Alistair Duncan's Sherlockian Blog

Take up the challenge

2012-01-30T10:32:00.002Z

I have decided to set a challenge for people to try something of Arthur Conan Doyle's that was not Sherlock Holmes. Details are here

The Baker Street Babes show their affection

2012-01-29T13:13:00.001Z

Although you might struggle to read the wording (click image to enlarge).

Review of An Entirely New Country by Amy Thomas of The Baker Street Babes

2012-01-28T06:04:00.003Z

http://girlmeetssherlock.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/review-an-entirely-new-country/

A very nice review indeed.

Book review - Sherlock Holmes and the Irish Rebels

2012-01-27T10:11:00.000Z

This is the second book by Kieran McMullen following Watson’s Afghan Adventure. His first book told the story of Watson’s experiences in Afghanistan before he met Sherlock Holmes. As a result it was very much Watson’s story with Holmes only briefly appearing at the beginning and end of the book.

On this occasion McMullen has jumped to the other end of the famous duo’s relationship. His story picks up from where Conan Doyle’s His Last Bow left off. Holmes has changed from a private detective into a fully fledged spy and, still in the guise of Altamont, he is now in Ireland and doing his best to disrupt the 1916 Easter uprising against British rule. Watson is sent to join Holmes by Mycroft and the two men infiltrate the rebel ranks in their attempt to upset the revolutionary plans.

As you may have guessed, this is very far from a traditional Holmes story. Although there is a conventional crime buried in all the revolutionary action, Holmes does not get the opportunity to spend time indulging in investigations or deductions. In fact this is really an out and out espionage thriller. As such it may not be for you if the traditional Holmes adventure is what you crave.

The action takes place in a surprisingly small number of locations. In the first two-thirds of the book the majority of scenes take place either at the government headquarters, the rebel headquarters or Holmes and Watson’s lodgings. Once the uprising begins the number of locations expands. This small number of locations might appear to make for a dull story but in fact it does not and actually aids you in keeping on top of how events are proceeding.

McMullen shows his grasp of history by filling his pages with many real figures from Irish history. Famous names like Michael Collins and Éamon de Valera are joined by other lesser known figures. Actually that’s not fair. To someone living in Ireland many of the names will probably be familiar but to someone, like me, who is only partly acquainted with those events, Collins and de Valera are naturally the ones who stand out.

The book moves at a good pace and I was certainly never bored. I cannot comment on the historical accuracy as I lack familiarity with this period in Irish history but it certainly feels authentic.

Away from the plot itself there are issues. As with his previous effort, McMullen’s book suffers from a number of typographical errors. The occasional spelling error rears its head and there are cases of the wrong word being used in a sentence. For example, on one occasion a character elects to keep his ‘council’ when it should, of course, be ‘counsel’. A competent editor would have easily sorted these out and I strongly advise McMullen to avail himself of an editor’s services when it comes to book three.

The odd Americanism rears its head too with McMullen referring to a “pant” leg. Bearing in mind that he is American you might think this acceptable but given that he is supposedly writing as Watson he really needs to use British terminology. In this case it really should have been “trouser” leg.

McMullen also makes use of a number of footnotes to explain terms during the story. In a good many cases I don’t think they were necessary. He could have avoided a lot of the terms that needed explanation by using more generic words. It comes across in places as if he is trying to prove a little too hard that he has done his research. I would also say that footnotes should really be confined to non-fiction works. In a novel they are just a distraction from the plot.

In summary, this is a good story that is easy to follow despite the complex historical events it is portraying and the sheer number of characters taking part. It flows better than Watson’s Afghan Adventure and a number of the former book’s cosmetic issues have been sorted out for this adventure.

While McMullen really should avail himself of an editor familiar with British English for his next outing his second adventure is well worth the read.

An Entirely New Country arrives on Kindle

2012-01-27T09:02:00.001Z

Amazon UK and US have now made available the Kindle versions of my latest book.

Links can be found here.

An Entirely New Country receives a 4 star review on Goodreads.com

2012-01-26T08:56:00.003Z

Below is a review that recently appeared for my book on the Goodreads.com website. Along with a 4/5 star rating the reviewer said:

A very interesting look at Doyle's life during his Hindhead years. Obviously well researched with a nice collection of photographs. It ended on a bit of a sour note which was a little sad (but no doubt appropriate) but that was really my only negative thought on it. I would certainly recommend it to fans of Doyle and to those who are wanting to support Undershaw (like myself!) and I will be checking out Mr. Duncan's previous books.

Goodreads page can be seen here. You can buy a copy of the book via various links to be found here.

Conan Doyle Weekend in Haslemere 2012

2012-01-25T16:33:00.000Z

From the 15th-17th June this year Haslemere in Surrey is holding a Conan Doyle Weekend. This is but a part of its larger Haslemere Festival that takes place during the week.

A website dedicated to the Conan Doyle events has recently been launched. It is a little rough and ready at this stage and further information will be added to it (I'm told). It can be found here.

Speakers over the course of the weekend will include Andrew Lane - author of the Young Sherlock Holmes book series, Andrew Lycett - biographer and author of Conan Doyle: The man who created Sherlock Holmes and your humble blog author who will be introducing a special screening of Hammer's version of The Hound of the Baskervilles.

Precise details are yet to be completely finalised but I hope anyone in the are will be able to attend. I will be happy to sign copies of my books at my event but will not be bringing any for purchase.

CBS Sherlock Holmes programme

2012-01-23T16:41:00.001Z

We have heard increasing amounts about an American Sherlock Holmes style drama entitled Elementary that has been commissioned by CBS. The news has certainly polarised opinion, whilst some people seem interested in the idea a larger number seem repulsed. The amusing thing is that a large number of the repulsed appear to be American themselves.

To add insult to injury this detective will be a resident of New York (apparently almost the only part of America where anything happens if you believe their programming).

Why oh why do American TV stations and film studios appear to be obsessed with taking British stories (and those from elsewhere too) and moving them to the U.S.? Do they really believe, even when their own audience says otherwise, that Americans can only cope with stories and dramas that are set in the U.S.? If I was an American I think I'd feel insulted.

You can more easily see how daft this all is if you imagine it reversed. How daft would it be if the BBC produced a version of the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and had the characters travelling the Thames rather than the Mississippi. Perhaps Spider-man and Batman need to be fighting crime on the streets of Birmingham or Glasgow.

Sherlock Holmes is as British as the red bus and the cup of afternoon tea. Please leave him where he belongs - in London and in the hands of Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss.

Current reading

2012-01-23T11:34:00.003Z

I have started reading this today and will post a review as soon as I have finished it.

Baskervilles and BBC Wales

2012-01-21T09:39:00.001Z

Yesterday afternoon I received a call from a chap at BBC Wales who wanted my assistance for an on-line article he was writing regarding connections between Wales and The Hound of the Baskervilles. I was happy to help out. I hope the article will appear over the weekend. When it does I shall post the link.

UPDATED - Link to BBC story.

Amongst other things we discussed a book on these supposed connections that came out in 2010. I reviewed said book on my blog and my 2010 review can be found here.

Sherlock Series 3 Speculation

2012-01-18T09:02:00.000Z

Now that the dust has settled I think we can safely start speculating about the stories that could be adapted for Sherlock series 3.

Episode 1 – The Empty House

Rather a given under the circumstances but as we have no Colonel Moran (that we know of) it does beg the question who will be hunting Sherlock and why? Will we still have the murder of Ronald Adair?

..my infinite variety.

Episode 2 – The Sign of Four

My personal favourite from all the stories, I can think of an excellent way in which this story could be adapted for the modern day (which of course I won’t reveal here).

The great Jeremy Brett in Granada's first class adaptation of SIGN

Episode 3 – Charles Augustus Milverton

I know this to be an idea that has much support. It would not take much effort to bring this story up to date. In essence you could leave the story largely as Conan Doyle wrote it and just change it to today. Milverton is one of the heavyweight villains in the canon and I have given some thought to casting.

I assure you that I am armed to the teeth

In my opinion Richard E. Grant would make a wonderful Milverton. If not him then I would not hesitate to cast Anthony Andrews.

Backup episode – The Illustrious Client

Baron Gruner is one of the other big villains of the canon. There are parallels between this story and that of Milverton so whichever of the two actors above did not play Milverton I would cast them as Gruner.

My last word to you is, go your own way and let me go mine.

So there you have my thoughts….

Mr Gatiss and Mr Moffat - get in touch if you want to hear my thoughts on SIGN :-)

The Reichenbach Fall - Further thoughts.

2012-01-17T09:26:00.000Z

I have been asked by a few people to expand on my last post re The Reichenbach Fall. So here we go.

