Book – The Return of Sherlock Holmes

Book – The Return of Sherlock Holmes

Author : Arthur Conan Doyle

Score: 10/10

Year: 1903-1904 (serialized) ; 1905 ; 1995 (this edition) 

Publisher: Wordworth

ISBN 978-1-85326-058-2

Pages 303 (13 stories) 

Language: English 

Under public pressure, Doyle who wished to end telling the famous sleuth's adventures with the Final Problem had resumed with the Hound of the Baskervilles, set several years prior and since the public was still dissatisfied with this, Doyle caved in once more and would continue off and on until almost his death. 

Thus, in 1903-04, he published additional 13 short stories, collected together in 1905. 
As usual, some dialogues are to be taken in their period's context. 

• The first is called the Empty House, told by Watson some 10 years after the fact elapsed, recounting events from 1894, which are 3 years after the Final Problem. 

Here, Watson who misses his friend whom he hasn't seen in all these 3 long years, tries to understand a case which he imagines Holmes would have liked solving. This case- also referred to as the Parklane Mystery - is the one of the locked-room murder of Ronald Adair and which occurred on the night of the 30th of March 1894. By some curious series of events, the good Doctor meets once more the famous detective and sets upon a new adventure. 

In this short story, we learn what really happened in the Final Problem, and reunite with the two main characters of Doyle's most famous stories, and are reminded that he didn't lose his flair for writing, not any more than Holmes for the dramatic. 

The Granada tv episode for this story expands the short story into a full 50 minutes episode, by changing Watson's role into the case, taking active part alongside Lestrade. As he testifies in the inquest, the part where he bumps into a man placed behind him in the original story is slightly altered, but the rest of the episode remains afterwards rather faithful, especially after the first 15 minutes and with the exception of the last 3 minutes where different characters utter specific phrases (which are, themselves, almost verbatim). 
All in all, 90% adaptation, and changes that actually work well. 

• Several months after Sherlock's return, in fact in August of 1894, he and Watson take on John Hector McFarlan's case after he bursts into their reception room. He fears that he'll be shortly arrested for murder where all material evidence point to his guilt. This case is known as the Norwood builder, which corresponds to Oldcare's (the victim) profession and location. 

Sherlock sets off to investigate whilst Lestrade of Scotland Yard follows his own clues.
Doyle's phrasing continues to flow naturally and he further develops Sherlock's traits by adding a new information about his habits, but making it clear that this has been going for the entire friendship with Watson at that point. 

The 10th Granada tv-episode, aired 8 September 1985, adapted this story more or less faithfully, but changed at least 4 points of the original version, most of which are inconsequential, but have to be noted. 

Although dialogues are usually verbatim or slightly updated to more modern versions (such as gaol= jail), a few are once more (for this show) are said by a different person. This has no real consequence, but there is a moment where, in the episode, Watson accompanies Holmes to talk with McFarlan's mother, whereas  in the short story, Holmes goes alone, as he feels there is no need for Watson to come. Later on, Holmes requests the Doctor's presence for support and help, which works very logically for the written form, but makes no sense that it was kept in the tv version, as they hadn't been separated.
Lastly, there is a whole sub-plot added, with a different conclusion in the episode than that of the written story, so, all in all, I guess this episode has about 75% faithful adaptation. 

• It appears that some time around or shortly after the Norwood builder case, Sherlock and Watson receive their new client, Mr Hilton Cubitt, of Riding Thorp Manor, Norfolk, presenting them with the mysterious succession of stick figures in shapes of dancing men, which made his wife very afraid, but that he couldn't ask her why. Indeed, when they married - about a year prior to the appearance of the first dancing men figures - she had asked him not to ask her questions about her past, but assured him that she had nothing to be ashamed of. Respecting her wishes, he didn't inquire any further, but now came to ask the detective's aid in understanding what kind of childish prank was making his beloved wife so afraid, and so Sherlock starts delving into the matter. 

I note on this wiki page about times & places of Sherlock stories, that it appears this story isn't set in 1894 like I assumed, but 1898. 

The Granada tv show adapted quite faithfully this story, but changed location from Norfolk to Derbyshire, and alters ever so slightly dialogues - most to accommodate this location change - but remains one of the most accurate adaptations in this series. It was the show's second episode, aired 1st of May 1984. 

• Moving on to next story of the Solitary cyclist is told by Watson, some unspecified date after 1902, as he announces that the 8 years of 1894 to 1901 included were extremely busy for his friend Sherlock, and so he selects that case brought to their attention by Miss Violet Smith, in 23rd of April 1895. She had received been followed by a mysterious man, who keeps his distance on his own bicycle on her way  in and out of work on Saturdays and Mondays.  

Doyle once more chooses new forms of narratives and explores other facets of human unkindness, this time exploring obnoxious men courting Miss Smith in aggressive ways, 
and for a change, barely involves official law forces in this case.
I love that in his voice as Watson, he announces that he has been flourishing his endings rather often and so this time is quite short - half a page or so, to sum up the conclusion to this curious and unique case. 

