In Search of Doctor Watson - Softcover

Carr, Molly

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1780920318 ISBN 13: 9781780920313

Publisher: MX Publishing, 2011

Synopsis

Fully revised and updated 2nd edition of this detailed biography of Doctor Watson. In her third book author Molly Carr has, for the moment, abandoned the Watson-Fanshaw Detective Agency in favour of discovering as much as possible about Doctor Watson. Radically different in style from her first two books, the investigation will nevertheless be of interest to students of military history, railways both Indian and British and of course all fans of Sherlock Holmes. Holmes is a household name. But where would he be without his Biographer? Beavering away in Baker Street, unknown to everyone except Scotland Yard and a few luckless criminals. It is time to put the loyal and much put upon man, Dr. John H. Watson M.D., centre stage.

About this title

Review

According to the author, this book 'falls naturally into two parts: the Doctor as written about by Doyle, and an exploration of the concept of the foil before, during and after the first appearance of Watson.' She is, however, doing herself an injustice with this relatively bald statement. Part One covers every aspect of a character that you can imagine, the friends and acquaintances on which Doyle may have drawn or not, and, if not, why not for inspiration; the places and actions and fallacies of same in a historical context; Watson s own background and possible 'origins', his income and where that would fit into London society. For me, just as interesting as this detailed investigation is the wealth of background information and research that is included to paint such a complete and convincing picture: the history of the Field Medical Services, the 66th's movements during the Second Anglo-Afghan War, the attitude of the medical profession (including Doyle) towards dressers, the description of Charles Booth s social system etc. etc. Equally fascinating is her attempt to construct a plausible timeline before and, especially, after Maiwand and Peshawar and when Watson met Holmes; naturally she has to excuse the former for the occasional lapse of memory as to precisely in which hospital he was tended for his shoulder wound. She even suggests that Watson purposely chose New Year's Day for their first meeting as it 'makes for better 'theatre'.' Equally interesting is the discussion on the literary duos spawned [by Holmes and Watson], although I would disagree with her argument when discussing Arthur Morrison s lack of success with his Strand stories which appeared soon after The Final Problem that what the readers...of the Strand desperately wanted was a second Holmes and Watson. What they clearly clamoured for and eventually got was the return of the original! Raffles & Bunny, Drs Thorndyke and Jarvis, Lord Peter Wimsey & Bunter, Sexton Blake & Tinker, Poirot & Hastings: they are all there, but the conclusion is, naturally, that there s only one Holmes and Watson! Can I find any fault in this, perhaps definitive, work on Dr. Watson? Well yes, just one: given that the author shares her extensive knowledge of relevant sources with us, an index and/or bibliography would be handy for the interested researcher. Something for the next edition maybe. But in the meantime this one can be wholly recommended. --THE TORR - The Journal of The Poor Folk Upon the Moors The Sherlock Holmes Society of the West Country. Issue No. 43 - Autumn 2013

Edition details

• Publisher: MX Publishing
• Publication date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1780920318
• ISBN 13: 9781780920313
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 226