I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere: Jennifer Emerson

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In Defense of Dr. Watson

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<b>"my friend and colleague, Dr. Watson" [NOBL] </b></h4>
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</b></i> <i><b>Editor's note:</b> Recently, <a href="http://www.kansan.com/news/2012/apr/02/schumaker-troubles-modernizing-holmes/" target="_blank">an opinion piece on The University Daily Kansan by Lou Schumaker</a> took great issue with the narrator and individual responsible for bringing Sherlock Holmes to our collective attention: Dr. Watson. He referred to Watson as "underdeveloped," going so far as to say, "the only thing he's really good for is to compliment Sherlock Holmes and propose wildly inaccurate theories at crime scenes. He's boring and slow and lifeless and famous." So we asked one of our contributors to craft a response.</i><br />
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If one wants a biographer, one strives to find the best one. It is the better if he is also your dearest friend. The Great Detective of No. 221B, Baker Street, was that lucky. Without John H. Watson, M.D., the world would know nothing of Mr. Sherlock Holmes. <br />
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Opinions run rampant within the arts, and this is a good and wonderful thing. For me the fun of it all is the conjecture itself. But I also love “playing the game,” as Sherlockians love to do. Within that realm, Holmes would be the first to stand up and defend his best pal’s good name. And as an admirer of them both, I shall do no less.<br />
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But there is more to this than simply believing in the reality of Holmes, Watson and their adventures. The process goes much deeper. As for me, I adore looking between the lines of the text or the images on the large or small screen. Painting a complete picture of the characters makes me appreciate Conan Doyle’s work all the more, as well as its current incarnations.<br />
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Indeed it could be argued that Watson (or John as he is now called) is uninteresting or even downright dull. Well, if a wounded Veteran come home from service in Afghanistan (yeah, no relevancy to our times there!) to a glum future who by fate moves in with a wacky genius who fills his life with enough adrenaline-packed adventure to sustain ten lifetimes isn’t interesting, then I guess it isn’t interesting.<br />
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As for Watson being ordinary? Yes, that is true. However, that is precisely the point. He is not a superhero, nor does he have the lightning mental reflexes of his best friend. He is normal, just like the viewers/readers. As the lens through which the audience sees Sherlock Holmes (or just plain Sherlock), the late <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCYzvzp9Z_Q" target="_blank">Edward Harwicke said it best when he remarked</a> that Watson “is the audience…Watson really is everyman.”<br />
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Compared to a genius like Sherlock Holmes, most people would look dull. The differences between these two characters make them all the more intriguing. Yes, scenes without Holmes can tend to be less than stellar at times. In those circumstances, I remember the old phrase about absence making the heart grow fonder. <br />
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With the flatmates of 221B Baker Street, it’s all about balance (yes, even when they’re arguing). As ying is to yang, the two men complement each other. Particularly in the <b><a href="https://amzn.to/31ynNvl" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BBC’s <i>Sherlock</i></a></b>, their weaknesses are largely balanced by their strengths. It serves as both a point of conflict and as a plot carrier. They are so vastly different in all the obvious ways while being strikingly similar just underneath the surface. Like we all are.<br />
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And who doesn’t love seeing them tell each other off? The witty banter between Sherlock and John is genius script writing, and pays homage to some of the conversations that surely their Victorian counterparts must have engaged in.<br />