I imagine many of us felt quite nervous about this episode. Not only because we all knew how it was destined to conclude but also because the script was handled by Steve Thompson. Thompson was, as most people know, responsible for the episode in series one called The Blind Banker. This episode was widely seen as the weakest of the series descending as it did into borderline Fu Manchu territory. So badly was it regarded in some quarters that the American Baker Street Journal, in an article discussing series one, covered it in about two sentences whereas the other episodes got several paragraphs each.

Therefore the idea that so important an episode was in these same hands certainly gave me (and others I’m sure) some concern. I/we needn’t have worried.

Thompson gave us an amazing finale. In the original story, The Final Problem, we learn that Holmes has been engaged in an on-going battle of wits with Professor Moriarty. This adaptation gave us that battle with Moriarty pulling off a series of impossible breaches of security at important sites and then, mysteriously, giving himself up.

When he, against all expectations, walks free he sets about destroying Sherlock’s reputation. This is amazingly done and I felt at times that he was going to win and, in many respects, you could argue that he does.

You must stand clear Mr Holmes

The famous scene in Baker Street between the two men was recreated in chilling fashion and we learn later that Mycroft has a lot to answer for as well.

All the actors give amazing performances. Most outstanding is Cumberbatch who goes through a whole spectrum of emotions as some of those closest to him turn against him. Freeman’s loyal Watson is a tour-de-force and really shines in his final scenes which bring a tear dangerously close to the eye even on repeat viewing.

But special mention has to go to Louise Brealey as Molly and Andrew Scott as Moriarty. The former really gets to shine especially in the scene where she and Holmes talk and she proves to have a much greater insight into him than he ever gave her credit for.

I do understand you Sherlock

Scott’s Moriarty was chilling at the end of series one but that performance pales into near insignificance against his performance in this episode. At all times he clearly comes across as a man who could seriously destroy Holmes. With many villains you just know they’re destined to lose. That is most definitely not the case here.

The Fall (or is it?)

The series has gone out on a high.

Post-Reichenbach - Thoughts.

2012-01-16T09:04:00.001Z

If you've not been on any social media in the last 12 hours or so this may well contain unwanted surprises. You have been warned.

Well last night’s Sherlock was good wasn’t it folks? I don’t think any of us were really in any doubt that Holmes would survive, after all we all know of The Empty House. It was never likely that such a critical and commercial hit would come to an end after two series. That would have been to take the showbiz maxim of always leave them wanting more just a little too far.

Poor John. How angry will he be in 2013(ish)?

I expressed the belief, before broadcast, that we may be left feeling emotions akin to those felt by readers worldwide in December 1893 when The Final Problem was published in The Strand magazine. However that was not quite the case. We all felt it yes, but mercifully we were not made to feel it for ten years (if you choose to briefly discount the pre-Reichenbach The Hound of the Baskervilles). In fact we only had to feel it for roughly five to ten minutes.

So, yes, we know that Sherlock is alive. Before anyone screams “spoiler” I don’t think it is given that Mark Gatiss, Steven Moffat and others tweeted within a few minutes of the conclusion that series three had been commissioned. Not only that but it had been commissioned at the same time as series two. Those tweets would have gone, as they say, viral by now so I’m hardly giving the game away.

The shock wave is still working its way through Twitter and other media as I write. We are led to believe that filming on series three will not begin until towards the end of this year at the earliest. This is due to the two leads having commitments elsewhere. So we have to hold our collective breath until 2013 or so.

It’ll be worth it though…..you know it will.

If you are in a Reichenbach panic - read this it may help

2012-01-15T08:23:00.000Z

Up and down the land (UK) people are waiting with a mixture of excitement and dread for the final Sherlock episode. This episode is entitled The Reichenbach Fall and is of course based, to some extent, on The Final Problem – Arthur Conan Doyle’s story of 1893 - in which Sherlock Holmes supposedly met his end.

People seem seriously worried that our new Sherlock will not return. My thought on this is that people should not panic. I’m not saying that watching this episode will not be difficult or emotional but if you look at it more clinically it seems unlikely that it is the end.

When Conan Doyle wrote The Final Problem he was desperate to see an end to Holmes. He was tired of him and wanted to focus on other things. Despite this he did not close the door on Holmes. No body was found and the person to conclude that Holmes was dead was Watson who, as we know, was famous for seeing but not observing.

Thus, in 1903, Conan Doyle was able to bring Holmes back without any real difficulty.

Now look at the new series. To my knowledge, not one of the writers or actors has made a statement to the effect that they definitely won’t do any more. None have expressed any desire to be rid of Holmes. On a commercial basis the series must be raking it in. Worldwide broadcast rights, DVD sales, soundtrack sales. Does anyone really think that they’ll just stop?

Yes Martin Freeman’s Hobbit commitments and Benedict Cumberbatch’s involvement in the new Star Trek film are bound to cause a long delay but I feel pretty confident at this stage that Sherlock Holmes will return.

Take heart citizens of Britain.

Not long now.....

2012-01-14T14:34:00.002Z

The Shadow of Sherlock Holmes

2012-01-12T10:00:00.000Z

Cumberbatch and Freeman in Sherlock

Now that the end of the second series of BBC’s Sherlock is coming into view (for the UK) the inevitable debates as to whether or not there will be a third series have commenced. This would have been the case in any event but it is even more so when the concluding episode of the second series is to be based, at least in part, on The Final Problem.

Some on-line articles have been suggesting that Benedict Cumberbatch may not wish to return to the role. To what extent this is true or not is really only known to him but it made me think about many of the past actors to take on this iconic role and how they fared.

I don’t think any actor truly appreciates how this role can define you (and take you over) until such time as they find themselves playing it. It doesn’t matter what you read about your predecessors you will not truly know until you, as it were, don the deerstalker.

One of the earliest (but not first by a long way) Holmes actors was Arthur Wontner who starred in five films in the early 1930s. Perhaps as a result of only doing five films he avoided being forever associated with the role although he was pretty much typecast in aristocratic/patrician roles. The same was not true for the man who followed. Basil Rathbone became defined by the role, playing him in 14 films and countless radio plays. He eventually put Holmes behind him but by then it was too late and he found other work harder to come by. He ultimately returned to 221B in a play written by his wife – which flopped.

Arthur Wontner

Douglas Wilmer, the notable character actor, is one of the few people who successfully played Holmes on screen more than ten times without being consumed by the part. His series (after a 1964 pilot) aired in 1965 but when he was asked to return to the role he declined highlighting production issues. Although he did go on to make many radio appearances as Holmes his lack of screen outings, helped him to shed the Holmes image with the public.

Wilmer’s replacement, Peter Cushing, possibly escaped being defined as Holmes because he was already largely identified with the role of Van Helsing in the Hammer Dracula film series. He too only made one series for the BBC. However both he and Wilmer returned to the role in one-off appearances. Wilmer in The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes’ Smarter Brother and Cushing in The Masks of Death.

Jeremy Brett

Jeremy Brett was the next notable actor to take on the role and he very much made it his own. With hindsight it is quite clear that the role more or less consumed him with negative consequences. He appeared to go from loving the part to loathing it and finally to being determined to film the entire canon regardless of the cost to himself. In the end his death brought about the end of his mission.

It is perhaps Brett’s experience more than any other that has shaped the attitude of actors to the role since then. Within the UK most actors have taken on the role for only one film - Richard Roxburgh and Rupert Everett making one film each for the BBC. When Jonathan Pryce took on the role in a Holmes drama for children he too confined himself to one appearance (although that might have been due to the fact that it was a pretty poor drama).

So now we have Mr Cumberbatch with six films under his belt. Does he fear the Holmes curse? Perhaps, but I like to think he will stick with the role as long as he gets to do plenty of other contrasting roles elsewhere. For us viewers it could mean that the price of retaining our leading man is longer gaps between each series. Can we cope with that? Probably not. Will we cope with that? We’ll do our best.

Sherlockology post is now available

2012-01-10T14:28:00.001Z

My article on the 2012 Sherlock Holmes Society of London dinner (featuring Steven Moffat as guest speaker) can be found here.

Sherlock Holmes Society - Annual Dinner 2012

2012-01-09T14:29:00.000Z

On Saturday January 7th I attended the Sherlock Holmes Society of London's Annual Dinner at the House of Commons. The guest speaker was Steven Moffat and other guests included Sue Vertue, Mark Gatiss and members of the Doyle family.

I have written a short summary of the evening but it will be posted hopefully on the Sherlockology fan site for the BBC Sherlock series. As soon as it appears I shall place the link here.

The Hounds of Baskerville - Some thoughts

2012-01-09T09:03:00.001Z

I'm pretty confident that this is spoiler free.

The Hound of the Baskervilles is, I feel, more rooted than most Sherlock Holmes stories in the Victorian era. Its central premise – the idea of a phantom hound stalking a family through the generations - works really well in its normal Victorian setting.

