“I AM AN OMNIVOROUS READER” Book reviews by Lisa Burscheidt, Paul Gillings, David Jones, Paul Thomas Miller, Valerie Schreiner, Nicholas Utechin and Roger Johnson
Sherlock Holmes and Conan Doyle in the Newspapers: commentary and scholarship? I should say that I have an Volume 4, January-June 1894. Edited and Annotated article in this volume. E\ 0DWWLDV %RVWU|P 0DUN$OEHUVWDW /HDK *XLQQ DQG The main point of these — and other such publications 0DWW/DIIH\ Gasogene Books ,QGLDQDSROLV ² LV WR VHH WKH ZRUGV 'R\OH ZURWH RU FURVVHG RXW RU SS SEN ZKDWHYHU ,I \RX FDQQRW IDFH SORXJKLQJ WKURXJK WKH ,ZDQWWRNQRZZKRµ³12%´ZDVIRU,GRQRWOLNH handwritten text, you are given an accurate transcription KLP$FROXPQLVWIRUWKH/RQGRQMRXUQDO The Echo , he and detailed annotations. The latter are by Phillip Bergem, ZURWHRQWK-DQXDU\ ³>+ROPHV@EHFDPHDWODVW ZKRKDVEHHQSURYLGLQJWKLVVHUYLFHVLQFH DQGLW a bore, and many heaved a sigh of relief not only for LVDGPLUDEOHDQGSDLQVWDNLQJZRUN HVSHFLDOO\VRIDUDV themselves, but also for Mr Doyle’s reputation, when the the annotations are concerned, comparing six different famous detective met his match, and fell over the cliffs SULQWHGVRXUFHVRIWKHVWRU\ LQWKH5KRQH9DOOH\²GHDGDWODVW´,VKRXOGSUHIHUWR 7KHRWKHUFXUUHQW¿[HGSRLQWLQWKHVHULHVLV5DQGDOO have met the journalist for The North-China Herald Stock, who tells the history of the MS and highlights 6KDQJKDL ZKRZURWHHOHYHQGD\VODWHU ³7KHUHZLOOEH anything of especial interest — I enjoyed his page on genuine sorrow among English-speaking peoples at the a paperclip indentation and a fastener head! Welcome GHDWKRI6KHUORFN+ROPHV´ contributors with papers on subjects ranging from sailors There are so many journalistic gems in this, the fourth and rum, to domestic abuse in the Canon via the Canadian volume in a series that at its present rate of publication 3DFL¿F5DLOZD\LQFOXGH%RQQLH0DF%LUG:DOWHU-DIIHH will stretch to mid-century! Boström and his colleagues and Ross Davies. have tracked Holmesian and Doylean comment in 362 Doyle wrote his manuscripts on pages of various sizes newspapers — from the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald DQGIRUPDWV7KDWIRU³%ODFN3HWHU´FRQVLVWVRISDJHV and Akron Daily Demokrat through to the Wichita Daily VL]HGDSSUR[LPDWHO\ǫ´[´ WKHUHDUHOLQHVSHUSDJH Beacon and the Wagga Wagga Express . 7R¿WWKH%6,ERRNIRUPDWWKHSDJHVL]HLVUHSURGXFHGDW This is a very important series of record, but there ´[´DQGLWLVLQHYLWDEO\VOLJKWO\FKDOOHQJLQJWRUHDGWKH are elements of imbalance — a random one-liner from original words clearly — although this is, of course, no the Zacoma Daily News ³&RQDQ 'R\OH LV ZULWLQJ D criticism of the volume’s producers. KLVWRULFDO QRYHO WR EH SXEOLVKHG LQ WKH VSULQJ ´ ZKLOH $VDFRGDWKH:LQWHU BSJ 9RO1R FDUULHG close on fourteen entire pages are given to a report in an overview piece by me on all Doyle Holmes facsimiles The Observer of a Royal Academy banquet which that have hitherto appeared. I have no axe to grind, but 'R\OHDWWHQGHG EXWGLGQRWVSHDNDW DQGGXULQJZKLFK PHUHO\ SRLQW RXW WKDW , ¿QG LW VXUSULVLQJ WKDW RQO\ MXVW Micah Clarke was mentioned once. Nevertheless it is a over sixty people in the UK and Europe subscribe to The monumental undertaking, which could not possibly have Baker Street Journal . To my mind, it is a no-brainer that been contemplated before the advent of the internet but 6RFLHW\ PHPEHUV ZKR HQMR\ WKH ³JUDQG JDPH´ VKRXOG still boggles the mind. We are very grateful for it. HQJDJHZLWKWKHRWKHU³JUDQGSXEOLFDWLRQ´ NU NU
