#a letter from France

[gilgamushroom]

#this was all i could think about in that passage in lady frances #i am NOT dead i've just been drowning in work 👍🏼 #really hope to be able to go back to the tag soon lfw is one of life's joys #letters from watson #sherlock holmes

[skyriderwednesday]

I am... slowly coming to believe that Lady Frances Carfax is pre-Hiatus... Maybe even pretty early canon.

Current evidence (based on the first LFW part for this story):

Holmes thinks it's weird that Watson went to the Turkish Baths. (Holmes likes the Turkish Baths, he goes there with Watson! Unless this is before they start doing that, that is)

The story starts with Holmes explaining a simple series of deductions to Watson, which is much more common in stories set earlier on

Holmes is extremely casual about sending Watson out of the country on his own, which is odd considering how protective he tends to be of Watson in later stories (save when he sends him off to the middle of nowhere with a murderer, but I guess he figured that Amberley was no match for his Watson)

(Holmes is being weird about leaving the country in general, which could point to this being post-Hiatus, but at the same time it could just be the Holmes Genes - those which, for instance, make Mycroft stick to a routine so rigid it would be seen as a security risk these days)

Watson doesn't so much as comment on the last time he was in Switzerland (which was for The Final Problem)

Watson dismisses Holmes asking about the missionary's ear as a bad joke (he should know that Holmes asking for weird details is always important!)

Watson has been completely taken in by a Holmes disguise Again, which could just be Watson Being Bad At Recognising His Best Friend In Costumes, but it's also far more common in earlier stories.

#sherlock holmes #letters from watson #lady frances carfax #i reject your chronology and substitute my own #more to come when i think of it/when lfw gets to it

[shaykai]

“I love any man willing to birth a little more slithering, wet malice into the world.”

#I keep thinking about that letter gortash sent to Franc (the one that quote is from) and how uncomfy it is djdjdjdjjd can you imagine the #kind of shit he must’ve told durge? cause I can’t imagine it was anywhere near normal #anyways they bring out the worst in each other while simultaneously finding odd bits of solace in each others company have a good day #doodle #bg3 #durgetash #goretash #enver gortash #the dark urge #oc #Vat’il #tw blood #ask to tag #baldurs gate 3 #baldur’s gate 3

[euroquision]

Big Ol' Eurovision UPDATE!

Oh hi lovely people of tumblr. Sorry the updates haven't been as consistent here as they have been on things like my instagram and TikTok. There's been a LOT of work and effort being done and there's some very exciting/promising developments to share!

First off, I wrote an open letter called the "Artists' Statement to the EBU" which is available for any and all Eurovosion/National Final artists to read and sign if they so choose. It asks the EBU to take action and remove Israel from the 2024 contest. AND! It already has a signature!

France's 2023 representative La Zarra has already gotten in touch with me and signed the letter. You can read the letter for yourself and La Zarra's comments HERE. There are already a handful of other artists who I've connected with that would want to sign the letter, so things are incredibly hopeful!

If you want to help spread the word, please consider reaching out to or commenting at your favorite ESC artists across social media and let them know this letter exists and they won't be alone in sharing their voice. Thank you to everyone who has already done so much to support this effort and spread the word <33333

#free palestine #free gaza #eurovision #esc #eurovision song contest #france #la zarra #evidemment #open letter #ban israel from esc #united by genocide

[thefisherqueen]

Sherlock Holmes was too irritable for conversation and too restless for sleep. I left him smoking hard, with his heavy, dark brows knotted together, and his long, nervous fingers tapping upon the arms of his chair, as he turned over in his mind every possible solution of the mystery. Several times in the course of the night I heard him prowling about the house. Finally, just after I had been called in the morning, he rushed into my room. He was in his dressing-gown, but his pale, hollow-eyed face told me that his night had been a sleepless one.

Sherlock 'cold rational machine without a heart' Holmes cares so much he's sleepless with worry

#letters from watson #sherlock holmes #The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax #my heart goes out to him

[dathen]

His hand was on my throat and my senses were nearly gone before an unshaven French ouvrier in a blue blouse darted out from a cabaret opposite, with a cudgel in his hand, and struck my assailant a sharp crack over the forearm, which made him leave go his hold.