Naturally, for a 21st century audience with a more scientific and less superstitious outlook, that was never going to work. Consequently the legend aspect was removed by Mark Gatiss in his retelling The Hounds of Baskerville.

I can only admire the way that Gatiss reworked the story so that many of the characters from the original were able to make their way into his version. Barrymore, Stapleton, Mortimer and Frankland were all woven into the story in very suitable parts. However be warned that the characters do not have the same motives and, consequently, those versed in the original story are likely to be very surprised about who is friend and who is foe.

For those of us versed in the origins of the story there was also a very welcome, and some might say overdue, nod to Bertram Fletcher Robinson – who gave Conan Doyle the inspiration for the original story – in the Dartmoor tour guide Fletcher.

The effects and music do a first class job of creating tension especially in the moments featuring Henry Knight struggling with his internal (and external) demons.

We also see excellent acting (as we have come to expect) from Cumberbatch and Freeman. The former, in particular, shines when we see Holmes struggling with his scientific and logical world falling down around him.

I was in the dark (in every sense) as to how the conclusion would play out and it is well done indeed given the constraints imposed by its new chronological setting and its more sceptical audience.

However, and this is no criticism of Mark Gatiss, while this episode was excellent and easily on a par with its predecessor, I cannot help but feel that this story, perhaps more than any other in the canon, works best in its original setting with its original ghostly canine.

If you are interested in how the original story came about it is covered in my latest book. Online links can be found here.

A Scandal in Belgravia - A few comments

2012-01-04T09:23:00.003Z

Possible spoilers - if in any doubt do not read. You have been warned.

I have been hesitant to post any comments re A Scandal in Belgravia for fear of incurring the ire of people outside of the UK who are yet to see the episode. However I have been asked to comment now by a few people so I will do so.

I have tried to avoid spoilers but some may have made it into my comments so you read this at your own risk if you are yet to see the episode.

Once again Steven Moffat has shown his strong grasp of the original source material. The early scenes that illustrate how famous Sherlock has become through John’s blog are really well done as are the names of the cases they mention - all of which are plays on original cases from the canon.

Turning to Irene Adler – I think the portrayal of the character was fantastic. I’m sure the idea of her as a dominatrix sounds funny on paper but it seems to work on screen. The link between Adler and Moriarty was predictable but I suppose unavoidable given the way the episode opened.

A problem highlighted by others is that in this film Adler ultimately loses which is different from the original story upon which the film is based. I would contend that she both loses and wins. Yes she loses her hold over the government but she succeeds in gaining a much stronger hold over Sherlock than the character ever managed in the book. I won’t say more as that would be a definite spoiler. I would argue though that this is her victory – she makes Sherlock Holmes care, she makes him feel.

I apologise for the concise comments but I don’t wish to give away anything inadvertently. I am looking forward to The Hounds of Baskerville immensely.

I will be writing a guest post for Sherlockology following the annual dinner of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London. Keep an eye on their website for it.

Review of An Entirely New Country

2012-01-02T08:33:00.002Z

A nice review has appeared on the Better Holmes and Gardens blog

http://betterholmesandgardens.blogspot.com/2012/01/book-review-entirely-new-country-arthur.html

Bye bye 2011

2011-12-31T18:22:00.000Z

I look back on 2011 with a smile. I won the 2011 Tony & Freda Howlett Award for The Norwood Author and saw the publication of An Entirely New Country. A pretty good year in my book (please excuse the pun). I hope for equal success in 2012 and wish you equal success in your Sherlockian journey.

Happy New Year

Merry Christmas everyone

2011-12-24T08:21:00.002Z

I probably won't post before the end of the year so I shall take this opportunity to wish you (if you celebrate it) a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. If you don't mark Christmas I hope you have a good holiday.

Sherlock Holmes Journal and Diamond Jubilee Supplement

2011-12-20T09:08:00.002Z

Much to my delight I found the December issue of the Sherlock Holmes Journal on my doormat last night. Accompanying it on this occasion was a supplement arranged specifically to mark the 60th year of the society's (re)founding.

Although I have written reviews for the journal in the past (and have been reviewed) this issue contains many items by me. In the main journal there is my review of Christopher Sandford's book on Houdini and Conan Doyle; my review of Barefoot on Baker Street by Charlotte Walters; and, finally, my reviews of the Old Court radio plays The Grace Chalice, The Long Man and Sherlock Holmes - A Drama in Four Acts.

In the supplement I provide an article on Conan Doyle biographies entitled A Case of Biographical Identity.

Phew!

Review - Sherlock Holmes : A Game of Shadows

2011-12-19T09:28:00.000Z

Well what to say? I stated in an earlier blog post that I expected the sequel to 2009’s film to be offering more of the same and in that prediction I was correct. I will however say that the sequel is much better than the original.

If you hated the first film I do not think its sequel will convert you. I think that is to hope for too much from it. However if you liked the first film on any level you will probably like its sequel for similar reasons.

The essential plot is pretty well summed up by the film’s second trailer. Moriarty has a plan to benefit from the manufacture of weapons and has enlisted Colonel Sebastian Moran to help him bring things about. Holmes, who has been monitoring Moriarty’s movements, drags a reluctant Watson away from his honeymoon to assist. On the way they make use of Holmes’s brother Mycroft and a gipsy called Madame Simza.

The film boasts the return of many of the characters from the first film although for many of them their appearance is little more than a cameo. RDJ and Law are in very much the same form as they were for the first outing. Law continues to give us a very good Watson and RDJ continues to give us something of a Holmes-lite that Arthur Conan Doyle would probably recognise more by the name than any other aspect of his screen characterisation.

So let’s look at the new characters:

Jared Harris as Moriarty - Despite my reservations about a younger and bearded Moriarty - Harris is a revelation. He exudes menace and is probably the finest Moriarty since Eric Porter in the Granada Television series. The scenes featuring Moriarty and Holmes are very charged and this is a credit to both actors. The film’s reworking of events at Reichenbach is not canonical but still manages to be quite moving.

Paul Anderson as Colonel Sebastian Moran - A truly sinister thug but a bit rough and ready for a former army officer. Moran may have strayed to the wrong side of the tracks but you would still expect there to be something of the Sandhurst officer about him. The character we get simply isn’t quite right. He is a perfectly good henchman but not a convincing army officer.

Stephen Fry as Mycroft Holmes – Mycroft started out well but was swiftly turned into little more than a source of comic relief. I think many people had high hopes for Fry in this role, some seeing it as a role he was almost born for but the character that was written for him was not quite right (no fault of his) and he did not get the screen time to do the role the justice it deserved.

Noomi Rapace as Madame Simza - I found her character rather unnecessary. Her whole existence in the plot seems to depend on the facts that she has a brother who is working for Moriarty and her local knowledge which is used to get Holmes and Watson out of the occasional hole. I feel her character could have been removed or downgraded without much impact.

Contrary to the opinion of some reviewers who thought the film too long I think it ran for the right amount of time and its pace never really lets up. Some films sag in parts but I don’t think that was the case here. This is once again an area where the sequel betters the original.

I rated the first film on two levels. Firstly as a cinema experience and secondly as a canonically accurate film. For the former I gave it seven and the latter five. I then averaged this out to six overall.

For this sequel I take every mark up one. Eight for a cinema experience, six for canonical fidelity and seven overall. I think the improvement, particularly on the canonical front, can be put down to the input of Leslie Klinger the well known American Sherlockian expert.

In short, if you didn’t hate the first film go and see its sequel. You already know what to expect and if you can close your eyes to the canonical issues you will enjoy the ride.

Initial reports suggest...

2011-12-16T14:27:00.002Z

...that An Entirely New Country is selling more copies in the US than the UK. Come on UK get shopping:

Click here for links to purchase.

The Shadows are nearly upon us...

2011-12-14T11:12:00.002Z

Well we have only two days to go to the UK release of Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows and I plan to see it on the 18th.

Some of you may wonder, given my lukewarm response to the first instalment, why I am going to see it. Well I guess that it is for two reasons - one perhaps more optimistic than the other.

Firstly I want to see it because it is a Holmes film (no matter how fast and loose it plays with the source material) and I really want it to improve upon the first. Those of you who hated the first outing will probably be saying that won’t be difficult how could it be any worse?

It has to be said that there were, as with almost any Holmes film, good bits as well as bad. I have, in the past, singled out the depiction of Watson by Jude Law as one such positive. The more I think about his performance the more I regard it as combining the best elements of those given by David Burke and Ian Hart (minus the latter’s overt aggression).

