#godfrey emsworth

[no-side-us]

Letters From Watson Liveblog - Dec. 6

The Blanched Soldier, Part 3 of 3

Godfrey's no good, very bad day; from getting shot, crawling through the freezing cold, only to wind up in a leper's bed of all places.

Leprosy is one of those things I've heard of but have never really learned about. Seems like lepers were treated quite harshly then based on what Godfrey's putting himself through.

What a miracle of a happy ending. I suppose it's nice, though a bit too convenient. Overall, another fine story elevated by the fact that Holmes is the one narrating and Watson's absence is decidedly felt throughout it.

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3

#letters from watson #the blanched soldier #sherlock holmes #john h watson #godfrey emsworth #colonel emsworth #mrs emsworth #ralph the butler #mr kent #james saunders #arthur conan doyle #liveblogging sherlock holmes

[holmesillustrations]

Vote for your favourite, the top 9 will proceed in the bracket. Since theyre all different shapes and sizes, make sure to click into the full views!

Paget Eliminations // Other Artist Eliminations

Full captions and details for each illustration below the cut:

[Caption illegible] Charles Doyle, Study in Scarlet (1888 Ward, Lock, & Co. Novel) Characters: Watson, Baker St Irregulars, Holmes

"Standing on the rug between us." WH Hyde, Naval Treaty (Harper’s Weekly) Characters: Watson, Lord Holdhurst, Holmes

"Well, gentlemen, you have the drop on me this time." FD Steele, Dancing Men (Collier’s) Characters: Abe Slaney, Holmes, Insp Martin, Watson

"Yes, sir, it is a crushing blow," said the old man." FD Steele, Golden Pince-Nez (Collier’s) Characters: Prof Coram, Holmes

"He drew a zinc pail from under the sink." Arthur Twidle, Wisteria Lodge (The Strand) Characters: Baynes, Holmes

"Slowly she advanced, her face pale and drawn with a frightful apprehension." HM Brock, Red Circle (The Strand) Characters: Leverton, Watson, Black Gorgiano, Holmes, Gregson, Emilia Lucca

"Oh, Jack, I implore you to give it up!" Arthur Keller, Valley of Fear (1915 US Novel) Characters: Ettie Shafter, Douglas/McMurdo

"For God's sake, go back to your room!' he cried." Frank Wiles, Valley of Fear (The Strand) Characters: Mrs Douglas, Cecil Barker

"Your revolver," Sherlock told the aghast Watson, "is involved in this murder." GP Nelson, Thor Bridge (Hearst’s International) Characters: Holmes, Watson, Sgt Coventry

"Why did he ever drag you into it at all?" asked our visitor." HK Elcock, Three Garridebs (The Strand) Characters: Holmes, Watson, Nathan Garrideb

"It was his face that held my gaze. He was deadly pale — never have I seen a man so white." FD Steele, Blanched Soldier (Liberty) Characters: James Dodd, Godfrey Emsworth

"I felt a hand inside my collar, and a voice said: "Now, you rascal, what are you doing in there?"Frank Wiles, Retired Colourman (The Strand) Characters: Holmes, Barker

#acd holmes #sherlock holmes #tumblr bracket #sherlock holmes illustrations #elim poll #oa elim

[eirinstiva]

I wanted to write something profound about the first part of "The adventure of the blanched soldier" (or "El soldado de la piel descolorida" in Spanish) but all the things that James M. Dodd is doing to see his friend Godfrey Emsworth and how Holmes misses Watson just melted my heart and mind so my brain is useless for now. Too many feelings in this story

#letters from watson #sherlock holmes #acd canon #the blanched soldier #BLAN #letters in the underground

[mariana-oconnor]

The Blanched Soldier pt 1

...however following an unhappy circumstance involving his writing hand and some amateur attempts at carpentry I have taken it upon myself to write to you in his stead.

What did Watson do to his hand? What carpentry was he attempting? Inquiring minds want to know.

