The American tourist is an unnamed man Baldwin meets twice in New York who then calls up Baldwin when he arrives in Paris. Baldwin and the tourist do not get along very well, but Baldwin still agrees to help the tourist get a room in his hotel. The tourist implicates Baldwin in stealing sheets from his former hotel, leading both of them to spend over a week in prison.
Get the entire Notes of a Native Son LitChart as a printable PDF.
American Tourist Character Timeline in Notes of a Native Son
The timeline below shows where the character American Tourist appears in Notes of a Native Son. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Equal in Paris
...time in Paris, Baldwin is arrested for receiving stolen goods. This happens thanks to an American tourist Baldwin had met twice in New York. Baldwin is living in a “ludicrously grim” hotel,...
(full context)
...of 19th December, Baldwin is sitting alone in his room and decides to visit the American tourist . He finds two French policemen in the American’s room; he doesn’t understand their conversation...
(full context)
...taken. He is then driven to a prison called Fresnes, 12km outside of Paris. The American tourist is sent to another prison, and as soon as he is gone Baldwin misses him,...
(full context)