However there was more that was good in the film than Law’s Watson. An interesting perspective was taken on the relationship between Watson and Holmes that really showed Watson as the man that humanised Holmes. Holmes without Watson was shown to be somewhat adrift and socially awkward. Holmes’s issues with what he saw as the intrusion of Mary Morstan were also very well conveyed. Small points perhaps but important ones I feel. It was also, it has to be said, a good time in the cinema. I cannot say that I was ever bored even though I was occasionally irritated by the liberties that were taken.

The second reason for wanting to see it is that I simply must in the interests of completeness. In order to make my assessment of what is good and bad in the world of screen Holmes I must see as much as possible. When I was a child I strongly suspected that I would not like broccoli however until I actually tried it I did not know for sure (I hate it by the way). It is very much the same for this film.

As last time I shall evaluate it from two perspectives. Its faithfulness (or not) to the source material and how it works as a fun time in the cinema.

It looks like it is going well

2011-12-14T08:55:00.001Z

At the time of writing Amazon.com are down to their last ten copies of An Entirely New Country and Amazon UK are down to their last three. There have been a few issues with stock (so I gather) but it looks good now. Links to buy from them and others can be found here.

Please remember that 50% of net royalties will be placed at the disposal of The Undershaw Preservation Trust.

Undershaw media feature cancelled

2011-12-12T15:26:00.002Z

I understand that a UK feature on the plight of Undershaw has been cancelled on the grounds that the programme makers could not get access to the inside of the house.

Attention all media companies. You are almost certainly never going to get access to the inside of Undershaw. Stop using this as an excuse not to run the story. If you want to see exactly how shocking the inside has been allowed to become go and ask The Undershaw Preservation Trust who can supply images.

Your humble blog author outside Undershaw in 2010

Review - The Sherlock Holmes Companion

2011-12-12T09:36:00.001Z

Daniel Smith’s book appears to polarise opinion. A quick glance on Amazon UK reveals a one-star rating with the reviewer complaining that the plot summaries give away too much and that the illustrations are the best thing. Then there are a couple of five-star reviews that praise the book to the rafters.

It is true that if you are a person who is knowledgeable about the canon this book contains little that you are likely to be unaware of before picking it up. However, this same criticism can be levelled at a great many books in the field (including mine). I also think that the comments about the plot summaries being too detailed are not quite fair. It’s easy, if you’ve already read the stories, to say that the book gives away too much. However you have the advantage of knowing how the stories go. I strongly suspect that if you bought this book before reading the canon – the majority of the story endings would still surprise you.

The illustrations are indeed very good. The wide ranging selection chosen really gives you an idea of how Holmes was perceived around the world. The non-English language illustrations in particular are very interesting. Also interesting are the interviews with Sherlockian personalities such as Douglas Wilmer, David Burke and Catherine Cooke.

However there are downsides. There are some careless editing errors. A paragraph ends mid-sentence and a photograph of New Scotland Yard is inexplicably printed in reverse which is painfully obvious thanks to a sign for Westminster Pier which is as it would be in a mirror.

Smith’s interest clearly lies more with Holmes than Conan Doyle as the sections on Conan Doyle are sometimes misleading / inaccurate. Smith implies that it was only after 1895 and his move to Surrey that Conan Doyle seriously started looking at theatre as a medium. He even singles out the one act play Waterloo as an example. Regrettably Conan Doyle had penned this several years earlier when living in South Norwood and it had even been performed before Conan Doyle had moved to Surrey (which was more 1896 than 1895). Part of me feels that Smith could have used a visit to the British Library to look at Conan Doyle’s diaries and avoid this error.

Smith also tries to hedge his bets in relation to Conan Doyle’s date of entry into the Society for Psychical Research. He repeats the all too common mistake of saying it happened after his father’s death and then mentions that it may have happened before as stated in Andrew Lycett’s biography. A simple communication to the SPR would have cleared this up (as I did for my book The Norwood Author) and told Smith that it was indeed the January date as Lycett and I have stated. The fact that Smith did not undertake this simple check shows, in my opinion, that Doyle does not come too high up his list of priorities. You could argue that this is fair enough in a book called The Sherlock Holmes Companion but I still think the effort should have been made.

In summary, despite the minor irritations mentioned above, this is a good guide to the Holmes stories. It doesn’t give too much away and contains some fascinating illustrations. It won’t teach you much if you already own similar books but it will serve you well if this is the first book in your Sherlockian library.

In stock at the Mysterious Bookshop

2011-12-11T18:18:00.001Z

Thanks to @always1895 we have pics of my latest book at the Mysterious Bookshop in New York. Click here to get your copy.

Ordering difficulties

2011-12-09T09:11:00.001Z

It would appear that Amazon (both in the UK and US) are having issues with stock of my book An Entirely New Country. If you are eager to obtain it before Christmas I suggest you go to the following:

UK - Book Depository http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Entirely-New-Country-Arthur-Conan-Doyle-Undershaw-Resurrection-Sherlock-Holmes-Alistair-Duncan/9781908218193

US - Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/an-entirely-new-country-arthur-conan-doyle-undershaw-and-the-resurrection-of-sherlock-holmes-alistair-duncan/1106755431?ean=9781908218193&itm=1&usri=an+entirely+new+country

New book and Amazon UK

2011-12-06T08:36:00.001Z

Amazon UK are quoting a rather long wait for delivery of my latest book. If you wish to get hold of it quicker I suggest you use Book Depository.

Launch Day

2011-12-05T08:48:00.001Z

Today is the official worldwide launch date for An Entirely New Country. However Amazon (both UK and US) don't seem to have got their act together yet. Don't let their websites put you off. Place those orders now. You can also go to Book Depository.

Options for purchase are here.

No such thing as a free lunch (dinner)

2011-12-04T07:43:00.001Z

My wife and I went for a lovely dinner at the Criterion Restaurant with Steve and Sharon Emecz last night.

However I seem to have come away with a pile of books to work my way through.

Stephen Fry as Mycroft Holmes - Image

2011-12-02T09:09:00.001Z

Thanks to the Baker Street Babes for drawing my attention to this one:

http://bakerstreetbabes.tumblr.com/post/13620317451/oh-first-image-of-stephen-fry-as-mycroft

What if?

2011-12-01T14:00:00.001Z

A thought just occurred to me. How would it affect Doylean scholarship if Conan Doyle's original script for the Sherlock Holmes play were to resurface?

It is generally believed to have burned, along with William Gillette's rewrite, in the Baldwin Hotel in San Francisco. This event forced Gillette to rewrite the play from memory.

A question that has been asked more than once is how much of Conan Doyle's script was retained for the play that was ultimately performed to much acclaim worldwide. Gillette never said anything on this matter which has left historians to make up their own minds. Despite the fact that the play was credited to both men with Conan Doyle's name at the top it has been widely assumed that little of Conan Doyle's material remained.

How interesting would it be if it surfaced after all this time?

A good "what if?"

2011 Recommendations for the season.

2011-12-01T13:15:00.001Z

Here is a list of my 2011 highlights (in no particular order):

Some basic (but not too important) errors. Otherwise an excellent account of the relationship between the arch-sceptic and the arch-believer. Sandford deserves credit for not painting Conan Doyle as quite the gullible fool that some writers have been inclined to do (although it seems pretty clear that he is on Houdini's side).

Conan Doyle's previously unpublished first work that he wished to remain unpublished.

Charlotte Walters' different take on the Sherlockian pastiche. People seem to be polarised in their opinions but I thought that, apart from some issues over characterisation, it was a brave and novel angle to pursue.

One of the better collections of short-story pastiche to come out for a few years.

Henry Zecher's definitive(?) biography on America's Sherlock Holmes.

Taking liberties

2011-11-30T11:12:00.001Z

Well we have a little over two weeks before the latest Warner Bros Sherlock Holmes film hits screens in the US and Europe. I think it is pretty safe to say that whether you loved or hated the first offering you are expecting more of the same from the sequel. I certainly am and if the trailers to date are anything to go by I am not wrong.

There was an awful lot wrong with the first film but, to be fair, there was a fair amount that was right also. However this has been the case for Holmes screen dramatisations since the first. If we look back to the dawn of cinema it is easy to see that the Sherlock Holmes stories have suffered as much as other works at the hands of screenwriters.

The most famous of the early screen outings starred Eille Norwood and his (silent) films were set in the era in which they were filmed (i.e. the 1920s). Norwood enjoyed the rare distinction of approval from Arthur Conan Doyle himself even though he, Doyle, wasn't entirely happy about the non-Victorian setting. A contemporary setting was also used when Arthur Wontner starred in some of the earliest talkie Holmes films in the early 1930s. In both cases this was dictated largely by budget.

Fox’s early efforts with Basil Rathbone relocated back to the Victorian era but, when they took over, Universal swiftly reverted to a contemporary setting.