Deadly Harpoon: A Facsimile of the Original Beeton’s Christmas Annual, 1887: A Study in Scarlet Manuscript of “Black Peter” with Annotations and (Facsimile Edition). Life Is Amazing 3RUWVPRXWK Commentary. The Baker Street Manuscript Series . SS SEN Edited by Glen Miranker. The Baker Street Irregulars . Few of us will ever have the chance to handle the real SS KEN thing. The 1887 Beeton’s Christmas Annual , containing Glen Miranker is a lucky man. I have been privileged WKH¿UVWDSSHDUDQFHRI6KHUORFN+ROPHVDQG'U:DWVRQLQ WRVHHWKHRULJLQDO06RI³%ODFN3HWHU´«LQKLVKRXVH &RQDQ'R\OH¶V¿UVWSXEOLVKHGQRYHO A Study in Scarlet , He owns it. So who better to edit this latest entry in the is a precious rarity: of the thousands that were sold at admirable Irregulars series of facsimile plus erudite railway bookstalls and the like, only eleven complete
Sherlock Holmes Journal Vol 34 No 2 93 FRSLHV DUH NQRZQ WR H[LVW ,Q D QLFH IDFVLPLOH ¿UVWUDWHVXFFHVVRUWR Nerve and Knowledge in the BSI’s edition was jointly published by the editors of The Baker Professions Series. Street Journal and The Sherlock Holmes Journal , and RJ in the centenary year of 1987 John Gibson produced an even better facsimile — but both, understandably, were New Light on George Boole by Desmond MacHale and issued in strict limited numbers, and have themselves Yvonne Cohen. Atrium SS KEN become scarce collectors’ items. What the Portsmouth Even those to whom algebra is an incomprehensible publisher Matt Wingett has done, for which he will long foreign language can appreciate basic Boolean logic, and be honoured, is to make a really good Beeton’s available we know that today’s sophisticated computers operate DWDPHUH DQGLQSRWHQWLDOO\XQOLPLWHGQXPEHUV DFFRUGLQJWR*HRUJH%RROH¶VFRGL¿FDWLRQRIWKH/DZVRI Collectors may gloat over their Smith-Donegall Beeton’s 7KRXJKW%RROH ZDVDODUJHO\VHOIHGXFDWHG or their Gibson Beeton’s ; but the Wingett Beeton’s can genius, who, despite having no degree, was appointed the EHERWKFKHULVKHGDQGFRQ¿GHQWO\UHFRPPHQGHGLQWKH ¿UVW3URIHVVRURI0DWKHPDWLFVDWZKDW¶VQRZ8QLYHUVLW\ certainty that anyone really interested can afford a copy. College Cork. He and his wife, a niece of Sir George 7KH $PD]RQ OLVWLQJ LV LQIXULDWLQJ ,I \RX¶UH QRW (YHUHVW KDG ¿YH GDXJKWHUV ZKR DOVR PDGH LPSRUWDQW FDUHIXO\RX¶OO¿QG\RX¶YHRUGHUHGDGLIIHUHQWHGLWLRQRI contributions to science and the arts, either directly or A Study in Scarlet $QGQRQHRIWKH³FXVWRPHUUHYLHZV´ WKURXJK WKHLU RZQ FKLOGUHQ 7KH \RXQJHVW GDXJKWHU relate to this book! Polite messages to Amazon have been Ethel, married Wilfred Voynich, whose name is now ignored, along with favourable reviews of the facsimile. attached to the world’s most mysterious manuscript: see Much better to buy direct from the publisher at www. ³9R\QLFKDQG+ROPHV´E\-DFNLH6SHHOLQ:LQWHU OLIHLVDPD]LQJFRXN 6+- %XWWKHPRVWREYLRXVUHOHYDQFHWRXVLVWKDW%RROH RJ has been proposed as the original of Professor James 0RULDUW\ 7KH HYLGHQFH LV SHUVXDVLYH 6LGQH\ 3DJHW¶V Canon Law: Lawyers, Law and the Sherlockian depiction of Moriarty strongly resembles the only known Canon edited by William A Walsh, BSI and Donald SKRWRJUDSK RI %RROH EXW , VHH QR UHDVRQ WR WKLQN WKDW Zaldin, BSI. The Baker Street Irregulars SS Conan Doyle disliked Boole, whom he never knew. More KEN SUREDEO\KHWKRXJKW ³:KDWLIVXFKDPDQ²DJHQLXVD The most frequently encountered professions in the philosopher, an abstract thinker — should turn his talents Holmesian societies are librarian and lawyer. Canonical to crime? He would outdo Jonathan Wild and Adam libraries and librarians might merit a