4th Granda tv episode, aired 15 May 1984 adapts more or less faithful this story, but changes the order in which the client tells her story to the pair S.H/J.W ; it also adds a few phrases and scenes that, although logical and possible, aren't present at all in the written form. 
It is set around June instead of April ; miss Smith's father who is dead in both versions had been so for a few months in the written form, and several years in this episode. 
It also adds comic relief ending that is only present for this screen-form. 

• I absolutely love the originality and flow Doyle chose for the 5th story in the Return of S.H. It is called the Priory school, and starts on Thursday, 16th of May 1901, when Dr Thorneycroft Huxtable bursts into 221B Baker Street offices, collapsed, before can regain his composure and strength to tell of a case which could ruin his reputation as schoolmaster. Indeed, he accepted a Duke's son into his school, and 3 days before consulting Sherlock Holmes, Lord Saltire, the Duke's son and one of the tutors both disappeared. His Grace (=the Duke) had tried to hush the case, but now, this schoolmaster implores the consulting detective to come with him at once, by the next train to Mackleton, to investigate and hopefully solve this crime, and thus to avoid ruin and ill-reputation. Despite these 3 days handicap and being otherwise engages, Holmes embarks with his trusted friend Watson. 

Of note, being a story from 1904, there is a short and unique usage of the n-word, to be taken in context of the period. 

Also of note, there is a small reproduction of Watson's map of the school's premises. This map spoils something which is explained a couple pages later, in my edition, so I'd suggest waiting to read first, and come back to the illustration. 

Granada tv adapted this as their 15th episode, aired 16 July 1986, adapts the story, keeping most dialogues verbatim and faithful to the written form, including the 3 day delay between the disappearance of the boy and the coming of the schoolmaster to consult Sherlock, but it does alter the day of the week the boy disappeared, from Monday (written) to Saturday (episode), for some odd reason that eludes me. 

In the story, there is mention of a character being in the South of France, and this episode changes that to Italy. 
Holmes's knowledge is downplayed in this episode, where he has to ask a question and gets an answer, whereas in the written form he is an expert at specific marks left after the disappearances. 

The episode adds some filler-scenes that aren't written about at all, deleting others that were more important, and lastly,  modifies considerably the ending, as well as the rewards offered and executed in this case. 
Though usually, cast members ressemble a lot both Doyle's descriptions and Sidney Paget's illustrations, the actor portraying the Duke doesn't look at all similar. 

• The following story is my least favorite in the Return of S.H. Not because its style is any lesser, but, rather, its details perturbed me. Indeed, in Black Peter, Peter Carey, the dead man, is a whaler, and so are others in the story. I'm actually glad that this character is dead, also because he's a terror at home - his name Black Peter coming to him both for his swarthy skin color and his black moods during which he abuses everyone around him, so I feel he deserves to be dead, just like one of his relatives says in the story. 

During his investigation, Sherlock is described testing how much strength is required to drive the murder weapon - a harpoon - into a body, using a dead animal's one, which would be logical for 1895 when this story is set, many years prior to the invention of forensic dummies, and though the description was short, the overall story disturbed me.
Watson tells this story as a recollection of his friend, Shelock's, best physical and mental year, 1895, and situates it to the first week of July of that year. The intro and story are, despite their effect on me, well written, remaining in Doyle's voice and yet original and fresh telling. A new inspector is introduced, young Stanley Hopkins, veering away from the usual Scotland yard previous ones (Lestrade  remains most present in other stories).

This was adapted or used as basis for other Sherlock Holmes tv or radio dramatisations, but wasn't adapted into Granda's show. 

• The 7th story in this collection deviates into the realm of blackmail, and where Watson, after apologizing to the reader, explains that he must conceal the date and any other detail which may trace the precise identities of the people involved in this case. 

Even Sherlock Holmes is repulsed by the criminal which gives his name to this story, Charles Augustus Milverton. Facing him, he feels repulsed, which he compares to Watson as a creeping, shrinking sensation as when faced in front of serpents in the zoo. This case is told by Watson years after the persons involved have been out of reach of the law, and finds both of them entangled and risking jail together, in the name of moral justice to protect their client - a débutante called Eva Blackwell, whom Milverton wants to blackmail, just like he always does with other people, especially women, with threats to ruin their good name. 

Nothing in this short story can help the reader trace back anything, as no other detail to previous cases is given as a frame of reference, and the fog which Watson instills is a permanent one, as he doesn't leave a single clue to suppose when this occurred in his own life.