And we're getting this one from the horse's mouth, so to speak. That'll be interesting. A lot of the drama in Watson's stories comes from the fact we don't know what Holmes is thinking and we have to try to work it out through context clues. I wonder how it will wor with Holmes as narrator.

Perhaps I have rather invited this persecution, since I have often had occasion to point out to him how superficial are his own accounts and to accuse him of pandering to popular taste instead of confining himself rigidly to facts and figures.

I am compelled to admit that, having taken my pen in my hand, I do begin to realize that the matter must be presented in such a way as may interest the reader.

A confederate who foresees your conclusions and course of action is always dangerous, but one to whom each development comes as a perpetual surprise, and to whom the future is always a closed book, is indeed an ideal helpmate.

An ideal helpmate for your ego, is my best guess. I'm not sure how else to take this. Also, your ability to insult Watson while trying to compliment him is, as ever, a delight. Though probably not to Watson - not that he has any legs to stand on in the matter of insulting people in his writing.

The good Watson had at that time deserted me for a wife, the only selfish action which I can recall in our association.

Wife number 2? Wife number 5? Wife number 627?

How dare Watson have other people in his life. How dare he!

“Middlesex Corps, no doubt.” “That is so. Mr. Holmes, you are a wizard.”

“Yes, indeed. But the letter was written in the afternoon, and a good deal has happened since then. If Colonel Emsworth had not kicked me out—”

Alas, a colonel. I thought perhaps after last time ACD had got over his irrational hatred of them, but we shall see. Colonel Emsworth, I am watching you!

"He was Colonel Emsworth's only son—Emsworth, the Crimean V. C.—and he had the fighting blood in him, so it is no wonder he volunteered."

Does 'fighting blood' mean that he's just super aggressive and can't control his temper? I'm worried that's what it means. But instead of being a bad thing, it's a good thing because he's in the army and his dad's a colonel?

“Well, when the war was over, and we all got back, I wrote to his father and asked where Godfrey was. No answer. I waited a bit and then I wrote again. This time I had a reply, short and gruff. Godfrey had gone on a voyage round the world, and it was not likely that he would be back for a year."

OK, so we presumably have another case of a father covering up some 'shame' or 'scandal' that requires him to place his reputation above his child. Something's very wrong with Godfrey.

"I wrote to the mother, therefore [...] In reply I had quite an amiable answer from her and an offer to put me up for the night."

So the colonel is apparently keeping this scandal from his wife as well. The other offence of poor communication with your romantic partner is also in play. A classic Holmes tale.

“Tuxbury Old Hall is inaccessible—five miles from anywhere."

Look, I may be from Britain where distances are smaller, but even I don't think 5 miles is that far. Even if you're walking it. If you're a slow walker that's still 2 hours at most. Mr Dodd was in the army. You're telling me that an army guy thinks a 5-mile walk is inaccessible?

"...and there was his wife, who might have been older. She had been Godfrey's nurse, and I had heard him speak of her as second only to his mother in his affections, I was drawn to her in spite of her queer appearance."

You didn't describe her. What about her was queer? You can't just say that and not describe her. Does she have an elephant trunk instead of a nose? Three eyes? Do her earlobes droop to touch her shoulders?

“He glanced at the two which I handed him, and then he tossed them back. “‘Well, what then?’ he asked. “‘I was fond of your son Godfrey, sir. Many ties and memories united us. Is it not natural that I should wonder at his sudden silence and should wish to know what has become of him?’"

I know this is't going to be, but the vibes of 'son joins army, gets boyfriend, then comes out after leaving the army, but his strict military father is a homophobic jackass' are strong with this one.

He's 'on a voyage around the world'. He 'doesn't want to talk to you'. He needs 'a complete rerst and change'.

"The lady questioned me eagerly about her son, but the old man seemed morose and depressed. I was so bored by the whole proceeding that I made an excuse as soon as I decently could and retired to my bedroom."