couple of essays, :RUWK´(YHQZLWKRXWWKH0RULDUW\FRQQHFWLRQWKRXJK but the law is an essential element throughout the saga. this is a fascinating and very readable book about an Messrs Walsh and Zaldin, lawyers themselves, have extraordinary and admirable man. assembled a formidable team including notable legal RJ brains from Canada, America, and just one each from India -D\*DQJXO\ DQG%ULWDLQ7KDWODVWLV3HWHU+RUURFNV Sherlock Holmes Cyclopedia Volume 2: Sherlock ZKR GLVFXVVHV 0DWULPRQLDO /DZ DQG &ULPLQDO /DZ LQ Holmes on Screens 1940-1959 E\ +RZDUG 2VWURP ³7KH$EEH\ *UDQJH´ HQODUJLQJ RQ KLV FRQWULEXWLRQ WR Thierry Saint-Joanis. Mycroft’s Brother Editions , www. RXU6RFLHW\¶VPHHWLQJLQ$SULO:HKDYH,UD%UDG P\FURIWVQHW SS¼ KEN Matetsky on murder in the canon; Caroline Mitchell and +RZDUG2VWURP 7KLHUU\6DLQW-RDQLVFRQWLQXHWKHLU Kevin Song on blackmail; Betsy Rosenblatt on patent series on screen Holmeses. Once again, the information law; Michael Miller on the insanity defence; Clifford is presented in a scrapbook format, full of clippings, *ROGIDUE RQ WULDOV 'RQQ\ =DOGLQ %DUEDUD 5XVFK RQ press releases and photographs that many of us will +ROPHV¶V ³JRRG SUDFWLFDO NQRZOHGJH RI %ULWLVK ODZ´ not have seen before. This time, however, it is a more 5RVV'DYLHVRQ+ROPHVDVDQH[SHUWZLWQHVV« substantial volume which covers the two decades from There’s more, of course, all lucidly presented and WR 7KLVRIFRXUVHPHDQVWKHPDMRULW\RIWKH DXWKRULWDWLYH7KH RQO\ WLQ\ HUURUV ,¶YH VSRWWHG DUH LQ Rathbone years, and he is covered in depth. But there is so Anthony Czarnecki’s piece on prisons: Holloway was much more which the authors have unearthed: there are DQG LV LQ ,VOLQJWRQ QRW LQ WKH &LW\ RI /RQGRQ DQG WKH unusual appearances in British Pathé features, Hopalong (DUO RI .LPEHUOH\¶V VXUQDPH LVQ¶W ³:RGHQKRXVH´ EXW &DVVLG\¿OPVDQGIRUHLJQODQJXDJHPRYLHV,ZRXOGKDYH Wodehouse 3*:RGHKRXVHZDVDGLVWDQWFRXVLQ 7KH remained unaware of many of these Holmeses without book concludes with the trial of Sherlock Holmes on this book. But as many of them are freely available on multiple charges of illegal activities, the court’s decision WKHLQWHUQHW,QRWRQO\JRWWRUHDGDERXWWKH¿OPV,FRXOG being reported by Judge Al Rosenblatt. Canon Law is a then go off and watch them. I suspect that many other
94 Sherlock Holmes Journal Vol 34 No 2 UHDGHUVZLOO¿QGWKHPVHOYHVVWRSSLQJIUHTXHQWO\WRHQMR\ Daniel Smith’s intelligent, well-written contributions WKH¿OPVEHWZHHQFKDSWHUV to Holmesian literature are interestingly varied, A highlight for me was discovering that my favourite from The Sherlock Holmes Companion KDQGVRPH handpuppet played the part of Sherlock Sooty in 1956! ODYLVKO\ LOOXVWUDWHG DQG How to Think Like Sherlock It’s always nice to discover an unusual Holmes, but VWUDLJKWIRUZDUG IULHQGO\ WR The Ardlamont Mystery ¿QGLQJDFKLOGKRRGKHURDV+ROPHVLVDVSHFLDOWUHDW7KH ZHOO UHVHDUFKHG HQWKUDOOLQJ ,Q Sherlock Unlocked book is so full of Holmeses that I suspect every reader Mr Smith takes a similar approach to Nick Utechin’s ZLOO¿QGWKHLURZQQHZIDYRXULWHVRPHZKHUHZLWKLQ,Q in Amazing & Extraordinary Facts: Sherlock Holmes : brief, the book is a valuable insight into screen Holmeses over a hundred brief essays on aspects of the character, of the past, and the series as a whole is shaping up to be the stories, and their creator. There’s gratifyingly little an indispensable addition to any Holmesian library. RYHUODSDQGWKHDXWKRU¶VVSHFL¿FLQWHUHVWVDQGRSLQLRQV PTM give one to think: he’s incisive and sound on the subject of Adrian Conan Doyle, for