The story was adapted several times, and the Granada tv episode 33 headed The master blackmailer (featuring Robert Hardy as Milverton) expanding all blackmails into full fledged plots, with additional characters - with an international scope that isn't even mentioned or inferred originally- thus turning this short (18 pages!) story into a full 1h40 feature-episode, expanding in far too many points, more or less faithfully, changing details from start to end.
There are also some characterization mistakes in this adaptation, contrary to set rules and knowledge about Holmes and his interactions - notably Lestrade. I found these to be unnecessary. 
Lastly, dialogues aren't the usual verbatim, since the story was so enlarged that they veer radically from the original. 

• Moving on to the 8th story, that of the Six Napoleons, in which 6 busts of the French Emperor are sought and shattered into pieces, bringing the tri Lestrade, Holmes/Watson, in an investigation that is dated a year or so after other events had occurred, but the year and date of this particular case are never specified. This story starts with Lestrade's evening visit to 221B Baker Street, where he first wishes to consult not with Holmes but with Watson, for a medical opinion about the criminal who smashes these busts seems to be mad in his doings. After a few pages of joint case, Lestrade goes his way, and our pair theirs, as in most stories that involve any Scotland Yard detective do. This story involves a secret criminal society and some historical references. 

According to Holmes  related webpages, this story is set in 1900, or 1902 (and was published in 1904). Several adaptations were made, and the Granada tv show's episode 20, aired 20 August 1986, is faithful, with a twist and expansion of the 22 pages short story into a full 50 minutes episode, which sees Marina Sirtis (best known as Deanna Troi in TNG) guest starring alongside Colin Jeavons (Lestrade), Eric Sykes (Horace Harker) and others whom I never seen elsewhere. 
This episode keeps the verbatim nature, contrary to that of The master blackmailer. 

• For the 9th story, The three students,  Watson goes back to 1895 and once again conceals aspects of the case, to preserve a university's reputation. For this purpose, he only tells the name of the College (St Lukes), and the persons involved in Sherlock Holmes' investigation over which of the three students who live just above the tutor's room may  have entered his room to copy proofs for their upcoming Greek exam, as part of the Fortescue scholarship. This story wasn't adapted for the Granada tv show and there was only a 1993 BBC radio dramatization of it. 

• On a cold and tempestuous night at the end of November 1894,  Stanley Hopkins enters Holmes and Watson's abode, telling them of the curious murder of Willoughby Smith he'd been investigating, to no avail, as Smith seems to have no enemies in the world. Smith was secretary to Professor Coram, an aged invalid. In his tale, Hopkins brings up the most important clue which bears the name of this 10th story : the golden pince-nez. It was adapted as Granada's tv episode 38, aired 21 March 1994. 
• The 11th concentrates on Godfrey Staunton's disappearance and which gives the title to the story, based on his position in a rugby-union : the missing three-quarters. It is Mr. Cyril Overton of Trinity College who comes to ask for the consulting detective's aid, in the hope that he can find what happened and if Staunton's still alive and well, he may resume playing in his position for an important upcoming match. The date given in this story is 7 or 8 years prior to Watson's telling, in February of that year, so it may be 1896 or 1897, but it has been argued that it may have been December 1896 due to the traditional match dates. You can read about this here (beware of spoilers). This wasn't adapted much, except for a BBC radio 4 dramatisation in 1993. 
• Moving on to the 12th and penultimate Return of S.H story, that of the violent murder in the Abbey Grange. This story starts on a frosty winter night of 1897, when Sherlock rouses Watson up very early, so they can catch a train to join Stanley Hopkins and investigate a gruesome murder scene which the young inspector has secured that night. This is Granada's 18th episode, aired 6 August 1986. 

> I've read these last stories (9-12) in a sequence, not going online to check adaption's quality for 10  & 10th stories, due to thunderstorms. I shall have to review these another time, but from memory and reading about them, I can say that 10's adaptation differs in several key points, including replacing Watson by Mycrofot Holmes as Edward Hardwicke wasn't available to be Watson, and several other elements are modified, right down to some famous Sherlock phrases which are said by his brother, recollecting their father. It also changed the ending. 

As for 12, it should be rather well made as I couldn't recall major differences. To be confirmed on another occasion. 

• the 13th story is called The second stain, pertaining to a missing stain in a murder case, that may or may not be linked a political intrigue of the utmost secrecy and urgency upon which Watson & Holmes are engaged by 2 eminent politicians who asked them to find who stole a missing documents that one of them had kept in a despatch-box the night before. If this paper lands in the wrong hands, it could mean war in Europe, and this is why Holmes hadn't wished Watson to publish the story, but some years have elapsed and reluctantly, the consulting detective agreed that the case may be told, only if details pertaining to its precise year or even decade of occurrence may both be suppressed. Once more, Doyle seems to have wished to end Holmes' career, by sending him off to do something completely unrelated to investigation, and this story predates by an undertminate number of years that of the case in the 12th story, The Abbey Grange, which was meant as the final case which Watson would lay to the public. 

Granda tv episode 16, aired 23 July 1986 under the same title, adapts this story really well, and there are 4 other adaptations, including a BBC radio dramatization of it.