You were bored? You cam here telling the woman you'd tell her about her son - who you claim to love - and then when you do the thing you promised her you would, you're too bored so you go to bed early. Clearly this woman is upset about her son and wants to hear about him. You damn well talk to her about him.

"...after a year of sleeping upon the veldt, Mr. Holmes, one is not too particular about one's quarters."

But 5 miles with a suitcase is still too far to walk and talking to one unhappy woman for one evening is too boring to endure. You must have been a terrible soldier, Mr Dodd. Apparently the only thing you managed to do in the army was sleep. Though, I suppose if all soldiers slept as much as you seem to have done, the world would be a better place.

I bet Watson wouldn't quibble at walking 5 miles. And he hurt his leg... or his arm... or some body part or other.

"'Is Godfrey dead?’ “He could not face my eyes. He was like a man hypnotized. The answer was dragged from his lips. It was a terrible and unexpected one. “‘I wish to God he was!’ he cried"

Dun dun duuuuuuuun!

A fate worse than death. Oh dear, what would be considered a fate worse than death in 1903? I mean, it obviously won't be that he's gay. I hope it isn't disability, scarring or mental illness.

It's going to be disability, scarring and mental illness, isn't it? I mean he's a man so at least it's not likely to be rape in literature of this time period, as it would almost certainly be for a female character. But I have a sneaking suspicion Godfrey's got PTSD or something like that and they're locking him up in the cellar. The title does imply some sort of physical aspect. Le sigh.

#Letters from Watson #The Blanched Soldier #Sherlock Holmes #long post

[thefisherqueen]

He strode up to Colonel Emsworth and shook him by the hand. “It is often my lot to bring ill-tidings and seldom good,” said he. “This occasion is the more welcome. It is not leprosy.” “What?” “A well-marked case of pseudo-leprosy or ichthyosis, a scale-like affection of the skin, unsightly, obstinate, but possibly curable, and certainly noninfective.

In a last-minute plot twist, it turns out that my suspicion that leprosy was too obvious a disease was indeed true. On the one hand, that is good news for this young man. On the other hand, storywise, it allows attitudes about leprosy and its enforced segragation to go unchallenged, so it is a safe way out of that tragedy.

I still want a Godfrey/James love story. We were robbed of the joyful reunion of those two now Godfrey knows he cannot infect James

#letters from watson #sherlock holmes #the blanched soldier #well that sure took a turn

[jabbage]

#Letters from Watson #lettersfromwatson

[kierrasreads]

The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier (The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes #3) by Arthur Conan Doyle Review

Plot

A Boer War veteran called James M. Dodd goes to the brilliant consulting detective Sherlock Holmes for help. James Dodd was worried because he had not heard from his good friend and fellow former soldier Godfrey Emsworth for some time. Godfrey Emsworth's father says that his son has gone on a voyage around the world, but James Dodd is not convinced. On a visit to the large country home of Godfrey Emerson's parents, James Dodd briefly sees his old friend appear at his bedroom window. He recognizes him even though his appearance has changed and his face has become very white. James Dodd later glimpses Godfrey Emerson inside a small building in the grounds of the large house. He comes to believe that his friend's family is keeping him against his will.

Discussion

This was an interesting story! I feel sorry for Godfrey, thankfully his condition is treatable after all. James seems like a loyal friend!

Rating

4/5

#kierra's reads #bookblr #john watson #sherlock holmes

[devoursjohnlock]

John Watson, James Sholto, and The Blanched Soldier

I haven’t been able to find any metas written about this, but TSOT was so long ago that perhaps parts of this have been discussed already. I read The Case-book of Sherlock Holmes recently, and since S4 appears to be all about the Case-book stories, it seems appropriate to write something on this one now. This story wasn’t at all what I expected it to be, even knowing Sherlock inside and out.