instance, and the Andaman The Exhibitionists: Sherlock Holmes in London 1951 ,VODQGHUV7KLVDWWUDFWLYHSRFNHWYROXPHRI³OLWWOHNQRZQ and New York 1952 (The Baker Street Journal 2018 IDFWV´PD\QRWEHHVVHQWLDOEXWWKHUH¶VPXFKLQLWWRHQMR\ Christmas Annual) by Mattias Bostrom and Nicholas and perhaps to learn from. Utechin. The Baker Street Irregulars. SS SEN RJ In this fascinating little book, two engaging Holmes experts explain how triumph turned to disaster when the Sherlock’s World: Fan Fiction and the Reimagining Holmes exhibition, created as part of the 1951 Festival of BBC’s Sherlock by Ann K McClellan. University of RI %ULWDLQ FURVVHG WKH$WODQWLF &\ULO 7UDQ¿HOG -DFN Iowa Press SS SEN Thorne is the hero. He was the curator of the exhibition, ,W PD\ KDYH EHHQ :DWW *UHHQ¶V The Alternative which included that sitting room! With his drive, Sherlock Holmes SXEOLVKHGLQWKDWRSHQHGWKHJDWHV SODQQLQJDQGDWWHQWLRQWRGHWDLOKHWXUQHGWKH/RQGRQOHJ WRDFDGHPLFVWXGLHVRIQRQFDQRQLFDO+ROPHVLDQ¿FWLRQ RIWKHH[KLELWLRQLQWRDVXFFHVVZLWKRYHUYLVLWRUV In Sherlock’s World , Professor McClellan examines many LQWRWDO2QWKHWK)HEUXDU\-DFNDQGWKHUHVWRIWKH of the ways in which the Moffat-Gatiss 21st century ³)LYH &RJV´ ZKR ZHUH JHWWLQJ WKH ([KLELWLRQ UHDG\ ³UHLPDJLQLQJ´RI&RQDQ'R\OH¶VFUHDWLRQKDVLWVHOIEHHQ %LOO:LOOLDPV )UHGD 3HDUFH7RQ\ +RZOHWW DQG &ROLQ reimagined by hundreds — probably thousands — of 3UHVWLJH SRSSHG DORQJ WR WKH SXE IRU D ZHOOHDUQHG the programme’s fans. It’s a situation made possible by EUHDN² DQGWKH6KHUORFN+ROPHV6RFLHW\RI /RQGRQ the technology that enables both instantaneous global ZDVERUQ,WZDVVDLG7RQ\+RZOHWW³WKHPRVWIDWHIXO communication with like-minded people and a new, free GDWHLQWKHKLVWRU\RIWKHZRUOG´ and largely unedited means of publication; and it goes After the highs came the lows. The Estate being well beyond the simple desire for more tales of the Great strapped for cash, Denis and Adrian Conan Doyle, Detective. with Adrian’s wife Anna, saw the New York leg of the Many Game of Thrones enthusiasts have objected to exhibition’s journey as a sure way of raising money. the series’ conclusion, which didn’t take the course they Jack’s expertise was enlisted, and the whole show was wanted, but the idea that the fans, not the creators, are transported by sea to New York. What followed was the true owners had already been expressed in various classic Adrian: money being syphoned off, and Jack ways by devotees of Sherlock , not least in the stories they WDNLQJWKH ÀDN IRU WKHSRRU SODQQLQJDQG PDQDJHPHQW devised. The most usual theme is an erotic relationship of the Doyle trio. The exhibition opened on the 2nd July EHWZHHQ+ROPHVDQG:DWVRQLQGH¿DQFHRI0DUN*DWLVV and closed on the 16th August. and Steven Moffat’s clear statements; others depict A fascinating story with legacies still going strong +ROPHVDQG0RULDUW\DVORYHUVRU0\FURIWDQG/HVWUDGH today: the Sherlock Holmes Collection at Westminster or — much more rarely — Molly Hooper and one of the 5HIHUHQFH /LEUDU\ DQG WKH 6KHUORFN +ROPHV SXE LQ men. The waters get muddier when the actors themselves Northumberland Street, Charing Cross both owe their are introduced as active characters in what’s called Real being to the Exhibition in Baker Street — and so, of 3HUVRQ)LFWLRQ« FRXUVHGRHVWKH6KHUORFN+ROPHV6RFLHW\RI/RQGRQ It’s a big and occasionally disturbing phenomenon: PG undeniably interesting, but I’m glad that Ann McClennan has saved me the necessity of researching it in depth. Sherlock Unlocked: Little-known Facts About the RJ World’s Greatest Detective by Daniel Smith. Michael O’Mara SS KEN