In the 1950s and 60s efforts were made to keep Holmes in his Victorian setting. We saw the likes of John Neville, Douglas Wilmer, Ronald Howard and Peter Cushing all as loyal servants of Victoria. This continued as we entered the 80s with Ian Richardson and Jeremy Brett continuing in the same vein.

Yet all of these took liberties with the source material to some degree or other. So when we object to such liberties do we do so more on the basis of what they are (i.e. do they cross any of our personal red lines) or who it is that is taking them?

Not a bad opening

2011-11-30T08:40:00.001Z

I said on Twitter this morning that I wouldn't blog today but what the hell. This will be the only one today.

My book An Entirely New Country is down to one available copy on Amazon UK. My other books have benefited from this as well with The Norwood Author also down to its last copy and sales increasing of Close to Holmes.

This is rather pleasing although I'll have to wait for the official sales figures before I know whether I am celebrating too early.

If you're in the UK and Amazon are sold out be sure to check Book Depository or Waterstones. With the former you don't need to have an account with them. You can make an unregistered purchase with Pay Pal.

Amazon UK - Nearly Sold Out

2011-11-29T15:20:00.001Z

Good news. Amazon UK are down to their last two copies of An Entirely New Country.

Interesting - Book on sale now

2011-11-29T10:04:00.001Z

Hi all. It would appear that Amazon UK are shipping my new book now.

This may seem odd but....

2011-11-29T09:55:00.001Z

Yes - I've just written a book on Arthur Conan Doyle's years at Undershaw. I know, you don't need to remind me. However I do have a question which I need answers to.

Does anyone out there know anything about the design and layout of the house's garden? It was something I never came across in my researches and was, I will admit, something I wasn't overly concerned about.

I intend to raid the home library in an effort to unearth facts but if anyone out there knows anything it would be useful. It is for a little side project.

Thanks.

AENC Snippet - 4 Conan Doyle and Parliament

2011-11-29T09:44:00.001Z

When Conan Doyle was campaigning to enter Parliament it was suggested that his conduct was inappropriate for a member of a certain London club. Conan Doyle was forced to defend himself in the press.

Want to know more. Order now.

Grrrrrr

2011-11-29T09:12:00.001Z

I have recently taken delivery of three postcards. Not a newsworthy event as such but it is mildly irritating for me. The postcards depict the Beacon Hotel, The Hindhead Golf Club clubhouse and the home of Grant Allen.

The latter two in particular would have been fantastic for inclusion in the new book.

Oh well. Perhaps in the second edition......

AENC Snippet - 3 Conan Doyle during the Boer War

2011-11-28T09:32:00.001Z

In 1900 Arthur Conan Doyle went out to South Africa to work at a field hospital. He did this because he was desperate to serve his country during the Boer War but was considered too old for active service.

In his autobiography and private letters he was rather disparaging about the head surgeon Robert O'Callaghan and his suitability for his position.

Was this justified? I think not....to find out more order now.

AENC Snippet - 2 Hound of the Baskervilles

2011-11-28T08:52:00.001Z

Have you ever wondered where Conan Doyle got the idea for the Barrymores for The Hound of the Baskervilles? Have you ever wondered why the Barrymores talk of leaving Sir Henry's employment even though they won't leave before the end of the novel?

A theory can be found in my new book. Order here

AENC Snippet - 1 William Gillette

2011-11-25T11:31:00.001Z

William Gillette, the American stage actor, brought Sherlock Holmes to London's Lyceum Theatre in September 1901. The play had done very well in the United States but its London debut was met with boos and shouting.

Many people have believed that this was due to people objecting to such an iconic British figure being portrayed by an American. The truth was somewhat different.

Want to know more?

Order now.

AENC - Snippets

2011-11-25T11:26:00.001Z

I have decided, with just over a week to go until the release of my next book, to post some teaser items. First to follow shortly.

Editing hat on

2011-11-25T08:51:00.001Z

As some of my Twitter followers will be aware I am trying my hand at a bit of editing. I freely admit that I have never edited for someone else before but this is not any old editing job. This is the editing of a Sherlock Holmes pastiche.

I can say nothing specific about the title at this stage but the task has proved an eye-opener. It is one thing to self-edit, another to deal with an editor who is going through your work, it is quite another to do the editing for someone else.

The problem of course is that you have to be critical, bordering on nasty, about the things that don't seem right. I'm also putting a lot of myself into someone else's work and, even though my name will not appear on the end result, I feel that my reputation is on the line as much as that of the author.

Why? Simple. Not only am I doing the regular thing of hunting for typos and anachronistic language I am also having to recommend changes where my Sherlockian knowledge tells me things are amiss. So the part of my reputation that is on the line is not my reputation as an editor (I have none to damage) but my reputation as a Sherlock Holmes 'expert'.

Gulp!

Mysterious

2011-11-24T10:24:00.001Z

I'm told that the Mysterious Bookshop in New York has placed an order for some copies of An Entirely New Country. Many thanks indeed.

Pipe Ashes to Ashes - an amusing thought

2011-11-22T10:25:00.001Z

I have often wondered what it must have been like to be a person reading the Sherlock Holmes stories as they came out. Anybody that has come to Sherlock Holmes since 1927 has had the benefit of having all the stories instantly available, the entire canon has been there for us to dip into.

What must it have been like to be one of those people who had to wait for the next instalment to be published, one of those people who mourned the publication of The Final Problem without the assurance that Holmes would return?

I also wonder what it must have been like for people when Holmes ceased to be contemporary. As I have mentioned before, Holmes began his adventures operating in the same world and age as his readers but as the world entered the 20th century Holmes remained largely in the 19th. By the time 1927 was reached Holmes had not had an adventure later in time than 1914 and his last published adventure Shoscombe Old Place was set at the turn of the century, nearly three decades prior to its publication date.

So, looked at another way, Holmes went from being a contemporary detective to being almost a retro detective. He operated in the past but it was a past that many of his readers were directly familiar with. Or, to put it yet another way, Holmes became trapped in the recent past - he entered his own version of Life on Mars.

How about that? A parallel between Sherlock Holmes and Gene Hunt.

Speaking with babes

2011-11-21T08:43:00.001Z

Yesterday evening I spoke with the Baker Street Babes for their next podcast (number 13). My contribution to proceedings included the story of how I came to be interested in Sherlock Holmes, how I came to be involved with the Undershaw Preservation Trust and how I came to write my latest book An Entirely New Country.

I was joined in the discussion by Lynn Gale, known to many of you as one of the driving forces of the Undershaw Preservation Trust.

I understand the podcast will be released before the end of November.

Less than three weeks to go...

2011-11-16T11:55:00.001Z

An Entirely New Country - my new book on the life of Arthur Conan Doyle during the Undershaw years will be available worldwide in just under three weeks time.

Get those pre-orders in. Links can be found at the foot of this blog. Remember that 50% of net royalties will be placed at the disposal of the Undershaw Preservation Trust.

Speaking to the Babes

2011-11-14T13:12:00.001Z

I hope, this Sunday, to be speaking to the Baker Street Babes for part of a future podcast.

I see that episode 12 is already announced so I guess that I'll be featuring on unlucky number 13. I'm just guessing but there's a fair bet they'll quiz me about Undershaw and my new book.

A wee trip to Hindhead

2011-11-12T07:55:00.001Z

Yesterday took me to Hindhead to see Lynn Gale and hand over an early copy of An Entirely New Country. It was a suitably foggy day.

We then proceeded to a nearby hostelry where we had a little chat about the book and our hopes for its success. You can help....buy now - links here.

Review - The House of Silk

2011-11-09T09:23:00.002Z

Update - Contains the odd spoiler

To put it in a nutshell The House of Silk is not written with hardcore fans of Sherlock Holmes in mind. It shares this in common with the recent Warner Bros. film. Both are commercial ventures and therefore both need to appeal widely (i.e. beyond the core Holmes fan base).

As with the film, you only require a basic knowledge of Holmes’s world to get on with this book and, if you have limited knowledge of the original stories, or you are capable of forgetting the details, you can lose yourself in the book and it will be an entertaining read.

Proof that you require limited knowledge lies in the preface where Horowitz hastily attempts to give as much back story as possible. He explains the series of steps by which Holmes and Watson meet although strangely, and to no apparent purpose, he changes it.

The preface is also home to a number of other peculiarities. Watson tells us that the manuscript is to be sealed for 100 years. Assuming 2011 to be that anniversary it means it was “written” in 1911. So far – fair enough. However, Watson goes on to describe Holmes as having died the previous year. So if Holmes died in 1910 how did he and Watson later appear in the story His Last Bow which was set in 1914 on the eve of the first world war? For someone who has been described as a Holmes fan, this was a careless error on Horowitz’s part.