The Blanched Soldier is one of only two Sherlock Holmes stories that Holmes narrates himself:

“Speaking of my old friend and biographer, I would take this opportunity to remark that if I burden myself with a companion in my various little inquiries it is not done out of sentiment or caprice, but it is that Watson has some remarkable characteristics of his own to which in his modesty he has given small attention amid his exaggerated estimates of my own performances. A confederate who foresees your conclusions and course of action is always dangerous, but one to whom each development comes as a perpetual surprise, and to whom the future is always a closed book, is indeed an ideal helpmate.“

But of course, the bulk of this story is not about Holmes and Watson at all; it’s about two soldiers with a very close relationship.

“We formed a friendship--the sort of friendship which can only be made when one lives the same life and shares the same joys and sorrows.“

... 91-year old spoilers and more under the cut.

James Dodd comes to Holmes as a client. Holmes describes him as “a big, fresh, sunburned, upstanding Briton” (sigh... here it is that I miss my Watson). After Holmes deduces Dodd’s military career from his tan, his face, and his accessories, Dodd explains that he is worried about his missing friend Godfrey.

Godfrey Emsworth is the missing former soldier. In the end, it turns out he hasn’t actually been missing; he’s been in hiding on his father’s estate. He has forcibly become a recluse because believes that he’s contracted leprosy, leaving him disfigured and a danger to those around him.

So far, so obvious. On the surface, it seems clear that James Dodd is represented in The Sign of Three by John, and Godfrey Emsworth by James Sholto. But, hold on a minute. That’s not right.

Godfrey Emsworth was released from service after being shot in the shoulder. Hmm.

Godfrey’s father, Charles Emsworth, was also a military man, and very tough on his son. He’s described as a bully and a martinet, linking him to the another hard-nosed military character on Sherlock, Major Barrymore.

Handshake denied by the martinet. (The Hounds of Baskerville)

We tend to think of men like Barrymore and Major Reed, who John interviews during The Sign of Three, as stand-ins for John’s father. They disrespect his military career, and they dismiss him out of hand. They don’t value him. It hurts.

“You could be a used car salesman, for all I know.” (The Sign of Three)

Just before this interview is interrupted, Reed realizes where he recognizes John from. He says with a sneer, “You hang around with that detective... the one with the silly hat.” These interactions, while small, are all we’re given to explain John’s present character, so of course we run with them. It sounds like John’s father was homophobic, and it sounds like John has internalized that to some extent.

“I’m not his date!” (A Study in Pink)

Godfrey has an abusive military father. He’s courageous and reckless. He had a close relationship with another soldier, whom he cannot see again. He left the war with a bullet in the shoulder and a scandalous secret, leprosy, so he needs to hide himself away. When approached, he literally flees from the man who loves him.

Godfrey is John, not Sholto. But John hasn’t been disfigured. Where’s the parallel there?

In The Blanched Soldier, when Holmes finally exposes that Godfrey has been living on his father’s estate, he brings along a specialist on skin conditions, who discovers that Godfrey had not, in fact, contracted leprosy at all. His lesions are real, but the cause was not contagious, but psychosomatic. Oh.

It’s starting to look like John’s psychosomatic limp is not solely linked to feelings of uselessness.

Doyle chose to leave Watson out of this story entirely, as a participant, as a first-person narrator, or even as a third-person narrator (which there is precedent for in the Case-book), despite his direct relevance as both a doctor and a soldier. Doyle wanted Watson as far away from this story as he could possibly place him. It’s easy to see why Mofftiss decided that the relationship between James and Godfrey must actually be a part of John Watson’s secret backstory, and why they needed to create Sholto’s character in The Sign of Three particularly, and why they gave John a psychosomatic limp in A Study in Pink to begin with.

In The Sign of Three, Sherlock saves Sholto’s life, not John’s, from a physical threat. In The Blanched Soldier, Holmes saves Godfrey Emsworth from a life of shame and isolation, and reunites him with his partner. In the context of Sherlock, the Blanched Soldier case can’t be resolved by saving Sholto’s life – it’s John he needs to save. Sherlock cured John’s limp in A Study in Pink, but he still has more to do.

Interesting that we’re reminded of the limp once again in The Lying Detective.

