David Ruffle's Blog, page 13
September 20, 2012
Justice......Holmes style.
It is axiomatic that whatever the state can do the private sector can do better, and this lesson is rarely illustrated better in literature than in the stories of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. As it was said by Doyle’s brother-in-law E.W. Hornung, there is no police like Holmes. We have seen a resurgence of interest in the original Sherlock Holmes stories, movies and television programmess. Viewers and fans would do well to note the prevalent anti-state themes that course through these stories like the famous cocaine through the veins of Holmes himself.
The relationship between Holmes and the official London police force showed the marked contrast between a skilled master and a team of public investigators usually barely maintaining the status quo at least a few steps behind the criminals. Scotland Yard reeked of a smug incompetence that amused Holmes, even as he gave them the credit in most cases. They were frequently on the wrong path, lecturing Holmes about him wasting time chasing his fancy theories which ended up being correct. While Inspector Lestrade and the rest were so easily duped by the scheming criminals, Holmes did what the police should have done, what they were getting paid tax payer money to do. In “The Case of the Red Circle” we even see that a constable on duty at a murder scene is easily manipulated by a housewife. Like so many other instances in real life, the private market yielded results where the public option brought errors, gridlock and confusion.
Holmes was a private consulting detective and the antithesis of a police officer, both then and now. His attitude and personality was that of a punk rock, bohemian, displaced country squire with artistic French blood as we learn in “The Case of the Greek Interpreter.”
Holmes’s clients came to him because they had no faith in the official police. They had no confidence in the system so they chose to enlist the services of a private consulting detective, the world’s first as he told Watson (though we do know that Holmes had his free market competitors, his “rivals” as they later came to be known).
Even the British Crown itself at the height of their wealth, power and international prowess sought out Holmes to have him sort out their problems when dealing with spies, thieves and others who had managed to outwit the entire public English establishment.
Indeed, it was Holmes the amateur who was able to, on his own accord, topple the international kingpin of crime Professor James Moriarty, whom the official state police force did not even know existed. But for Holmes, “the work is its own reward,” and accolades from the government meant little to him. We know that in, “The Adventure of the Three Garridebs” Holmes was offered a knighthood and refused it.
As one who strove for justice and peace, Holmes never let the state define what was right and wrong. He was led by his own inner conscience that was much more in touch with the reality of good and evil than any legislative bureaucrat or law enforcement office who always played by the book that the state itself wrote. Though he felt no greater joy than when triumphing over a wicked criminal, he also took the time to free those whom posed no threat to society, regardless of what the state would dictate. As Holmes reminds us in “The Adventures of the Three Gables” he represented not the law but justice.
Holmes let go numerous “criminals” because the state’s bureaucratic automatic policy of incarceration and punishment was antithetical to his vision of justice. For example we can look to Holmes freeing the killer Dr. Leon Sterndale from, “The Devil’s Foot” as he reminds Watson that he acts independently from the police, and that their punishments are not his own. Holmes also refuses to prosecute a killer in “The Boscombe Valley Mystery” because of the circumstances of the attack and the old age of the killer. In “The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton” Holmes lets a killer go free because of who the deceased was and the ways in which he had tormented his eventual killer. In “The Crooked Man” he releases a con artist on the grounds that he get a respectable job and scheme no more. We also see Holmes release the perpetrators in “The Adventure of the Priory School,” “The Adventure of the Three Gables,” “The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire,” “The Adventure of the Second Stain” and “The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger.” Holmes did not think that he was the law or above the law, he simply defined and pursued law and justice apart from the definitions and directives of the state.
A great example of this is when Holmes also frees the thief James Ryder in the Christmas tale “The Adventure of Blue Carbuncle.” After Ryder begs Holmes for mercy, Holmes allows him to go free. Holmes then waxes eloquently on what has transpired, showing a remarkable grasp of the nature of incarceration. He tells how the state’s system that worsens and hardens citizens who have made a solitary and relatively harmless bad choice into career criminals:
'I am not retained by the police to supply their deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony. But it is just possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to jail now, and you make him a jail-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of forgiveness.'
It is in essence the very credo of Sherlock Holmes and one which endears us to the man.