Watson also tells us of the threat the story poses to the fabric of society and explains that, at a time of war in particular, it should not be told. This begs the question – which war? If the tale in question was written down in 1911 there was no obvious war. The only way you can make it work is to say that the war in question was the First World War. This would then allow Watson’s remark about a war to make sense and remove the problems in relation to His Last Bow. However if we do that it means that we are seeing Watson’s manuscript published before his 100 year restriction has expired.

Messy, Mr Horowitz, messy.

Moving on to the main story – we have two plots which are woven together. One concerns an art theft in America and its consequences for the British based dealer concerned in the sale of said art. The second concerns the mysterious organisation called The House of Silk. It is difficult to say too much about the plots without spoiling the read but I can say that, in an apparent attempt to make the story as canonical as possible, Horowitz packs it with all the ingredients of a Holmes story at once. As a result we have the irregulars, Mycroft, Lestrade, Professor Moriarty and a conspiracy at the highest levels of government. Not even Conan Doyle put all these elements into a single story.

Having Watson meet Moriarty was bizarre as was Moriarty’s insistence that Watson keep the meeting a secret from Holmes. Watson does not have a good record in the original stories of keeping things from Holmes so the idea that he could keep his prior knowledge of Moriarty secret is, to my mind, nonsense.

The other problem is that the conclusion of the story is something that Conan Doyle could never have written about in his day without offending society and possibly facing consequences. I’m not saying that the plot is unacceptable and, of course, today’s standards are different from those of Victorian times, but it takes away the authentic Doylean feel to have a story presented to us that Conan Doyle would not have been able to write.

In conclusion I have to say that, despite many peculiarities, this book is better than many that have been written. It comes quite close to Conan Doyle’s style but it has been let down by little errors and its own publicity which leads you to expect something outstanding but gives you something that is acceptable but not going to set the world alight.

One sneaked out

2011-11-08T16:19:00.001Z

A certain lucky(?) individual received a copy of my book from Amazon.com yesterday. Thanks to a small oversight on Amazon's part they released a copy (at least one that we know of) before the official date. A few words in the right ear and this has been halted.

Just goes to show that automated systems are not a substitute for a good old fashioned human being.

The debate draws near

2011-11-08T08:43:00.001Z

The Great Sherlock Holmes Debate draws near. Yesterday I put together my thoughts for team three and submitted them for inclusion in the team's slides.

My fear for The House of Silk

2011-11-04T08:56:00.002Z

There has been much raving in the press about the new Sherlock Holmes story The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz. Journalists seem to be lining up to report that it is excellent. They also seem to be saying that Horowitz writes in the style of Conan Doyle which begs the question - are they qualified to judge that? To my mind, the individual reader will decide that for themselves and the opinions are bound to be wide ranging.

I am still waiting for my copy to arrive but a day does not seem to go by where I don't see a sign proclaiming it to be Holmes's darkest case and so on.

I fear that these adverts are raising my expectations to a level where it may not be possible for the book to reach. Much is also being made of this being the first Conan Doyle Estate sanctioned book. Why? Is it a guarantee of quality? What level of input did the estate have?

Please don't get me wrong. I am not condemning the book. That would be daft as I am yet to read it. My fear is that the publicity surrounding it will do more harm than good.

Have you read it? Does it live up to the hype? Please let me know - just don't write any spoilers.

Happy birthday Mr Brett

2011-11-03T08:48:00.000Z

As you will have read elsewhere today is Jeremy Brett's birthday. For my generation this great man IS Sherlock Holmes and no one has come close to matching him. Older generations may adore Douglas Wilmer or Basil Rathbone - younger generations love Benedict Cumberbatch but, for me and countless others, Brett is best (although the others are good).

As I've stated elsewhere, it was Basil Rathbone that first got me interested in Sherlock Holmes and Arthur Conan Doyle but it was Jeremy Brett that made me stay the course. It was Brett who ultimately caused me to be sat here writing this blog entry with nearly three decades of fandom and four books behind me.

For that, and so much more, my thanks sir. May you rest in peace - that peace is richly deserved.

More can be read here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Brett

Look what has just arrived

2011-11-02T09:57:00.000Z

The 'author copies' have arrived.

Sorry folks they are all taken.

Not long now

2011-11-02T08:54:00.003Z

It is a little over a month now before An Entirely New Country is released. I imagine that the first batch of review copies will be heading out soon.

Links to it and my other books can be found here. The links are all Amazon but the books can of course be purchased from other retailers such as Book Depository, Play.Com and Barnes and Noble.

Phew!

2011-11-01T16:16:00.002Z

I have just submitted my last radio play review. This was for The Old Court Theatre Radio Company production of Sherlock Holmes - A Drama in Four Acts. The decks are now clear.

Next!

Christmas Cards available

2011-10-31T13:11:00.000Z

Christmas cards are now available from both The Sherlock Holmes Society of London and the Save Undershaw campaign.

http://www.saveundershawshop.com/

http://www.sherlock-holmes.org.uk/shop_item.php?item_id=29

Busy busy

2011-10-30T16:34:00.002Z

I have now submitted reviews for two of the three radio plays on my list. Now I look back I have written an awful lot over the past two years. In addition to my forthcoming book I have written three book reviews, two radio play reviews and an article on Conan Doyle biographies.

Much of this output will appear in December's Sherlock Holmes Journal.

Blink and you will miss it

2011-10-29T17:29:00.001+01:00

Amazon.com are once again listing my latest book for sale.

http://www.amazon.com/Entirely-New-Country-Undershaw-Resurrection/dp/1908218193/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319905132&sr=8-1

Sherlockology Interview - Opposition

2011-10-28T14:30:00.002+01:00

Well it seems that after a lot of 'likes' and agreements there is finally someone who disagrees with most of what I said. In the interests of even-handedness I provide the link here.

http://cuddlytogas.tumblr.com/post/12030275901/i-dont-feel-like-sleeping-talking-sherlock-holmes

The odd question as well as my answers come in for criticism.

Does this lady have a point? Discuss.

An Entirely New Country

2011-10-27T16:57:00.003+01:00

In the interests of fairness the following link utilises BookButler.com to show price comparisons for my new book.

http://www.bookbutler.com/compare.html?searchFor=1908218193&searchIn=uk&amountIn=gbp&shipTo=gb&zip=

This is for UK delivery only at present. If you follow the link you can change currency and destination country after the page loads.

Sherlockology Interview

2011-10-27T09:58:00.001+01:00

Yesterday I gave an interview to Sherlockology.com the principal fansite for BBC's Sherlock.

http://sherlockology.tumblr.com/post/11958038371/alistairduncan

Amazon.com - update

2011-10-25T12:19:00.004+01:00

It would appear that Amazon.com have removed the ability to pre-order copies of my latest book via Book Depository.

Making progress

2011-10-22T21:58:00.001+01:00

Well I have devoted most of today to reading Christopher Sandford's book on Houdini and Conan Doyle.

I am now firmly in the part of the book that details the deterioration in the friendship between the two men.

Alas I can say no more as my review is destined for the Winter edition of the Sherlock Holmes Journal. All being well the journal will feature this review along with that I wrote for Barefoot on Baker Street. It will also feature a special supplement which will feature an article by me.

Amusing Press Inaccuracy

2011-10-21T19:40:00.002+01:00

I am informed by my publisher that the local press in Tower Hamlets have just discovered that I won the Tony & Freda Howlett Award back in May.

http://www.mytowerhamlets.co.uk/news/local-sherlock-holmes-author-wins-literary-prize

I find this small quote rather amusing:

"On his personal blog, Alistair Duncan or ‘Sherlockian’ as he calls himself, wrote: ‘I am very pleased and proud that my book ‘The Norwood Author’ won the Tony & Freda Howlett Literary Award 2011’."

Somehow I think that the Tower Hamlets press don't realise that "Sherlockian" is something of a general term and not some sort of super hero name I have awarded myself.

I did have to laugh.

A Game of Shadows Trailer 2

2011-10-21T19:35:00.002+01:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKu0y1SXcVw

Enjoy (or not, depending on your preference).

Amazon.com users can now order An Entirely New County

2011-10-21T13:47:00.000+01:00

Amazon.com customers can now place pre-order for my new book An Entirely New Country. The following link will do the trick

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1908218193/sr=8-1/qid=1319200248/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&qid=1319200248&sr=8-1&seller=

However you should note that the orders are actually being placed with Book Depository. At least you can order in US dollars. You are given the impression that you will get delivery quickly but please bear in mind that the release date is still December 5th.

Further images from the Sherlock Holmes Pub night

2011-10-16T11:46:00.001+01:00

Some further images from last Thursday evening. All courtesy of Roger Johnson / Jean Upton.