It’s also interesting that there are parallels between James Dodd’s experiences with Godfrey Emsworth’s father and Holmes’ experiences with Victor Trevor’s father in The Gloria Scott. Sounds like John and Sherlock will have a lot to talk about.

We’ve been given pieces of The Blanched Soldier in an episode of every series so far: ASIP, THOB, TSOT, and TLD. This story isn’t resolved yet.

@may-shepard @tjlcisthenewsexy @vanetti​ @jenna221b​ @darlingtonsubstitution​ @green-violin-bow​ @gloriascott93​ @sarahthecoat​ @inevitably-johnlocked​ @ebaeschnbliah​ @gosherlocked​

#Sherlock #ACD #The Blanched Soldier #internalized homophobia #John's limp #Sholto #meta #TSOT #TLD

[audiobookblog]

Le soldat blanchi

James Dodd demande l’aide de Sherlock Holmes pour faire le point sur une étrange situation. Il est sans nouvelles de Godfrey Emsworth, un camarade de régiment. Pourtant, ce dernier lui est apparu une nuit, le teint livide, à la fenêtre. Sherlock Holmes, aidé de son fidèle ami le docteur Watson, arrivera-t-il à percer le mystère de cette disparition ? Sherlock Holmes est une des plus grandes…

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[audiobookers]

New Audiobook has been published on http://www.audiobook.pw/audiobook/le-soldat-blanchi/

Le soldat blanchi

James Dodd demande l’aide de Sherlock Holmes pour faire le point sur une étrange situation. Il est sans nouvelles de Godfrey Emsworth, un camarade de régiment. Pourtant, ce dernier lui est apparu une nuit, le teint livide, à la fenêtre. Sherlock Holmes, aidé de son fidèle ami le docteur Watson, arrivera-t-il à percer le mystère de cette disparition ? Sherlock Holmes est une des plus grandes figures de la culture populaire et son seul nom est synonyme de mystère policier, de brouillard londonien et de crimes énigmatiques. Depuis 1887, Sherlock Holmes est le détective privé par excellence. Devenu très rapidement un véritable mythe, avant même la sortie de sa soixantième et dernière aventure en 1927, Sherlock Holmes demeure pour certains un héros de fiction créé par Arthur Conan Doyle. Mais pour le plus grand nombre, c’est un homme qui a vraiment existé, dont les enquêtes sont rapportées par son ami, le docteur Watson. Les exploits de Sherlock Holmes ont été traduits dans le monde entier, ils ont été adaptés de multiples fois au théâtre, à la télévision, en BD et au cinéma.

[no-side-us]

Letters From Watson Liveblog - Dec. 4

The Blanched Soldier, Part 2 of 3

This line made me audibly laugh. I admittedly have never looked at cheese in the dark before, but I don't recall any cheese being particularly white enough to be used as a comparison here.

Holmes is narrating to us like we're Watson. "No doubt you've already pinpointed the most likely solution to the problem, my dear Wat- I mean, dear reader."

Godfrey's face has been compared to both cheese and a fish's belly, neither of which are things I think of when needing to describe something white. Also, why "bleached" instead of "blanched."

For fun, I think if Watson were there he would describe the scene as Holmes clumsily dropping his hat on the ground and taking a bit too long to pick it up. It'd also be written so the gloves are glossed over and ignored. "Holmes glanced readily at the hall-table, for what reason I could not grasp," etc., etc.

Props for writing what I think is a very believable excerpt from a Sherlock Holmes-authored monograph on ears.

