovers of horror fiction/weird fiction.
Abandoned Places 