Sherlock Holmes Journal Vol 34 No 2 95 Peter E. Blau: A Festschrift in Honor of the 60th and important contribution to our understanding of Anniversary of His Investiture in The Baker Street politics in nineteenth century Britain. Irregulars . The Baker Street Irregulars SS DJ SEN Given that only 149 copies have been printed, it is Baker Street Almanac 2019: An Annual Capsule unlikely that there will be any left now. But this is a Journal of a Timeless Past & Future edited by Ross E of record, and it would be downright rude not to mention this Davies. The Green Bag, Inc SS splendid little tribute to a very big man indeed in our hobby SEN RUGRZQORDGIUHHDWZZZJUHHQEDJRUJ of Sherlock Holmes. The substantial Holmesian sections of The Green Peter sees everything, goes everywhere and is involved Bag Almanac & Reader DQG SURYHG in more American Sherlockian groupings than anyone else. popular enough to justify this separate dedicated 2YHU KLV VL[ GHFDGHV SOD\LQJ ³WKH JUDQG JDPH´ KLV RZQ annual “in the form of a formidable scrap-book of RULJLQDOSKUDVH KHKDVPHWKHOSHGDQGDGYLVHGJHQHUDWLRQV 2018, including treasures created or uncovered then, of Holmesians; I am proud to be one of them. Here are with a few other odds and ends tossed in, and a FROOHFWHGXQGHUWKHHGLWRUVKLSRI/HV.OLQJHUDIIHFWLRQDWH glance ahead at 2019” . tributes from just about everyone who is anyone in the US There’s a summary of last year’s Holmesian Sherlockian world: Michael Whelan, Michael Kean, Steven DFWLYLWLHVDURXQGWKHZRUOG WKH8.VHFWLRQZLOOEH Rothman, Ray Betzner, Bob Katz, Evelyn Herzog and Daniel IXOOHUQH[W\HDU,SURPLVH SOXVWKHFRPSOHWH Stashower, to pick a few names at random. Scuttlebutt ² 3HWHU %ODX LV VWLOO ³QRW VXUH ZK\ We should not forget that Peter has been a member of DQ\RQH LV LQWHUHVWHG LQ ROG JRVVLS´ EXW RI FRXUVH the Society since 1965, and those of us lucky enough to there’s far more to it than that. The Commentaries, cross the Atlantic for, say, the Irregulars’ New York January Histories and Diversions include an important essay festivities, or to attend other Sherlockian meetings in other E\/\QGVD\)D\HRQ³µ&KDUOHV$XJXVWXV0LOYHUWRQ¶ parts of the country, automatically make a bee-line for that LQ WKH 3RVW0H7RR (UD´ D VKRUW KLVWRU\ RI 7KH OLWKH RFWRJHQDULDQ ¿JXUH LQ SRZGHUEOXH MDFNHW ZKR LV Norwegian Explorers of Minnesota, and a reprint of LQHYLWDEO\³ZRUNLQJWKHURRP´ a delightful 1915 parody. It is wonderful to report that he had no idea at all that The Green Bag is a legal journal with a sense of such a festschrift was being prepared: I have from all quarters KXPRXU VR DPRQJ WKH /LVWV DQG 2WKHU 5HFRUGV LV UHFHLYHGWKHQHZVWKDW3HWHUZDV³EORZQDZD\´ZKHQKHZDV Ira Brad Matetsky’s survey of Holmesian references presented with his copy in January. in US legal cases. Andrew Solberg provides a well- NU FRQVLGHUHG³6XJJHVWHG6KHUORFNLDQ/LEUDU\´PDLQO\ for the American reader. Greg Ruby looks at coins DQGPHGDOVLVVXHGLQ(PLO\0LUDQNHU¶V³QRQ Club Government: How the Early Victorian World Was H[KDXVWLYH´OLVWRIH[KLELWLRQVZKLFKRPLWVWKHWZR Ruled from London Clubs by Seth Alexander Thévoz. I.B. Sherlock Holmes Museums in Switzerland, will, Tauris SS KEN SEN I hope, be much fuller next year. Exceptionally At the Society’s Spring Meeting members were interesting to me is the illustrated inventory of Denny enthralled with Dr Thévoz’ meticulously researched talk. Dobry’s amazing re-creation of the famous sitting- In this book he addresses those persistent observations that, room at