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Upon a further look beneath the surface of both the text and screen versions, questions arise (at least for me): When Holmes had an injury, who dressed his wounds? When he craved the cocaine bottle, who took him out for a walk or some other nonsense to get his mind off of it? When Mrs. Hudson had an ache, who helped her to soothe it? When one of the Irregulars had a sprained ankle or an infected foot (from not wearing shoes), who tended them and asked for no money? When Sherlock says something a little too snarky for polite conversation, who is there to jerk him up short? Holmes himself might have said that such contemplations are “of course, a trifle, but there is nothing so important as trifles” [<a href="http://ignisart.com/camdenhouse/canon/twis.htm">TWIS</a>].<br />
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If I had to select one enduring quality about John Watson, it would be this: he doesn’t give a rip about the spotlight. The man knows himself and is comfortable in his own skin. True, his blood pumps at the thrill of the chase, but that is true for many people. Watson’s observation (and participation) in Holmes’s cases gives us that bird’s eye view of the Great Detective.<br />
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As for doing nothing, he was a writer. This meant that he was prone to observation. While he did not possess the ability as adeptly as his associate, it still paid off. After all hanging in the background and later committing what he saw to paper (or to his laptop) made Holmes’s name a household word. I would hardly consider that a fault.<br />
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Furthermore, Watson makes up half the crime-sleuthing duo that inspired countless others ever since. Sherlock Holmes and John Watson have one of the most enduring friendships in the history of English Literature. Without that, the stories mean very little.<br />
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If my closest friend, the greatest detective who ever lived, regarded me as, “the one fixed point in a changing age” [<a href="http://ignisart.com/camdenhouse/canon/last.htm">LAST</a>], let me just say I wouldn’t be worried about what anyone else thought. Enjoy the stories, the films and the episodes for what they are, and take from them what you will. Holmes and his Boswell will continue to be reincarnated in countless adaptations.<br />
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There will always be those, as Holmes would say who turn what “should have been a course of lectures into a series of tales” [<a href="http://ignisart.com/camdenhouse/canon/copp.htm">COPP</a>]. Some directors and actors will get it right for our personal tastes, and some will not. Some adaptations will find favor, some will not. But this is immaterial. For as the penultimate lines of <a href="https://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2013/10/celebrate-national-poetry-day.html" target="_blank"><b>Vincent Starrett's </b><b>poem</b></a> declare, “though the world explode, these two survive...”<br />
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And that is all that matters.<br />
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<i>Editor's note: Jennifer has had a life-long interest in English and American literature (particularly of the 19th century), and grew up watching both the Rathbone/Bruce & the Granada incarnations of Holmes and his Boswell. Some of her favorite authors are Charles Dickens, George Gordon Lord Byron, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Washington Irving and Edgar Allan Poe. One of her two current efforts include research into the Holmes Canon for a collection of short stories centered around Dr. Watson. The other is a historic fiction novel-in-progress dealing with reform methods for London prostitutes in the Victorian Era. She has a decade of experience in the field of 19th century living history, and enjoys <a href="http://api.viglink.com/api/click?format=go&key=63709c1ff5d9d35a61c4186a878d6a7d&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bakerstreetblog.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fhis-eyes-kindled-croo.html&v=1&libid=1333500089465&out=http%3A%2F%2Fbozwellmd.livejournal.com%2F&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bakerstreetblog.com%2F&title=%22His%20Eyes%20Kindled%22%20%5BCROO%5D%20%7C%20The%20Baker%20Street%20Blog&txt=sharing%20little%20tidbits%20and%20musings%20on%20her%20blog&jsonp=vglnk_jsonp_13335002105541">sharing little tidbits and musings on her blog</a>.</i><br />
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In Defense of Dr. Watson