GASP WHO MIGHT BE THIS MYSTERIOUS DASHING RESCUER—

“Well, Watson,” said he, “a very pretty hash you have made of it!”

*pretends to be shocked*

I’m also tickled that Holmes is hiding undercover at a cabaret to keep an eye on Watson.

#letters from watson #a pretty little hash indeed!! #lady frances carfax

[stephensmithuk]

The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax

Part of His Last Bow, this was published in 1911, this another one that is not titled "The Adventure of".

Turkish baths had become very popular in London by this time. Most of them have closed over the decades, but there are still a few around, including the Casa Spa on Edgware Road.

Scholar consensus is that Watson was born in 1852. They agree less on the setting of this story - 1901 not 1902 is the consensus - but Watson is pushing 50 here.

Crédit Lyonnais was the world's largest bank by total assets in the early 1900s. It merged with Crédit Agricole in 2003, with the retail branches bearing the name LCL to this day.

It was actually three pence a word for a telegram to Switzerland in 1902 with a minimum 10d charge. Germany and France were 2d each. It would be a shilling or more to the USA, depending on which state the message was going to. (Source: January 1902 Post Office Guide: https://www.gbps.org.uk/information/sources/po-guides/Post%20Office%20Guide%201902%20(1st%20January).pdf)

Lausanne in Switzerland is home to the International Olympic Committee and a 28-station metro system, the smallest city in the world (population c.140,000) with one.

The general consensus of scholars is that Baden refers to what is now Baden-Baden in Germany, not Baden in Switzerland.

A mob cap is a round pleated bonnet with a caul to cover the hair, typically worn indoors.

Barberton in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa was home to a short-lived gold rush from 1884 onwards.

"Pensions" are small guest houses that will offer full-board (all meals) or half-board (all meals except lunch) to guests.

The requirement of foreign visitors to register with the police is still a thing in some European countries, although if you are staying at a hotel, campsite etc. they will take care of that for you - that's why they take a copy of your passport. Britain actually had it for some foreign arrivals until 2022, when it was finally abolished.

The Sea of Azof - or rather the Sea of Azov today - is the small inland sea to the north of the Black Sea, surrounded by Ukraine and Russia.

The average life expectancy for a woman born in 1901 was 52.4 years and a man 48.5; this was still a period of high infant mortality. However, it was entirely possible for someone to live into their 90s with luck - Queen Victoria's son Arthur lived to 91, dying in 1942.

Senility is now known as dementia.

Workhouses often served as de facto care homes for those without the money or family to stay in their own homes. Even after the abolition of workhouses in 1948 and the creation of the NHS, many of the buildings remained in use for that purpose, with over 50% of local authority accommodation for the elderly being former workhouses in 1960 (https://www.bgs.org.uk/resources/the-elderly-and-the-workhouse). One can only imagine how many elderly people were taken to those buildings with terror in their minds.

#letters from watson #sherlock holmes #history #factoids #acd canon #lady frances carfax #LADY

[armagnac-army]

greetings my dear fellow !

[ places a brick Very Gently in your hands ]

do what you will with this

@france-hater

Hey you weird swede! Still cant believe you became king of sweden how the devil did that even happen????

ANYWAY

this is a fuckin brick.

Heard bout you throwing bricks at people!! Glad your not throwing a brick at me, it wouldnt do shit anyway im already made of rock and all cracked up inside but i have just un question apart from the obvious “what the fuck is wrong with you”

WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU GETTING ALL THESE BRICKS FROM

THE BRICK STORE????

#dispatches from the marshal #letters intercepted for the marshal's eyes #france-hater

[mariana-oconnor]

The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax pt 1

Well, that title is a little different from the usual ones.

“The bath!” he said; “the bath! Why the relaxing and expensive Turkish rather than the invigorating home-made article?”

So Watson has been to the Turkish baths? As part of a 'alternative' lifestyle. Right. Got it. Okay then.

Nice to have an introduction of Holmes teasing Watson with deductions about him.

“One of the most dangerous classes in the world,” said he, “is the drifting and friendless woman. She is the most harmless and often the most useful of mortals, but she is the inevitable inciter of crime in others."

I'd like to congratulate Holmes here on giving such an incredible example of victim blaming. Just, beautifully done. Pure, unsullied victim blaming. And in such a way that it blames all single female victims. Bravo.