his house in Reading, PA. LQWKHPLGQLQHWHHQWKFHQWXU\PDQ\RIWKHPRVWVLJQL¿FDQW 7KHUH¶V PXFK PRUH LQ WKH Almanac , and debates and decisions of Government were initiated in the the sheer variety makes a proper review almost Gentlemen’s Clubs around St James’s. Dr Thévoz, Honorary impossible, but you can judge for yourselves at www. /LEUDULDQRI7KH1DWLRQDO/LEHUDO&OXEKDVKDGDFFHVVWR greenbag.org. the previously sealed archives of many of these Clubs, and RJ KLVERRNLVWKH¿UVWWKRURXJKVWXG\RIWKHVXEMHFW$VEH¿WV DUHVHDUFK0HPEHURI1XI¿HOG&ROOHJHKLVEURDGUDQJHRI Conan Doyle & the Mysterious World of Light, analytical techniques has enabled the reader to understand 1887-1920 by Matt Wingett. Life Is Amazing . 322pp. WKHXQLTXH³&OXEJRYHUQPHQW´LQÀXHQFHRQ%ULWLVKSROLWLFV KEN SEN RI WKLV SHULRG 7KH ERRN FRQ¿UPV WKHLU KXJH LPSDFW RQ &RQDQ 'R\OH VDLG RI 6SLULWXDOLVP ³,¶P QRW :HVWPLQVWHUSROLWLFV DQG WKHLU LQÀXHQFH RQ WKH VKDSLQJ RI talking about what I think or what I believe . I’m modern British political culture — and, we must remember, talking about what I know ´,W¶VRIWHQDVVXPHGWKDWKLV our Parliamentary system was imitated across the world! belief in communication with the dead began during Dr Thévoz’ scholarly and readable book is an outstanding the Great War, when so many families lost fathers,
96 Sherlock Holmes Journal Vol 34 No 2 sons and brothers; in fact it started during his years as a further. All these adventures occur within the canonical GP in Southsea, when he created Sherlock Holmes, and to period, from 1919 to the end of World War II, and all KLP6SLULWXDOLVPZDVDVVFLHQWL¿FDVPHGLFLQHRUGHWHFWLRQ are as faithful as the writers can make them to the style Here are all his articles and letters published in Light , with and spirit of Derleth’s stories. Besides David Marcum reports and comments — for, against and neutral — from and Derrick Belanger, the authors include Jayantika newspapers and other magazines, all illuminated by Matt Ganguly, Mark Mower, Mark Wardecker — and Bob Wingett’s intelligent and balanced narrative. Byrne, whose Solar Pons Gazette helped keep the RJ ÀDPHDOLJKWLQWKHGDUN\HDUV ZZZVRODUSRQVFRP All royalties from the book go to the Beacon Society’s Jan The Crossing, or Three Authors in Search of a Stauber Grant Fund. Character: A Play by Barbara Rusch. The Friends of the RJ Arthur Conan Doyle Collection, Toronto Public Library Foundation SS&GQ SEN IURP'RQQ\ The True Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: The =DOGLQ HPDLOGRQDOG]DOGLQ#URJHUVFRP Annotated Edition by Terence Faherty. Gasogene ,Q-XO\ (GJDU$OODQ3RH2VFDU:LOGHDQG+DUU\ Books SS SEN Houdini are waiting in a sort of huis clos antechamber to Dramatists devise alternative versions of canonical know what task has been set them by the celestial Editor. The stories, and so do parodists and satirists. Others, like melancholic Poe is only too aware of his faults, but it takes Jim Goehmann and Partha Basu, aim to illuminate WKHEUDVKVKRZPDQ+RXGLQLDQGWKHÀDPER\DQWO\DVVHUWLYH certain aspects of the stories. Some are impelled by Wilde some time to admit to their own. Meanwhile, they imaginative curiosity: what if Holmes had turned left bicker, even when they learn that one of them will have the instead of right? — that sort of thing. Here are what privilege of conducting the newly deceased Arthur Conan purport to be Dr Watson’s original records of eleven Doyle to the next level. From somewhere above them, a cases, before he revised them for The Strand Magazine . 