"my friend and colleague, Dr. Watson" [NOBL] Editor's note: Recently, an opinion piece on The University Daily Kansa...

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by Scott Monty

"His Eyes Kindled" [CROO]

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsmonty/4181738033/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="musg01 by Scott Monty, on Flickr"><img alt="musg01" height="240" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2603/4181738033_a6cdac5e49_m.jpg" width="216" /></a>Now from the forums of <a href="http://www.holmesian.net/forums/">Holmesian.net</a>, a new group of writers are staking their claim on the world's first unofficial consulting detective with a new publication - a first, according to our knowledge -  <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sherlock-Holmes-Celebration-Holmesian-Net-ebook/dp/B0053ZKEV2?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes: A Celebration The Holmesian.Net Collection</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0053ZKEV2" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b> - an Amazon Kindle edition of a forum-based anthology.<br /><br />Inspired by a series of writing challenges and edited by Holmesian.net's own David Ruffle, author of <i><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sherlock-Holmes-Lyme-Regis-Horror/dp/1844267229?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes And The Lyme Regis Horror</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1844267229" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b></i>, this compilation has been assembled from online submissions within the very active discussion forum on Holmesian.net.  While not Canonical, these stories take inspiration from it, as well as from the countless incarnations of Mr. Sherlock Holmes and his dear friend, Dr. John H. Watson, have experienced since their first meeting in 1881. The online forums provided a place in which to illustrate the remarkable qualities of Holmes and Watson, while at the same time offering "a fair field for [our] talents" [CARD].<br /><br />In a collection featuring the work of over a dozen different writers, we now offer to the public fresh, fun and innovative tales in the chronicles of Holmes and his Boswell.                                                                                                                                                                                                      Perhaps the Master would say that we have erred in our latest accounts by endowing them with the tinge of romanticism rather than the cold, unemotional and exact "science of deduction" [SIGN].<br /><br />But, as Watson would no doubt tell him, that does not make for good storytelling.  As Ruffle says in the introduction:                                                                                                                                      "We might be indeed guilty of degrading a course of lectures into a series of tales and ruined what might have been an instructive and even a classical series of demonstrations by looking at everything from the point of view of a story, but we make no apologies, we enjoyed every moment of it!"                                                                                                                                                                 And we hope you do, too!<br /><br />For a summary of the contributors and a table of contents, please <a href="http://www.holmesian.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=3382&view=findpost&p=126013">click on this link to the post within Holmesian.net</a>. You may purchase a copy for your Amazon Kindle - one of the most popular e-readers around - by clicking on the title of the work above or on the link below. If you do pick up a copy, be sure to let us know what you think.<br /><br /><b>UPDATE (10 June 2011):</b> It seems that this project is now on hold. Evidently<a href="http://www.holmesian.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=3382&view=findpost&p=126256"> the site administrator did not give permission</a> for the site to be mentioned, even though every author granted permission. The editor/publisher is now reconsidering his involvement in the project.<br /><br /><i><b>Editor's note:</b> Jennifer has had a life-long interest in English and American literature (particularly of the 19th century), and grew up watching both the Rathbone/Bruce & the Granada incarnations of Holmes and his Boswell.  Some of her favorite authors are Charles Dickens, George Gordon Lord Byron, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Washington Irving and Edgar Allan Poe.  One of her two current efforts include research into the Holmes Canon for a collection of short stories centered around Dr. Watson.  The other is a historic fiction novel-in-progress dealing with reform methods for London prostitutes in the Victorian Era.  She has a decade of experience in the field of 19th century living history, and enjoys <a href="http://bozwellmd.livejournal.com/">sharing little tidbits and musings on her blog</a>.</i><br /><br /><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thebakerstree-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0053ZKEV2&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br /> <iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thebakerstree-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B002FQJT3Q&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>  <iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thebakerstree-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B002Y27P3M&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>

"His Eyes Kindled" [CROO]

Now from the forums of Holmesian.net , a new group of writers are staking their claim on the world's first unofficial consulting detecti...

