tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084607686570359807.post3426349330841362691..comments2024-03-04T07:05:12.419-08:00Comments on Dan Andriacco's Baker Street Beat: Dr. Watson, Press Agent?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084607686570359807.post-55787183169613995012013-10-26T11:02:17.248-07:002013-10-26T11:02:17.248-07:00The sentence should read "As for Roylott, SPE...The sentence should read "As for Roylott, SPEC took place in 1883 and it is obvious that Roylott was *not* familiar with Holmes..."James C. O'Learyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13866010043246236340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084607686570359807.post-21413284432039081282013-10-25T11:25:12.680-07:002013-10-25T11:25:12.680-07:00I have to disagree. Only three stories were publis...I have to disagree. Only three stories were published while Holmes was actively detecting: STUD (1887), SIGN (1890) and HOUN (1901-2). Adventures and Memoirs were published after Holmes' presumed May 1891 death and the Return saw print as Holmes was retiring. Holmes was indifferent to Watson's plan to publish the details of the Jefferson Hope case. ("It is wonderful!" I cried. "Your merits should be publicly recognized. You should publish an account of the case. If you won't, I will for you." "You may do what you like, Doctor," he answered.)<br /><br />When STUD saw the light day Holmes was less that complementary ("Honestly, I cannot congratulate you upon it." etc.) and later jokingly complains that he has to go out in disguise because the criminal classes are too familiar with Watson's work. In fact by the time STUD appeared in Beeton's, Holmes' name was already ringing through Europe due to his exposure of Baron Maupertius' colossal schemes in the Netherland-Sumatra Company fraud. By that time he needed no PR guy. He was the consulting detective to three reigning houses of Europe before the Strand adventures hit the streets. When Holmes returned from the Great Hiatus, he forbade Watson from publishing anything before he retired in 1903. The one exception is HOUN which is told as a past case and as if Holmes was still dead.<br /><br />As for Roylott, SPEC took place in 1883 and it is obvious that Roylott was familiar with Holmes: ""Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official detective force!" The no-good doctor must have overheard Helen talking with Mrs. Farintosh about Holmes and assumed he was with the official police ("Holmes the Scotland Yard jack-in-office."). <br /><br />Maybe Holmes did want Watson to be his Boswell, but as with Boswell, wait until he was dead or at least not in active practice before publishing. Holmes rarely show anything other than a disregard and contempt for Watson's efforts--even when he called him his Boswell or biographer there was just the unsuccessful and unread STUD in print. It may have been more gibe than complement.James C. O'Learyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13866010043246236340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084607686570359807.post-57335823383857217922013-10-25T07:36:30.887-07:002013-10-25T07:36:30.887-07:00Good points, all.
Thanks.Good points, all.<br />Thanks.JohnFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13294886206454693626noreply@blogger.com