Further discoveries in the the early P.G. Wodehouse files include the time he heard Sherlock Holmes would be coming back from the dead, and wrote a song parody about it:
When Sherlock left his native Strand, such groans were seldom heard;
With sobs the Public’s frame was rent: with tears its eye was blurred.
But the optimists reflected
That he might be resurrected:
It formed our only theme of conversation.
We asked each other, Would he be? And if so, How and where?
We went about our duties with a less dejected air.
And they say that a suggestion
Of a Parliamentary question
Was received with marked approval by the nation.
And Sherlock, Sherlock, he’s in town again,
Sir Conan has discovered him, and offers to explain.
The explanation may be thin,
But bless you! we don’t care a pin,
If he’ll but give us back our Sherlock.
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“It is a sacrilege, a crime, a villainy to hold that such a marriage is binding. I say that these monstrous laws of yours will bring a curse upon the land—Heaven will not let such wickedness endure.”
Tbh I don’t think Arthur Conan Doyle gets enough credit for featuring domestic abuse survivors in his works, to the point of overlooking or justifying murder, in a time when it was seen as a Private Matter that outsiders shouldn’t be nosey about. Giving voice to a woman to call out the lack of a woman’s rights to be freed from an abusive marriage is a pretty big deal, and Holmes validating and supporting it each and every time is a purposeful authorial choice.
Others have posted about how it’s very likely that, as a doctor, ACD would be privy to all sorts of ugly secrets from “those isolated country manors” as described in The Copper Beeches—but even if he weren’t, there’s certainly a statement being made via his stories.
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Let's play... Bella or Watson?
While waiting for the next Letters from Watson email to arrive, fancy joining me in a little game of BELLA OR WATSON?
Some of these statements were written by Dr John H Watson about his friend Mr Sherlock Holmes. Some were written by Bella Swan about Edward, the hot teenage vampire from Twilight.
[IMG Silhouettes of Dr Watson and Bella Swan, text reads Watson or Bella]
(This was inspired by a tumblr post, but I'm afraid it's lost to the mists of ancient dash for me by now. Answers are under the cut!]
With his long, white, nervous fingers he adjusted [REDACTED], and [REDACTED].
glanced sideways at the beautiful [REDACTED], who was [REDACTED], [REDACTED] with long, pale fingers
His eyes were gloriously intense as he uttered that last sentence
I turned and he was leaning toward me, his pale, glorious face just inches from mine.
In the darkness he looked much more normal. Still pale, still dreamlike in his beauty, but no longer the fantastic sparkling creature of our sunlit afternoon.
In height he was rather over six feet, and so excessively lean that he seemed to be considerably taller. His eyes were sharp and piercing Watson or Bella?
His face flushed and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter.
An instant later he pulled me back into the blackest corner of the room, and I felt his warning hand upon my lips. The fingers which clutched me were shivering.
It was worth a wound—it was worth many wounds—to know the depth of loyalty and love which lay behind that cold mask. The clear, hard eyes were dimmed for a moment, and the firm lips were shaking.
ANSWERS UNDER THE CUT
Question 1 - Watson
With his long, white, nervous fingers he adjusted the delicate needle, and rolled back his left shirt-cuff.
Question 2 - Bella
I glanced sideways at the beautiful boy, who was looking at his tray now, picking a bagel to pieces with long, pale fingers
Question 3 - Watson
His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal lust for the chase
Question 4 - Bella
His eyes were gloriously intense as he uttered that last sentence
Question 5 - Bella
I turned and he was leaning toward me, his pale, glorious face just inches from mine.
Question 6 - Bella
In the darkness he looked much more normal. Still pale, still dreamlike in his beauty, but no longer the fantastic sparkling creature of our sunlit afternoon
Question 7 - Watson
In height he was rather over six feet, and so excessively lean that he seemed to be considerably taller. His eyes were sharp and piercing
Question 8 - Watson
His face flushed and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter.
Question 9 - Watson
An instant later he pulled me back into the blackest corner of the room, and I felt his warning hand upon my lips. The fingers which clutched me were shivering.
Question 10 - Yup, still Watson
It was worth a wound—it was worth many wounds—to know the depth of loyalty and love which lay behind that cold mask. The clear, hard eyes were dimmed for a moment, and the firm lips were shaking.
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Holmes: Anything you have to say to me, you can say in front of Watson
Watson: 👍🏻
Holmes: Watson, it makes me nervous to bring you on this dangerous adventure, but I know you well enough to know you’d never let me go alone
Watson: 👍🏻
Holmes: Watson, do you want to go to a concert with me? And then maybe a nice walk and a night cap?
Watson: 👍🏻
Holmes: If this guy had killed you, I would have straight-up murdered him in cold blood
Watson: oh my god he loves me
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Enjoy receiving emails from besotted biographers about their genius associates?
Then have I got some email bookclubs starting in 2024 for you!
[IMG A cartoon of Holmes and Watson running side by side, dressed in country tweeds. Holmes is pointing. Lettering reads Letters from Watson, the Novels]
Letters from Watson is reading through the Sherlock Holmes short stories by Arthur Conan Doyle throughout 2023.
In 2024 we'll be reading the novels starting January 1st, with A Study in Scarlet. Hold on for more mystery and adventure with the Great Detective and his dashing doctor.
[IMG A cartoon of Raffles and Bunny running side by side, dressed in formal suits and top hats and wearing masks. Raffles is clutching some pearls and has jewels in his pockets. Lettering reads Letters from Bunny]
But perhaps you'd rather take a little trip to the other side of the law?
Letters from Bunny will be reading the Raffles stories by EW Hornung, featuring gentleman thief (and cricketer) AJ Raffles and his burglar companion Bunny Manders, from the Ides of March (March 15th)
[IMG A cartoon of Jeeves and Wooster walking side by side, Wooster dressed in colourful clothes and a boater, Jeeves in a monocrome suit. Lettering reads 'Letters Regarding Jeeves']
For something a little lighter, Letters Regarding Jeeves will be reading the uproarously funny public domain stories featuring chap about town Bertie Wooster and his bulging-brained valet Jeeves, starting February 14th.
Reblogs appreciated to spread the word!
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“john watson is an adrenaline junkie who puts up with holmes’s eccentricities and rudeness because he gets to go on adventures” well first of all john watson would walk two miles barefoot over hot coals to hear sherlock holmes rant about the different types of wet dirt so jot that down
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