The relationship between Holmes and the official London police force showed the marked contrast between a skilled master and a team of public investigators usually barely maintaining the status quo at least a few steps behind the criminals. Scotland Yard reeked of a smug incompetence that amused Holmes, even as he gave them the credit in most cases. They were frequently on the wrong path, lecturing Holmes about him wasting time chasing his fancy theories which ended up being correct. While Inspector Lestrade and the rest were so easily duped by the scheming criminals, Holmes did what the police should have done, what they were getting paid tax payer money to do. In “The Case of the Red Circle” we even see that a constable on duty at a murder scene is easily manipulated by a housewife. Like so many other instances in real life, the private market yielded results where the public option brought errors, gridlock and confusion.
Holmes was a private consulting detective and the antithesis of a police officer, both then and now. His attitude and personality was that of a punk rock, bohemian, displaced country squire with artistic French blood as we learn in “The Case of the Greek Interpreter.”
Holmes’s clients came to him because they had no faith in the official police. They had no confidence in the system so they chose to enlist the services of a private consulting detective, the world’s first as he told Watson (though we do know that Holmes had his free market competitors, his “rivals” as they later came to be known).
Even the British Crown itself at the height of their wealth, power and international prowess sought out Holmes to have him sort out their problems when dealing with spies, thieves and others who had managed to outwit the entire public English establishment.
Indeed, it was Holmes the amateur who was able to, on his own accord, topple the international kingpin of crime Professor James Moriarty, whom the official state police force did not even know existed. But for Holmes, “the work is its own reward,” and accolades from the government meant little to him. We know that in, “The Adventure of the Three Garridebs” Holmes was offered a knighthood and refused it.
As one who strove for justice and peace, Holmes never let the state define what was right and wrong. He was led by his own inner conscience that was much more in touch with the reality of good and evil than any legislative bureaucrat or law enforcement office who always played by the book that the state itself wrote. Though he felt no greater joy than when triumphing over a wicked criminal, he also took the time to free those whom posed no threat to society, regardless of what the state would dictate. As Holmes reminds us in “The Adventures of the Three Gables” he represented not the law but justice.
Holmes let go numerous “criminals” because the state’s bureaucratic automatic policy of incarceration and punishment was antithetical to his vision of justice. For example we can look to Holmes freeing the killer Dr. Leon Sterndale from, “The Devil’s Foot” as he reminds Watson that he acts independently from the police, and that their punishments are not his own. Holmes also refuses to prosecute a killer in “The Boscombe Valley Mystery” because of the circumstances of the attack and the old age of the killer. In “The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton” Holmes lets a killer go free because of who the deceased was and the ways in which he had tormented his eventual killer. In “The Crooked Man” he releases a con artist on the grounds that he get a respectable job and scheme no more. We also see Holmes release the perpetrators in “The Adventure of the Priory School,” “The Adventure of the Three Gables,” “The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire,” “The Adventure of the Second Stain” and “The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger.” Holmes did not think that he was the law or above the law, he simply defined and pursued law and justice apart from the definitions and directives of the state.
A great example of this is when Holmes also frees the thief James Ryder in the Christmas tale “The Adventure of Blue Carbuncle.” After Ryder begs Holmes for mercy, Holmes allows him to go free. Holmes then waxes eloquently on what has transpired, showing a remarkable grasp of the nature of incarceration. He tells how the state’s system that worsens and hardens citizens who have made a solitary and relatively harmless bad choice into career criminals:
'I am not retained by the police to supply their deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony. But it is just possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to jail now, and you make him a jail-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of forgiveness.'
It is in essence the very credo of Sherlock Holmes and one which endears us to the man.
September 17, 2012
Anomalous.......
Anomalous by Samuel Williams Jr is an engrossing read, pacy, exciting and full of details that add rather than detract from the story and riveting characters such as Jack Johnson the heavyweight boxing champion and a certain Al Capone. The plot itself is involving, well-worked out and always captures both the imagination and attention. The major players are exremely well-portrayed and their dialogue is always, always convincing. A big plus, and it's not always so with pastiches, is how well Samuel captures the characters of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson, the author knows his men, knows his canon and it shows. They are spot on in looks, character and voices, not always an easy thing to achieve by any means. The transition from 1912 America to 1913 England is seamless. Jack Johnson pulled no punches and neither does Samuel Williams Jr.......an inspired debut.Anomalous – The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is available from bookstores including in the USA Barnes and Noble and Amazon, in the UK Waterstones Amazon and Book Depository(free worldwide delivery) and in electronic formats – iTunes(iPad), Kindle, Nook and Kobo.