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3

#letters from watson #the blanched soldier #sherlock holmes #john h watson #james m dodd #godfrey emsworth #colonel emsworth #ralph the butler #mrs emsworth #mr kent #arthur conan doyle #liveblogging sherlock holmes

[holmesillustrations]

Left: “"My first movement, Watson," said he, "must be in the direction of Blackheath."” Norwood Builder, Sidney Paget, The Strand Nov 1903 Characters: Holmes, Watson

Right: “He sprang back when he saw that I was looking at him and vanished into the darkness.” Blanched Soldier, HK Elcock, The Strand Nov 1926 Characters: James Dodd, Godfrey Emsworth

#acd holmes #sherlock holmes #tumblr bracket #sherlock holmes illustrations #polls #R2

[tiger-in-the-flightdeck]

‘Many people, Mr. Dodd,’ said he, ‘would take offence at your infernal pertinacity and would think that this insistence had reached the point of damned impertinence.’ 'You must put it down, sir, to my real love for your son.’

The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier Remember that time that the Sherlock Holmes Canon featured a blatant same-sex love story? And it was one incredible parallel after another to the relationship between Holmes and Watson? And Holmes spends a considerable amount of time on the case complaining about how much he misses his Watson? Canon.

#johnlock #james dodd #godfrey emsworth #the adventure of the blanched soldier #Sherlock Holmes

[no-side-us]

Letters From Watson Liveblog - Dec. 1

The Blanched Soldier, Part 1 of 3

Thinking about it now, the fact Watson is a doctor and has recreationally read medical texts and monographs before tells me that, if he wanted, he probably could write a very fact-based and rigid study of the adventures he's been on. The type of thing that Holmes would view rather more favorably than the "popular taste."

And now Holmes realizes why Watson writes the way he does, for a general audience and not studiers of observation. Does this mean Holmes is therefore attempting to mimic the way Watson writes? Which is a pretty good excuse on Doyle's part to not change writing styles.

Even in a story where Watson is absent, Holmes takes the opportunity as narrator to compliment Watson and his unique qualities.

I don't remember who this wife is supposed to be, but I'm pretty sure it's not Mary. Regardless, I love the implied bitterness from Holmes calling it a "selfish action" and the short line at the end simply stating "I was alone." You can tell he's lost without his Boswell.

Holmes astonishing Mr. Dodd with his observations, combined with his deduction of him as an army man, feels like a parallel to Holmes' first meeting with Watson.

There must be numerous interesting cases Holmes could have written about, but the fact he chose one about a man who has lost his best friend and is willing to do anything to get him back is such a good contextual way to show he misses Watson, if that was the intention.

For a story that is entirely absent of Watson, I sure have talked a lot about him in disregard to the actual plot. It's like one of those situations where a character's absence is in of itself a presence in the story. Anyways, Mr. Dodd loves Godfrey and isn't that swell.

He probably could've just said "no, he's not dead," but he's a butler, so he might as well be all cryptic about it.

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3

#letters from watson #the blanched soldier #sherlock holmes #john h watson #james m dodd #colonel emsworth #godfrey emsworth #mrs emsworth #ralph the butler #arthur conan doyle #liveblogging sherlock holmes #catch up catch up everybody everwhere

[holmesillustrations]

Left: “I dare say it was 20 seconds or so that i lay paralysed and watched its face. Then it vanished and i lay cold and shivering till morning.” Creeping Man, FD Steele, Hearst's International Mar 1923 Characters: Prof Presbury, Edith Presbury

Right: “He sprang back when he saw that I was looking at him and vanished into the darkness.” Blanched Soldier, HK Elcock, The Strand Nov 1926 Characters: James Dodd, Godfrey Emsworth

#acd holmes #sherlock holmes #tumblr bracket #sherlock holmes illustrations #polls #R1 #ooh this is kind of a fun battle actually #kind of the same vibe to both these

[holmesillustrations]

Left: “We ran round, and there lay the unfortunate rider.” Priory School, Sidney Paget, The Strand Feb 1904 Characters: Heidegger, Holmes, Watson

Right: “It was his face that held my gaze. He was deadly pale — never have I seen a man so white.” Blanched Soldier, FD Steele, Liberty Oct 1926 Characters: James Dodd, Godfrey Emsworth

#acd holmes #sherlock holmes #tumblr bracket #sherlock holmes illustrations #polls #R1