Le Figaro - again!

I had more or less forgotten about this but a few weeks ago I was approached once more by Le Figaro for my thoughts on the Murder Rooms series with the late Ian Richardson. I gave a relatively concise response and thought little more about it.

I have just been sent the article. No English translation this time I'm afraid but I do have my response when I was asked what I thought of the show. Some or all of this found its way into the article.

Reproduced with permission (C) Le Figaro 2013

The show was very good and gave a good indication of the relationship between Doyle and Bell. Richardson was very good in the role even though he was about 15-20 years too old for the part.

Although the real Bell did carry out some forensic work for the police it is not likely that he ever became as involved in crime solving as the series made out. The writer of the series deliberately gave Dr Bell more Holmes-like qualities so that people would believe in him as a detective. However the problem with this is that it implies that Doyle lacked imagination and simply used Bell for Holmes and did little more than change his name. This is clearly not the case as Holmes has characteristics that Bell did not. 

For example,
Holmes's drug use
Holmes's distrust of women
Holmes's interest in bee keeping
Holmes's minimal interest in religion

There are probably quite a few more. However that's the best I can do for the moment.
I hope this helps you.

For more information on Arthur Conan Doyle and his time at Undershaw please refer to my book, An Entirely New Country which is available through all good bookstores including Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Classic Specialities, and in all electronic formats including iTunes, Kobo, Nook and Kindle .

The Norwood Author is available from all good bookstores, in many formats worldwide including Waterstones UK, Amazon UK,  Amazon USA, Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, iBooks for the iPad/iPhone, Kobo Books, Nook.

Close to Holmes is available from all good bookstores, in many formats worldwide including Amazon USA,  Barnes and Noble,  Amazon UK,  Waterstones UK,  Amazon Kindle,  Kobo,  Nook  and iBooks for the iPad/iPhone.

Eliminate the Impossible is available from all good bookstores, in many formats worldwide including Amazon USA, Barnes and Noble, Amazon UK, Waterstones UK, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, Nook and iBooks for the iPad/iPhone.