August 23, 2012
The last of the series......
The upcoming 'Sherlock Holmes and the Lyme Regis Trials' is set to be the last in the series of Sherlock Holmes in Lyme Regis pastiches. Lyme Regis being such a small town (op. of probably only 2800 in Victorian times) makes it a hard task indeed to keep the believability of events occurring here which would necessitate the intervention of Holmes and Watson at regular intervals. The three novellas which make up the series (Horror, Legacy and Trials) take place in 1896, 1898 and 1903 respectively, I fear to increase the number of visits to the town by the pair would really stretch the limits of credulity and the series would limp on interminably, running out of steam slowly or even quickly! So as much fun as it has been (and it has been) it must end with 'Trials'. That is not to say it is the end of my scribblings for the next novel will be set in Scarborough and if the childrens illustrated book is recieved well ( coming soon folks) then, who knows, it may turn into a series, so the world has not heard the last of me...cue evil laugh. I would like to thank all those In Lyme who have supported me....and so manyn of them find themselves in the pages of the novels....in fact, there will be a list of those very people at the end of 'Trials'!!
All the Lyme Regis Holmes novels are available from Amazon etc and all good and even not so good bookshops.
All the Lyme Regis Holmes novels are available from Amazon etc and all good and even not so good bookshops.
August 8, 2012
Update..past present and future.
The story so far and the story to come. Or is that stories? After self-publishing the original edition of 'Sherlock Holmes and the Lyme Regis Horror' I gave little thought to following it up. I did continue to write shorter pieces which appeared on Holmesian.net from time to time. I was fortunate in that when I did elect to attempt another Lyme based Holmes pastiche I was able to gain a publisher in the guise of the excellent MX Publishing. As well as having the new novella 'Sherlock Holmes and the Lyme Regis Legacy' published along with shorter Holmes pieces ( and ghost stories plus a brief history of Lyme Regis) 'Sherlock Holmes and the Lyme Regis Horror' appeared in a new expanded 2nd edition. Since then, 'Holmes and Watson: End Peace has been published, a break from the norm in that it is not based in Lyme Regis and further, it is comprised solely of dialogue. I have been fortunate enough to garner some very good reviews for all these publications (more needed!!!!!). Currently in progress are 'Sherlock Holmes and the Scarborough Affair' and 'Sherlock Holmes and the Lyme Regis Trials' both around 15,000 words in and being written concurrently. 'The Scarborough Affair' is a collaboration with someone who cares not a jot for Holmes, has only ever read two of the original stories and has a thorough dislike of the character! Yet, the plot, synopsis, storyline, characters, setting etc are all hers and my input is a tiny percentage!! 'Sherlock Holmes and the Lyme Regis Trials' is likely to be the final Holmes/Lyme Regis adventure, there being a limit to how often I can bring the pair to a small town in Dorset. In between everything else I found time to select, compile two voulmes of assorted Holmesian stories/drabbles/poems, 'Tales From The Stranger's Room Volumes 1 and 2' proceeds from which go to The Beacon Society. Published very shortly now will be 'Sherlock Holmes and the Missing Snowman' achildren's illusrated book with excellent artwork by children's author and artist, Rikey Austin, really excited about the launch of this book, have a notion it will do very well. So that's what has happened, happening and will happen!
July 20, 2012
The Jacobite Rose
Mycroft has a missing agent; the stepdaughter of Lord Wexford Foyle wants a pearl brooch authenticated. Sherlock Holmes has little interest in either until he learns the gem is the Jacobite Rose, a royal treasure. Reading Debrett's Peerage, Holmes discovers Lord Foyle has a brother who is known as a craftsman in gold. Three strange clues - the drawing of a rose, fish scales and a fragment of pine resin - discovered at the last known locus of the missing man begin to link the two cases..........so says the blurb accompanying Fiona-Jane Brown's 'Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Jacobite Rose'. It is a two-act play, a simple enough story, but even within the constraints of the two acts, there is time enough for the characterisations to come shining through. There is a certain economy of dialogue which is not in any way shape or form a criticism, but rather, a bonus for nothing is wasted and the story fairly zips along. Holmes, Watson and Mrs Hudson are presented to us exactly how we perceive them to be from the Holmesian canon. They think, act and speak how we expect them to. The deductions from Holmes are logical and sound. Humour plays an important part too and the script has many moments which made me smile for all the right reasons (Mycroft: 'One of our ministry men is missing'). Well-researched, well thought out and well plotted. A delight to read and one would think a joy to perform also.