Holmes and Watson collecting for the raffle

Assistant manager Richard and our David Jones

Watson wooing his next potential wife?

Judi Ellis and Jean Upton

Holmes and Watson with the winner of the bubbly

Who says Holmes does not get on with the ladies?

Homework

2011-10-14T16:50:00.001+01:00

I forgot to mention that at last night's event Roger Johnson furnished me with not only the book on Houdini and Conan Doyle but also a series of audio plays of Sherlock Holmes by the Old Court Radio Company.

Reviews of all of these items are to appear in the Winter Sherlock Holmes Journal along with (hopefully) my review of Barefoot on Baker Street.

The Sherlock Holmes Pub - Event

2011-10-14T09:21:00.000+01:00

Last night I was one of a number of Sherlockians who visited the Sherlock Holmes pub to officially celebrate its reopening following refurbishment.

Regrettably I did not see the dining area but the bar has been given a good spruce up. The layout has not changed but it does feel a lot cleaner and roomy that it did before. I was also reliably informed that the facilities (if you catch my drift) are a wonder to behold.

Steven Moffat and Sue Vertue put in a brief appearance and I managed a few brief words with them - sorry folks no juicy spoilers (alas).

It was also an opportunity for many Sherlockians to finally meet my publisher Steve Emecz of MX Publishing, The picture below of Roger Johnson, myself and Steve does not do us any justice taken, as it was, on an iPhone without flash.

Finally where would we have been without Holmes and Watson themselves who went round collecting entries for the raffle. Alas I cannot tell you who won as I had to leave before the draw.

The Great Holmes Debate - Team 3 and a shift of position

2011-10-13T09:04:00.000+01:00

The Great Sherlock Holmes Debate has gained a third team (see here) and this has forced me to look again and add to my initial thoughts (see here).

In that post I provided my thoughts on the great Sherlock Holmes debate. Those of you who have read it will know that despite it being, in my opinion, a close call - I came down on the side of the modern BBC adaptation.

However, we now have a new team in the form of the ‘Traditional Adaptations’. This camp covers the adaptations (radio and screen) that are both true to the spirit of the canon (like BBC’s Sherlock - BBCS) and in the right era (like Warner Bros - WBS). In other words this camp represents the BBC’s (Victorian) screen and radio adaptations along with the iconic Granada series with Jeremy Brett.

I have declared on more than one occasion my reverence for Brett and my equal reverence for faithful (as much as possible) Victorian adaptations. I wrote a whole chapter on the subject in my first book Eliminate the Impossible.

Please understand that I take nothing back from my earlier post as it dealt with the only two options on the table at the time and is still representative of my opinion of those adaptations.

However, now that they have arrived, the traditional camp must get my vote. To not reallocate my vote, now that this option is available, would be to go against my long established position.

I confess to having little familiarity with the various radio incarnations of Holmes. While I have listened to one or two of the Basil Rathbone broadcasts I have not listened to those produced by the BBC. The primary reason for this being that, for me, a radio adaptation of Holmes is as inadequate as a silent movie of Holmes. Both forms are missing a vital ingredient. The former is missing the visuals and the latter the audio. Before the mobs start massing at the gates I reiterate that this is my personal view and I accept that others love the radio adaptations. I also promise that I will get round to giving them a go.

For me the Granada Holmes series from 1984-1994 still stands as the best and most faithful interpretation of Holmes to ever grace the screen. I will be the first to concede that the series slipped from its initial high standards as time went on but this was largely down to the declining health of Jeremy Brett combined with the fact that the producers used up all the most adaptable stories in the first three or so series. This led to some questionable decisions such as the padding out of stories such as The Sussex Vampire and The Noble Bachelor (into The Last Vampyre and The Eligible Bachelor respectively) and the merging of others such as The Mazarin Stone and The Three Garridebs.

However, if you base your opinion on the first two series with David Burke as Doctor Watson and Edward Hardwicke’s appearances up to and including The Sign of Four and The Hound of the Baskervilles, it is hard to deny the level of canonical fidelity and attention to detail. You might argue that including Granada is inappropriate due to the time that has passed since the series first aired. I would counter that the repeated showing of the series (in the UK on channel ITV3) permits it to be included.

So I now place myself in team 'Traditional' which will surprise no one who is familiar with my writing (or indeed this blog). However I should not be seen as hostile to BBCS because I am not.

Save Undershaw has a bookshop

2011-10-12T19:53:00.001+01:00

The Save Undershaw campaign now has a bookshop courtesy of MX Publishing:

http://www.saveundershawshop.com/index.html

You can get my next book An Entirely New Country slightly ahead of release if you order it through this site.

A question re the next Warner Bros Holmes film

2011-10-12T13:54:00.000+01:00

Here's a question for you all. Most people are agreed that there were things wrong with Warner Bros' Sherlock Holmes film. Some thought it so bad that the film out to be set alight. Others thought it was good apart from the odd irritation.

So - what things do you really hope they have sorted out with the sequel?

Discuss.

Amazon.com - Update

2011-10-12T13:22:00.001+01:00

I'm afraid that Amazon.com are still not permitting pre-orders for An Entirely New Country. If you are outside of the UK you can pre-order the book from Book Depository who deliver free worldwide.

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Entirely-New-Country-Arthur-Conan-Doyle-Undershaw-Resurrection-Sherlock-Holmes-Alistair-Duncan/9781908218193

Proof positive

2011-10-10T09:59:00.001+01:00

Well my proof copy has found its way into my hands today.

The more observant amongst you will have noticed that this copy's cover is missing mention of the foreword by Mark Gatiss. Rest assured that this will be corrected.

Co-opted

2011-10-05T13:33:00.002+01:00

On October 13th the Sherlock Holmes Pub reopens after refurbishment. They are holding a small 'invitation only' event to mark the occasion and I have been asked to attend.

At the request of the Undershaw Preservation Trust I shall be flying their flag. If you are attending the event and desire to know about Undershaw - ask me on the day and I'll tell you what I can.

Holmes Debate

2011-10-05T13:26:00.003+01:00

I see that my comments on the Great Holmes Debate are shaping up to be my most read blog entry since I began. My thanks to you all. Comments to-date suggest that most of you agree with my position to some extent or other.

The review pile grows

2011-10-05T08:55:00.002+01:00

I have been requested by Roger Johnson to review Houdini and Conan Doyle by Christopher Sandford for the Winter Sherlock Holmes Journal.

I am very interested in seeing how even-handed this book is with regards to how Spiritualism is portrayed.

The Great Holmes Debate - My initial thoughts

2011-09-30T13:46:00.001+01:00

Warner Bros. Sherlock Vs BBC Sherlock

Ever since the BBC’s Sherlock series began in 2010 there has been a debate concerning whether it or the Warner Bros film of 2009 is the better adaptation.

The problem is that there are really two debates. The first is to determine which of the two is more faithful to the source material. The second is to determine which has done the most to raise the profile of Holmes and gain new fans.

For the rest of this document the BBC series will be referred to as (BBCS) and the Warner Bros film will be referred to as (WBS).

Debate One – Fidelity.

Neither offering scores 100% when it comes to being faithful to the source material. BBCS does the best however as its principal failing is only that it is set in the incorrect time period. The creators have justified this on the grounds that Conan Doyle wrote Holmes as a contemporary character and that they are, in effect, doing the same.

It’s very easy for those of us reading the stories today to forget that Holmes was not a historical detective to the people that read his adventures when they were first published. However as time went on Holmes did become increasingly a prisoner of the nineteenth century.

When Conan Doyle penned his first adventure A Study in Scarlet in 1886 (published in 1887) Holmes was operating in the same Victorian period as those who read the story. When Conan Doyle wrote his last Holmes adventure Shoscombe Old Place (published in 1927) Holmes was still the Victorian (perhaps just about Edwardian) detective even though the reigning monarch of the day was King George V (Victoria’s grandson). In other words Holmes had made the transition from contemporary to semi-historical and was now operating in a world that was some two decades in the past. Although this was no doubt largely influenced by the character’s age (known to be sixty in 1914) it does suggest that Conan Doyle saw the Victorian era as Holmes’s natural place. This is born out by his opinion of the Eilee Norwood silent Holmes films which he thought were fine aside from the fact that they were set in the 1920s. Looked at in this way the argument for moving Holmes to the present day is a little weakened. See here for further details.

WBS scores highly by keeping Holmes in his correct historical setting but elsewhere its record is not so good. Their Holmes is not the Holmes of the books. He is, if anything, a diluted Holmes (or Holmes Lite). Where Conan Doyle gave us a Holmes who epitomised the Victorian gentleman and who was brain first, brawn second. WBS has given us a Holmes who demonstrates considerably less brain work and is more of a brawler with personal hygiene issues. The WBS film also seems to confuse eccentricity with madness. The Holmes of this film shares the occasional appearance of being present in body but not in mind with the character of Captain Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean films.