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by Scott Monty

The Unsung Hero of The Sign of Four

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"I would rather have Toby's help" [SIGN] </h4>
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One of the endearing and distinguishing characteristics of Sherlock Holmes was his penchant for thinking outside the box. Free of the constraints of police regulations, Holmes’s methods often extended beyond the realm of the traditional. Thank goodness.<br />
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According to William Baring-Gould's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Annotated-Sherlock-Holmes-Fifty-Six-Illustrated/dp/0517502917?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>The Annotated Sherlock Holmes</i></a><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiGYms0Td4z6sk7iVROzIG5eiGQ-iASY8D49R1EkMQPFVjbDHrQEPHQLZ1VcSpyJUnt-8CUaym0gYwJBrFcskuEBLf-zCWIqoyqj3tV0mP0AqkgRjRs2kV1WZwkZLQNkpVe5d2cOhO0WJQTpu5FSluwlbZc0ZsJU1hv3ttuDLD50vh1O-GzF341Ax6N6u1t5JckepUt2Ag-eaf5hd9jrJIwN6h4fWtM=" /> (1992 edition), the case of <i>The Sign of Four</i> (published by <i>Lippincott's Monthly Magazine</i> in <a href="http://holmes.crispen.org/Canon.php">February of 1890</a>), lasted from Tuesday 18 September to Friday 21 September, 1888. Thus, the mystery of the Agra Treasure, a case unlike any other, was solved in only four days time. But how? <br />
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Fortunately, Holmes knew that an unlikely case calls for unlikely tactics. And the master would not have cracked the case without the help of a very special individual. A four-legged individual by the unlikely name of Toby, of No.3 Pinchin Lane, Lambeth. <br />
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This got me thinking. And when that happens, like any good Holmesian (or Sherlockian, whichever you prefer), I mounted a search for facts. My findings are as follows:<br />
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By the late 19th Century, dogs had been used by mankind for <a href="http://www.k9gta.com/History-of-Police-Dogs.html">over a millenium</a> in war, domination of new lands, and hunting. Bloodhounds had been used for the aforementioned reasons for the past three hundred years. In addition, some policemen had taken to bringing their own dogs with them on their beats. <a href="http://www.cityoflondon.police.uk/CityPolice/Departments/SpecialistSupport/dogsandmountedunit/">T</a><a href="http://www.cityoflondon.police.uk/CityPolice/Departments/SpecialistSupport/dogsandmountedunit/">he London Police Force</a> incorporated bloodhounds during the Jack the Ripper murders, which occurred in August-November of 1888 – the very same time that a certain consulting detective who had recently come into public prominence was employing a "long-haired, lop-eared creature, half spaniel and half lurcher, brown and white in colour" to assist him [SIGN]. In fact, Holmes's case began just <a href="http://jack-the-ripper.org/">ten days</a> after the murder of Annie Chapman! As Brett's Holmes remarked in Granada's 'The Dying Detective': "Coincidence bordering upon the unbelievable!" <br />
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Anyway, back to the dogs. Due to primitive methods, those police canines were not afforded the chance to prove as useful as they could have been. But in his own case, Holmes gave the scrappy Toby the opportunity to use his “most amazing power of scent” unhampered by police regulations or botched test sites. In his account of the case, Dr. Watson tells us just what the master did: <br />
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“He pushed the creosote handkerchief under the dog’s nose…The creature broke into a succession of high, tremulous yelps, and, with his nose on the ground, and his tail in the air, pattered off upon the trail at a pace which strained his leash and kept us at the top of our speed.”</blockquote>
It was simple, yet highly effective. Dr. Watson may have described Toby as having “a very clumsy, waddling gait”, but this furry ally proved his worth in short order. And in so doing, he vindicated his colleagues and brought literary glory to his species. As Holmes said, Toby “acted according to his own lights”. Holmes could just as well have been explaining himself here, and makes an excellent point about his beloved powers of deduction: that one must trust one’s instinct in order to ‘sniff out’ the true scent from the false ones. <br />
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And while the contributions of the Baker Street Irregulars should not be overlooked, it was Toby who turned the chase in the right direction. Without Toby’s help, the boys would have had no Aurora to find, Small would never have been caught, readers would have been deprived of one of the most memorable boat chases in all of literature…and most importantly, Dr. John H. Watson would not have won the heart of Miss Mary Morstan. <br />
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If Toby wasn’t the guest of honor at their wedding, he should have been!<br />
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[<b>Editor's note:</b><i> Our guest author Jennifer has had a life-long interest in English and American literature (particularly of the 19th century), and grew up watching both the Rathbone/Bruce & the Granada incarnations of Holmes and his Boswell. Some of her favorite authors are Charles Dickens, George Gordon Lord Byron, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Washington Irving and Edgar Allan Poe. One of her two current efforts include research into the Holmes Canon for a collection of short stories centered around Dr. Watson. The other is a historic fiction novel-in-progress dealing with reform methods for London prostitutes in the Victorian Era. She has a decade of experience in the field of 19th century living history, and enjoys sharing little tidbits and musings on her </i><a href="http://bozwellmd.livejournal.com/" style="font-style: italic;">blog</a><i>.</i>]<br />
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