July 4, 2012
A Secret Journal............
Phil Growick's, 'The Secret Journal of Dr Watson', is an adventure which takes place in the latter part of Holmes and Watson's lives. They are entrusted by HM Government (although not officially) and the King no less to undertake a rescue mission to save the Romanovs, Russia's Royal family from a grisly end at the hand of the Bolsheviks. There is a wealth of detail in the story but not so much as would detract us from the enjoyment of the story. Espionage, counter-espionage, the ace of spies himself, double-agents, double-crossers...all these flit across the pages in a realistic and exciting way. All the characters are extremely well-drawn and Mr Growick, most importantly, does not falter with a very good ear for Holmesian dialogue indeed. The tale is fantastic yes, but the skill of the author is apparent for he makes us believe that these events could have happened just as he describes. None of the content is superfluous in any way at all and the whole is a pleasure to read. Highly recommended. A five-star effort.
June 10, 2012
Murder At The Lodore Falls
Charlotte Smith's 'Murder At The Lodore Falls' took me by surprise a little. Let me explain; I met Charlotte in 2009 during a Sherlock Holmes 'get-together' and a lovely warm-hearted person she was ( and presumably still is!) so the description of the violence meted out to various characters in her novella came out of the blue. The violence is stark, uncompromising and affecting, but offers a counterpoint to the friendship on display, notably of course that of Holmes and Watson. The main story is plausible and exciting and Charlotte has done a great job in recreating the atmosphere of the originals, even allowing for the fact that these accounts are not narrated by Watson. Life in Baker Street is portrayed with great skill and love and as we all know, 'no one writes of Holmes without love'. Charlotte is not alone in her belief in the strong bond that connects Sherlock Holmes and Doctor John H Watson and the scenes of the two men together in these three stories are very touching.
Miss Smith.....can we have more please?
Miss Smith.....can we have more please?
June 7, 2012
End Peace
With the publication of Holmes and Watson: End Peace today I felt a few more words of explanation may be necessary. Virtually every mention of the book that I have seen is coupled with the word 'controversy', now I am sure I have never been controverial in my life so perhaps I should bask and delight in it. To my mind, I have taken themes that have been used before and remarked upon by others and given them my own twist......and I stand by the fact there is nothing in End Peace that is at odds with the Holmesian Canon. I see that the only 'daring' thing is to have produced a novella which is all dialogue apart from the opening and closing paragraphs; I had in my mind something cinematic where the camera creeps in ( think of the roving, searching camera in the opening of Citizen Kane) observes the action then pulls back at the story's conclusion. Some may wonder why there is no mention of Lyme Regis or Watson's love, Beatrice. This is a stand-alone story which references the canon freely, to reference my other works would have negated the effect I wanted or wished for. Sherlock Holmes and the Scarborough Affair shows no such reticence and name-checks Lyme and its inhabitants (the Lyme Regis novella number three is underway too!).
I suppose with 'End Peace' I wanted to try something different, a serious piece which stands or falls on its own merits without being bolstered or otherwise by short pieces, poems and humour (although there is humour in it, at least I should say that I attempted to inject some humour into the proceedings). Whether I succeded or not I leave for others to judge.
Holmes and Watson: End Peace is available in more places and formats than you can shake a stick at. Enjoy.
I suppose with 'End Peace' I wanted to try something different, a serious piece which stands or falls on its own merits without being bolstered or otherwise by short pieces, poems and humour (although there is humour in it, at least I should say that I attempted to inject some humour into the proceedings). Whether I succeded or not I leave for others to judge.
Holmes and Watson: End Peace is available in more places and formats than you can shake a stick at. Enjoy.
June 1, 2012
Lyme Lit
Why Sherlock Holmes? Why Lyme Regis?