0\VWHU\ ,QWHUORSHU¶V FRPPHQWV LQLWLDOO\ XQDSSUHFLDWHG /HVOLH .OLQJHU VD\V WKH\¶UH ³REVFHQHO\ IXQQ\´ DQG , HVSHFLDOO\E\:LOGH JUDGXDOO\VWHHUWKHWKUHHYHU\GLIIHUHQW can’t disagree, but above all they’re dazzlingly clever. personalities towards an understanding of each other’s The real Holmes, we’re told, is sociable, plays the banjo EHWWHUTXDOLWLHV³,WLVEHWWHUWROHDUQZLVGRPODWHWKDQQHYHU and has a taste for beer, while Watson’s marriage is less WROHDUQLWDWDOO´ WKDQLG\OOLF7KH³.LQJRI%RKHPLD´LVDQ avant-garde Summarised thus, it all sounds very worthy, and so it artist, anxious to protect his socially acceptable identity is; it’s also very entertaining, the more so because much DVD6RFLHW\SRUWUDLWSDLQWHU7KHHYHQWVRI³7KH%OXH of the dialogue is taken from each author’s own writings, &DUEXQFOH´LWDSSHDUVZHUHODWHUH[WHQVLYHO\DGDSWHG along with Conan Doyle’s. I’d love to see The Crossing E\'DVKLHOO+DPPHWWZKRUHORFDWHGWKHHYHQWVWR V staged, but this attractive book, illustrated with items from America and invented his own investigator. Elements of Barbara Rusch’s world-class collection of ephemera, is a ³7KH%HU\O&RURQHW´RPLWWHGIURPWKHRI¿FLDODFFRXQW good substitute. ZRXOGODWHUEHWKHEDVLVIRU³6LOYHU%OD]H´0U)DKHUW\¶V RJ annotations are a bonus, but Watson’s notes to himself are a delight: “Child’s play. (Not memorable enough. The New Adventures of Solar Pons: Tales of the Rudimentary? Elementary?) …” One such accounts for Sherlock Holmes of Praed Street edited by David WKHDEVHQWWZHOIWKVWRU\³7KH6SHFNOHG%DQG´ Marcum. Belanger Books SS RJ SEN 6RODU 3RQV VWLOO KDV DV 9LQFHQW 6WDUUHWW REVHUYHG ³D The Art of Sherlock Holmes: West Palm Beach twinkle in his eye, which tells us that he knows he is not Edition conceived and curated by Phil Growick. MX Sherlock Holmes, and knows that we know it, but hopes Publishing SS KEN WKDWZHZLOOOLNHKLPDQ\ZD\IRUZKDWKHV\PEROLVHV´/DVW This big, handsome book is the realisation of Mr year David Marcum’s collection The Papers of Solar Pons Growick’s plan to commission an illustration each from followed Belanger’s welcome eight-volume edition of painters in his home city of West Palm Beach, Florida August Derleth’s original stories, and enlarged the Pontine IRU¿IWHHQQHZ6KHUORFN+ROPHVVWRULHV6RPHRIWKH FDQRQ ZHOO EH\RQG 'HUOHWK¶V H[SHFWDWLRQV 0HDQZKLOH authors’ names are reassuringly familiar: Mike Hogan, 363XEOLVKLQJKDGSURGXFHGWKHGH¿QLWLYHVHYHQYROXPH David Marcum, Mark Mower, Denis Smith, Daniel HGLWLRQRI%DVLO&RSSHU¶VDXWKRULVHGFKURQLFOHV Victor and others. The artists, whose styles include 1RZWKLVDQWKRORJ\RIWZHQW\WDOHVE\¿IWHHQDXWKRUV ³DEVWUDFW FRQWHPSRUDU\ GLJLWDO UHDOLVW PLQLPDOLVW takes the resurgence of Holmes’s protégé several steps V\PEROLVPRUDQDPDOJDPRIYDULRXVIRUPV´ZHUHDOO
Sherlock Holmes Journal Vol 34 No 2 97 unknown to me, but I’ll be looking out for more work by worthy attempt to bring that added twist to the world of some of them, at least. The original paintings are on display Sherlock Holmes. Many of the stories felt as confusing at the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens in West Palm Beach and non-linear as Watson’s dreams, but perhaps that until the 3rd June, and full-colour prints are available from is the difference between the natural and supernatural WKH &RQDQ 'R\OH (VWDWH /WG DW HDFK KWWSV VKRS worlds. FRQDQGR\OHHVWDWHFRP PHPEHUVRIWKH6RFLHW\FDQDSSO\ VS WKHSURPRFRGH³VKVO´IRUDGLVFRXQW $VKDUHRIWKH proceeds from the book and the prints goes to Stepping Artie Conan Doyle and the Vanishing Dragon by Stones School at Undershaw, and charities in West Palm Robert J Harris. Kelpies