"There is one correspondent who is a sure draw, Watson. That is the bank. Single ladies must live, and their passbooks are compressed diaries."

I assume that this is specifically vs married ladies who would not have to handle their own money, but the way it's phrased does make me chuckle. Because no one else must live except Single ladies, and no one else uses banks.

"Besides, on general principles it is best that I should not leave the country. Scotland Yard feels lonely without me, and it causes an unhealthy excitement among the criminal classes."

Lestrade when Sherlock goes away.

So Holmes is just sending Watson on holiday? Is this just because Watson's feeling rheumatic and old? Is there even a case? Historically, though, Watson has never done all too well on his own - at least according to Holmes. He usually misses every piece of information Holmes would like him to get.

Marie Devine, the maid, was as popular as her mistress. She was actually engaged to one of the head waiters in the hotel...

That explains the money given to her, then.

He connected the sudden departure with the visit to the hotel a day or two before of a tall, dark, bearded man. “Un sauvage—un véritable sauvage!” cried Jules Vibart.

Do we have anyone else's word about this other than the maid and her waiter's?

Only one thing Jules would not discuss. That was the reason why Marie had left her mistress.

So it... wasn't to marry him? That seems like a reason to me, but I don't really know, I suppose. I would have assumed she just left because she wanted to get married to someone who loved in Lausanne. It would definitely be easier if she didn't have to leave Lausanne whenever Lady Frances wanted.

While there she had made the acquaintance of a Dr. Shlessinger and his wife, a missionary from South America. Like most lonely ladies, Lady Frances found her comfort and occupation in religion. Dr. Shlessinger's remarkable personality, his whole hearted devotion, and the fact that he was recovering from a disease contracted in the exercise of his apostolic duties affected her deeply. She had helped Mrs. Shlessinger in the nursing of the convalescent saint.

These people seem suspicious. But I can't say why. Maybe just because they seem too religious to be true. A disease contracted in the exercise of his duties? It just kind of feels like a scam to me. Maybe I'm wrong.

“None; but he was an Englishman, though of an unusual type.” “A savage?” said I, linking my facts after the fashion of my illustrious friend.

I mean... objection: leading the witness springs to mind. Don't give a person a description, ask them for a description, Watson.

Already the mystery began to define itself, as figures grow clearer with the lifting of a fog.

I'm pretty sure you're just creating a whole new smoke cloud to add to the fog so you can see even less, but sure.

I'm not 100% convinced this savage wasn't Holmes himself in disguise, but I am a very suspicious person.

In reply I had a telegram asking for a description of Dr. Shlessinger's left ear. Holmes's ideas of humour are strange and occasionally offensive, so I took no notice of his ill-timed jest...

I don't think that was a joke, Watson. I think he actually wanted to know about the guy's ear.

“You are an Englishman,” I said. “What if I am?” he asked with a most villainous scowl. “May I ask what your name is?” “No, you may not,” said he with decision. The situation was awkward, but the most direct way is often the best.

You've already been fairly direct, Watson. Running up to a random person and declaring their nationality without even stopping to say bonjour is kind of rude.

And now you're getting attacked.

“Well, Watson,” said he, “a very pretty hash you have made of it! I rather think you had better come back with me to London by the night express.”

I mean, I hate to say I told you so, Watson but I really did tell you so. Holmes, why do you let Watson go unsupervised when he never manages to do what you want? I know Lestrade would pine without you, but I'm sure he could cope for a few weeks. Probably.

Current theory is that Holmes only sent Watson so he could get some fresh Alpine air. As to what happened to Lady Frances, I have no idea. But I think maybe the 'savage' is on her side, not against her.

#Letters from Watson #The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax #Sherlock Holmes #long post

[pinkvaquita]

Do I hc that probably many of the Saint Pastry Order members are european (especificaly French, German, Polish, Italian and Spanish) because the Saint Inquisition had really strong grip in there?

Yes.

Do I especificaly hc Pastry as spanish just because I keep relativo songs in spanish language with her and my oc, and I choose spanish insteed of another hispanic country because there is no way Pastry is latina and this purely base in self-indulgence?

Also yes.