Watson in both BBCS and WBS is faithfully depicted. Conan Doyle gave us an intelligent and brave former army doctor and this is what we are given by both adaptations. It is rather pleasing to see Watson so well depicted after so many poor screen outings (such as Nigel Bruce). Perhaps WBS felt that if Watson could not be the comic relief then Holmes had to step in instead.

Inspector Lestrade is also well served by both adaptations. In the books he is very much depicted as a man lacking in reasoning ability but gifted with energy. In both WBS and BBCS this is the kind of man we are presented with.

So, as said above, from a fidelity standpoint, I feel that BBCS scores over WBS in almost every area except that of chronological setting where it loses and the depictions of Watson and Lestrade where they tie.

Debate Two – New fans and profile

Both WBS and BBCS have raised the profile of Holmes and have unquestionably increased his fan base. However these are screen fans rather than book fans. It is debatable how many of these new fans will go on to embrace the original Holmes.

Of course a proportion almost certainly will. I personally discovered Holmes and became a fan through the films of Basil Rathbone so the transition from a less than faithful screen Holmes to the original literary Holmes is clearly possible. Large numbers, however, are destined to remain fans only of the adaptations themselves.

Many fans of WBS who pick up the books are almost certainly going to be disappointed at the lack of love interest, the relative lack of fights and the almost total absence of explosions that the film leads you to believe form most of Holmes’s day-to-day existence.

Similarly, many fans of BBCS are going to be shocked that the stories have leapt back a century and that the text messages and cars have been replaced with telegrams and hansom cabs. BBC Books are not helping in this regard. They are in the process of re-releasing the original Holmes adventures. The problem is that the covers feature the modern Holmes and Watson and will create the impression for some that the stories are also modern. Some people will not react well to the Victorian Holmes they are faced with in the pages that follow the 21st Century Holmes on the cover. I strongly suspect that a sizeable majority will elect to stick with the version they enjoy and Conan Doyle’s original works will remain unexplored.

Both adaptations can, in my opinion, be regarded as successes even if they only bring a handful of new people to the books who then learn to love the written Holmes as much as the screen Holmes.

So the adaptation, in my opinion, which does the most for Holmes's profile is BBCS but the race is a close one and not the forgone conclusion that many might have expected.

British Library launch event for "The Narrative of John Smith"

2011-09-29T08:56:00.002+01:00

I was very pleased to be invited to the British Library launch event for Conan Doyle's 'lost' first novel. This was held yesterday evening in the library's bookshop.

Jean Upton and Roger Johnson

Catherine Cooke with a member of the British Library's publishing team

Many notable names were in attendance. Roger Johnson, Jean Upton, Catherine Cooke and David Jones of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London. Richard Doyle and his sister Catherine were also present. Representing The Undershaw Preservation Trust were John Gibson, Lynn Gale and Sue Meadows.

John Gibson, Robert Lindsay, Sue Meadows and Lynn Gale

The final two names of major note were Conan Doyle biographer Andrew Lycett and actor Robert Lindsay who narrated the audio book edition.

Richard Doyle making his speech of thanks

Everyone gathered around a speaker to hear a recording of Conan Doyle. We were all surprised and amused when the recording developed a stutter

The Book

My copy signed by Richard Doyle

I shall add more pictures as I receive them from others. Hopefully some will feature my good self.

Update - further pictures courtesy of Roger Johnson and Lynn Gale.

David Jones, John Gibson and your humble blog author

Humble self, Jean Upton and Catherine Cooke

Me and Robert Lindsay

Me and Richard Doyle

An Entirely New Country - Updated Amazon UK listing

2011-09-27T08:39:00.003+01:00

The Amazon UK listing for my new book now carries a quote from Mark Gatiss.

Check it out here

For some reason the Amazon.com entry for the book still only allows you to sign up for notification. I hope that people will be able to place orders there prior to release but who knows.

The final straight

2011-09-26T13:14:00.001+01:00

Well I am now waiting for the proof copy of An Entirely New Country. I very much hope it will be with me in the next few days.

Announcement - Mr Mark Gatiss

2011-09-22T10:21:00.000+01:00

I am delighted to be able to announce that Mr Mark Gatiss (co-creator of the BBC's Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes in said series) has kindly written the foreword for my new book An Entirely New Country.

I am incredibly grateful for this and for his extremely kind comments about the book itself.

Pre-order links

Amazon UK Amazon US Book Depository Waterstones MX Publishing (direct)

Foreword

2011-09-21T08:58:00.000+01:00

I have been informed that my guest foreword should be with me in a matter of days. This is very exciting news as it is the last piece of the puzzle (so to speak).

All legal permissions have been sorted out so this really is the last thing between me and the presses.

Haslemere Festival 2012 - Latest

2011-09-15T13:13:00.002+01:00

As far as I know I shall still be giving a small introductory talk at Haslemere Hall in May/June 2012 as part of the Haslemere Festival. Unless there are changes, this talk will be delivered before a screening of the Hammer version of The Hound of the Baskervilles.

I have, this morning, penned the outline of my talk and it is shaping up to educational and hopefully entertaining.

I shall, assuming all proceeds as planned, see if my introduction can be recorded for use as a podcast.

More about the venue can be read here.

I shall make time at the end of the event to speak to people and also sign any books that people have bought in advance of the event. Books will not be on sale at the event itself unless there is demand for it. If you wish to buy books at the event itself you need to let the organisers know.

Dusting off old notes

2011-09-15T08:47:00.002+01:00

During the course of writing my latest tome I made two trips to the British Library in order to look at Conan Doyle's letters, diaries and other items. My notes were hastily scribbled into a dedicated (no expense spared) notebook which I am now dusting off as I go through the manuscript for what should be the last time.

My reason? Well I want to add a few little tit-bits that I was in two minds about before. These are really little more than the odd word here and there but they will, I hope, bring a little extra clarity to the places where they appear.

After that dear reader there is precious little standing between you and the book which is still on course to be released on December 5th.

Now how many complimentary copies have I promised? Where is that spreadsheet?

Undershaw - an old perspective

2011-09-13T08:55:00.000+01:00

Here is a link to an article re Undershaw from October 2007 that appeared in the Telegraph. Despite its factual errors it provides us with some idea of how the house was viewed four years ago.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/3359609/Undershaw-Whats-to-become-of-it-Watson.html

The point of no return approaches

2011-09-12T14:30:00.000+01:00

The finish line is in sight. The book has been written, rewritten, edited, rewritten again, tweaked and proof-read. A few Is to dot and Ts to cross and it's all done.

An honour

2011-09-11T11:10:00.001+01:00

I have been invited to attend the launch at the British Library of Conan Doyle's first novel The Narrative of John Smith. It's an honour and something I'm looking forward to.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-13667508

My best Sherlockian items thus far of 2011

2011-09-01T08:57:00.000+01:00

I know it is only September but I feel compelled to put together a list of the best Sherlockian/Doylean things I have read so far this year. The list includes books and blogs and is not in order of preference.

Barefoot on Baker Street

A fascinating look at the life of Red as she works her way up from humble beginnings in the workhouse to the pinnacle of crime meeting Moriarty, Holmes, Watson and others en route.

The Dark Detective (Issues 1 - 5)

The superb illustrations of Phil Cornell combined with a good storyline make this a comic series to treasure.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle at the Cinema

A comprehensive (if slightly out-of-date) look at the attempts to bring Conan Doyle's works to the silver screen.

The Outstanding Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes

An above-average set of Holmes pastiche featuring a couple of really novel plots.

William Gillette: America's Sherlock Holmes

The first and only(?) biography of William Gillette who brought Holmes to the stage in the UK in 1901.

Always1895.net

A top class blog on all things Sherlockian.

Conan Doyle's other works

2011-08-31T08:44:00.001+01:00

Now I suspect the vast majority of people are aware of Arthur Conan Doyle purely through his Sherlock Holmes stories. I am as guilty of this as the next person. Aside from the Holmes stories I have read ACD's autobiography, a few of his Round the Fire Stories, some of The Stark Munro Letters and a part of A Duet.

From someone who can count himself amongst Conan Doyle's biographers this is an uncomfortable admission. I feel that I have failed the great man and have, to a certain extent, justified his dislike of Holmes.

Therefore I make an appeal. To those of you, like me, who have read little else of Conan Doyle - make the effort to read at least one of his other works. If you have, make a comment and let me know what you recommend and why.

New chapter complete

2011-08-26T08:58:00.000+01:00

The new chapter for my book is complete. It features a few pictures of various parts of Undershaw taken over the last few years. All pictures feature with the permission of The Undershaw Preservation Trust. My thanks to them.