SS SEN Beach and Nairobi. This is the second in a series of books aimed RJ DW \RXQJHU 6KHUORFN +ROPHV DQG FULPH ¿FWLRQ D¿FLRQDGRV$V D SHUVRQ ZKR GHYRXUHG HYHU\ VLQJOH The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories — Part children’s crime novel the public library had to offer, XIII: 2019 Annual (1881-1890), Part XIV: 2019 Annual I must confess to a soft spot for kids’ crime in general, (1891-1897) and Part XV: 2019 Annual (1898-1917) and I am happy to say that this book did not disappoint. edited by David Marcum. MX Publishing SS $UWLH ZKR ZLOO RQH GD\ JURZ XS WR EH $UWKXU 3DUW ;,,, SS 3DUW ;,9 SS 3DUW ;9 (DFK &RQDQ'R\OH DQGKLVIULHQG(GZDUG³+DP´+DPLOWRQ KEN SEN hanker for an adventure that would get them out of The series began just four years ago, and here are sixty- tedious schoolwork. Such is the lot of those who six new adventures. Some of the authors have already taste adventure once: life without a crime to solve been mentioned; others include Marino Alvarez, Hugh seems mundane and dull to the boys. Fortunately, an Ashton, S.F. Bennett, Matthew Booth, Jay Ganguly, Carl LQYLWDWLRQFDUGDUULYHVDQGWKH\VRRQ¿QGWKHPVHOYHV +HLIHW].HOYLQ-RQHV*D\OH/DQJH3XKO7UDF\5HYHOV6 backstage at a magic show in the centre of a mystery Subramanian, Tim Symonds and Sean M Wright. And I’m once again. The plot revolves around rival magicians GHOLJKWHG WR ¿QG SUHYLRXVO\ XQSXEOLVKHG UDGLR VFULSWV E\ literally trying to steal one another’s shows. Artie and /HVOLH&KDUWHULV 'HQLV*UHHQDQGWKHODWH-LP)UHQFK Ham are soon skulking around the back stages and 1HLWKHU HGLWRU QRU DXWKRUV ZLOO EHQH¿W ¿QDQFLDOO\ DV DOO prop stores of theatres and making friends with some royalties go towards the conservation of Undershaw, Conan truly colourful characters. I found the mystery well put Doyle’s former Surrey home, which now houses Stepping together and the settings atmospheric. As it’s aimed at Stones School. The books are treasurable and the cause is a younger readership, the crimes are of the non-deadly excellent. variety, which may be refreshing to adult readers of RJ crime. The paperback book itself as an object was also endearing with its reproductions of handwritten notes Warlock Holmes: The Sign of Nine By G.S. Denning. and the addition of a card like the ones Ham and Artie Titan Books SS SEN receive — not something easily reproducible for an With a resurgence of Holmes pastiche, there have been e-book version. I especially enjoyed the vividness of enough to meet everyone’s interests. For those who like the world. The author clearly did his research on the a bit of sorcery, dreams and supernatural characters, G.S. period and especially on the Victorians’ taste in theatre Denning’s Warlock Holmes may be just the ticket. The nine and entertainment. The theatrical world as a setting also stories in this fourth volume excel in conveying a sense of allowed for characters to be a bit grandiose and larger- the known and unknown. Tone and pace work to keep in than-life. There was a good balance of the forward time with the original stories by utilising Dr John Watson momentum of the action and danger of the mystery as narrator, via his dreams and recounting of Holmes’s with quieter moments and time spent on building adventures. Familiar names such as Moriarty and Adler character backstories. I particularly liked that we got appear in the stories and dreams. Well-known Scotland to spend more time with the Doyle family, especially
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