#Spain and French are in bold letter for a reasson #Because the medieval saint Inquisition started in the south of france #And the Spanish one because the Spanish Inquisition one was made specifically to go againts people of other religións that weren't catholic #Yes there is a diference #The french (and the one in the majority of europe) was just agains catholics that were following different versions of the religion #And also. That one was more in control of the Pope insteed of the royalty #But spain wanted an excuse to go after the jewish and muslims. Sooo they made one that was under the control of royalty insteed of the pope #(this info is from Wikipedia and I just read it. I don't know how truth it is. I will update.) #cookie run kingdom #cookie run #crk #cr kingdom #pastry cookie #st pastry order #tw religious themes #tw religion

[47gaslamps]

Isn't there... you know... a doctor in in the room? A medical professional, with no particular boundary issues toward the woman in need of medical assistance?

Philip Green has shown himself to have genuine sacrificial love for Lady Frances. It could happen on its own. But the matchmaking from Holmes to force the issue is not appreciated. By B-G chronology, knowing what makes for a healthy marriage is the one thing he's actually gotten worse at since the early days.

#letters from watson #sherlock holmes #the disappearance of lady frances carfax

[no-side-us]

Letters From Watson Liveblog - Nov. 15

The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax, Part 2 of 3

It's very rude, and I kind of feel bad for basically saying the same thing about Watson earlier. This case is definitely more jarring compared to the ending of The Three Garridebs, where it was all nice and loving.

There are so many characters in these stories where it's just some guy who met a woman a long time ago and has never stopped loving her and is now back in her life, either on purpose or by happenstance. I assume it was a popular trope back then or something.

Hey, I was correct about the ear! Anyway, the fact that Dr. Shlessinger/Holy Peters frequently preys on lonely women for their riches makes him sort of a unique villain. Not to say that Holmes hasn't faced people before who have preyed on women, but here it's apparently this guy's whole modus operandi. He's known for it.

I'm assuming this was a reference people would have gotten in the time and not just some flavor to round out Philip Green's backstory.

I sincerely hope the strange questionings of why they're having a funeral for their victim leads somehow to Lady Frances actually being alive at the end. I don't see how that could be, but I can hope.

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3

#letters from watson #the disappearance of lady frances carfax #sherlock holmes #john h watson #lady frances carfax #philip green #inspector lestrade #holy peters #dr shlessinger #fraser #mrs shlessinger #arthur conan doyle #liveblogging sherlock holmes

[red-umbrella-811]

Holmes never thinks that tho :(

#sherlock holmes #letters from watson #the disappearance of lady frances carfax

[elisaenglish]

En Écho au Lacrimosa Dies Illa

“We do not escape into philosophy, psychology, and art—we go there to restore our shattered selves into whole ones.”

-Anaïs Nin, The New Woman-

My body is a broken thing on this flight to Paris, and the rain knows not of what to bring, to help my soul to bear...

#writing #quote #women writers #love #loss #death #meaning #all eternal things #love in a time of... #the places you have come to fear the most #the same deep water as you #laid bare #letters from the wasteland #inside of me #i grieve #ars poetica #when in france #melancholy skies #four years later #some anniversaries you never forget #probably should've been a poem #this is how it goes #elisa english #elisaenglish

[thefisherqueen]

I turned to thank my preserver, who stood beside me in the roadway.

“Well, Watson,” said he, “a very pretty hash you have made of it! I rather think you had better come back with me to London by the night express.”

It was Holmes who saved him! :) :) So glad Watson isn't alone anymore. A bit dissapointed, however, at today's lack of heartfelt emotions and love realisations and "for god's sake, say that you're not hurt!" Would have loved another 'It was worth it being strangled..." xD

#we can't be spoilt like that each time I guess #letters from watson #sherlock holmes #The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax

[dathen]

To Holmes I wrote showing how rapidly and surely I had got down to the roots of the matter. In reply I had a telegram asking for a description of Dr. Shlessinger's left ear. Holmes's ideas of humour are strange and occasionally offensive, so I took no notice of his ill-timed jest—indeed, I had already reached Montpellier in my pursuit of the maid, Marie, before his message came.

More details that make me think this is an early case: Later-years Watson might be annoyed with this response, but it would be more along the lines of “Okay what solution are you going to pull out of your ass based on THAT” rather than “I’m just going to ignore this tomfoolery.”

#letters from watson #lady frances carfax