(no subject)
From Arthur Conan Doyle's introduction to The Case Book Of Sherlock Holmes:
"I fear that Mr Sherlock Holmes may become like one of those popular tenors who, having outlived their time, are still tempted to make repeated farewell bows to their indulgent audiences. This must cease and he must go the way of all flesh, material or imaginary. One likes to think there is some fantastic limbo for the children of the imagination, some strange, impossible place where the beaux of Fielding may still make love to the belles of Richardson, where Scott's heroes still may strut, Dickens's delightful Cockneys still raise a laugh, and Thackeray's worldlings continue to carry on their reprehensible careers. Perhaps in some humble corner of such a Valhalla, Sherlock and his Watson may for a time find a place, while some more astute sleuth with some even less astute comrade may fill the stage which they have vacated.
...
I had fully determined at the conclusion of The Memoirs to bring Holmes to an end, as I felt that my literary energies should not be directed too much into one channel. That pale, clear-cut face and loose-limbed figure were taking up an undue share of my imagination. I did the deed, but, fortunately, no coroner had pronounced upon the remains, and so, after a long interval, it was not difficult for me to respond to the flattering demand and to explain my rash act away. I have never regretted it..."
*LOVES*
Does anyone else remember that drama about the time in between ACD killing Holmes off and bringing him back? It seemed to be about him being stalked by an obsessive fan and turned out to be basically about Holmes himself, manifesting in ACD's imagination and pestering him until he brought him back to life. There was a scene right at the end where they acted out Holmes reappearance scene, with ACD in the Watson role, and it was just... glorious and eerie and felt terribly familiar.
In conclusion, I shall point you back to I and all my pirates, and bask in the reflected glow of authorial kinship for a bit.
"I fear that Mr Sherlock Holmes may become like one of those popular tenors who, having outlived their time, are still tempted to make repeated farewell bows to their indulgent audiences. This must cease and he must go the way of all flesh, material or imaginary. One likes to think there is some fantastic limbo for the children of the imagination, some strange, impossible place where the beaux of Fielding may still make love to the belles of Richardson, where Scott's heroes still may strut, Dickens's delightful Cockneys still raise a laugh, and Thackeray's worldlings continue to carry on their reprehensible careers. Perhaps in some humble corner of such a Valhalla, Sherlock and his Watson may for a time find a place, while some more astute sleuth with some even less astute comrade may fill the stage which they have vacated.
...
I had fully determined at the conclusion of The Memoirs to bring Holmes to an end, as I felt that my literary energies should not be directed too much into one channel. That pale, clear-cut face and loose-limbed figure were taking up an undue share of my imagination. I did the deed, but, fortunately, no coroner had pronounced upon the remains, and so, after a long interval, it was not difficult for me to respond to the flattering demand and to explain my rash act away. I have never regretted it..."
*LOVES*
Does anyone else remember that drama about the time in between ACD killing Holmes off and bringing him back? It seemed to be about him being stalked by an obsessive fan and turned out to be basically about Holmes himself, manifesting in ACD's imagination and pestering him until he brought him back to life. There was a scene right at the end where they acted out Holmes reappearance scene, with ACD in the Watson role, and it was just... glorious and eerie and felt terribly familiar.
In conclusion, I shall point you back to I and all my pirates, and bask in the reflected glow of authorial kinship for a bit.