Why not? It's a perfect location for a Holmes adventure. Simple, short answers To expand: Lyme’s literary connections are fairly well known and include Sir Francis Palgrave; GKChesterton who holidayed in the town and stayed at the Three Cups,Beatrix Potter, and JRR Tolkien who visited Lyme when a youth and later returned many times with his wife and children. PG Wodehouse set some of the plot of ,‘Love Among the Chickens’ in a thinly disguised Lyme and Geoffrey Household set a major part of his most well known novel,‘Rogue Male’ in and around Lyme Regis. John Fowles’s highly acclaimed novel, ‘The French Lieutenant’s Woman’ was set, written and later filmed in Lyme. John Fowles was a resident of the town and
became the curator of the museum. The literary tradition of Lyme has not died away; more recently, Colin Dexter set the opening of one of his Inspector Morse novels in Lyme, having Morse as a guest in the Bay
Hotel on Marine Parade. Tracy Chevalier, the bestselling novelist, set a recent novel in the town, ‘Remarkable Creatures,’ dealing with aspects of Mary Anning’s life. This tradition shows no sign of abating. New writers pop up each year, new novels are set here each year. In ther town at the present time are the renowned writers and illustrators, Graham Oakley ( the 'Church Mice' series) and Rikey Austin. Lyme's literary heritage and splendid history is celebrated far and wide, not least by the town itself. Lyme Regis is a small town in size and in population (which has scarcely tripled in five hundred years). It has nowhere to go, but equally, nothing to prove. It is static, yet ever-changing and evolving. It lives in the present, yet rejoices in and celebrates its past.
Why not? It's a perfect location for a Holmes adventure. Simple, short answers To expand: Lyme’s literary connections are fairly well known and include Sir Francis Palgrave; GKChesterton who holidayed in the town and stayed at the Three Cups,Beatrix Potter, and JRR Tolkien who visited Lyme when a youth and later returned many times with his wife and children. PG Wodehouse set some of the plot of ,‘Love Among the Chickens’ in a thinly disguised Lyme and Geoffrey Household set a major part of his most well known novel,‘Rogue Male’ in and around Lyme Regis. John Fowles’s highly acclaimed novel, ‘The French Lieutenant’s Woman’ was set, written and later filmed in Lyme. John Fowles was a resident of the town and
became the curator of the museum. The literary tradition of Lyme has not died away; more recently, Colin Dexter set the opening of one of his Inspector Morse novels in Lyme, having Morse as a guest in the Bay
Hotel on Marine Parade. Tracy Chevalier, the bestselling novelist, set a recent novel in the town, ‘Remarkable Creatures,’ dealing with aspects of Mary Anning’s life. This tradition shows no sign of abating. New writers pop up each year, new novels are set here each year. In ther town at the present time are the renowned writers and illustrators, Graham Oakley ( the 'Church Mice' series) and Rikey Austin. Lyme's literary heritage and splendid history is celebrated far and wide, not least by the town itself. Lyme Regis is a small town in size and in population (which has scarcely tripled in five hundred years). It has nowhere to go, but equally, nothing to prove. It is static, yet ever-changing and evolving. It lives in the present, yet rejoices in and celebrates its past.
May 18, 2012
Save Sherlock's Home!!
Sherlock's Home: The Empty House
1903 saw The Adventure of The Empty House and the return of Sherlock Holmes to 221b Baker Street where he explains the deception of his death at the Reichenbach Falls to his faithful friend Dr John Watson. 2012 sees The Crime of The Empty House where the former home of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Undershaw, lies in disrepair and the threat of being destroyed forever. Commissioned by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself, Undershaw was witness to the creation of many of his most famous works, including The Hound of the Baskervilles and The Return of Sherlock Holmes. It is a building deserving preservation for the British nation, and indeed the world, for all time. Sadly, the building is currently under threat from the property developers who wish to divide the house into 3 separate units and build a further 5 alongside. Planning permission for development has already been approved by Waverley Borough Council. The Undershaw Preservation Trust (UPT), with Mark Gatiss [BBC Sherlock] as Patron, is dedicated to the preservation and protection of this important literary building and are campaigning to get this decision overturned, so the house can be restored to its original glory and enjoyed as the single dwelling Sir Arthur Conan Doyle intended it to be. This book is a collection of short Sherlock Holmes stories and poems written by fans from around the world in support of the Save Undershaw campaign - even the cover has been designed by fans. Royalties from the book go towards the UPT to preserve this wonderful house for future generations of Doyleans, Sherlock Holmes enthusiasts and literary fans of all kinds. More information on the Save Undershaw campaign can be found on their website:
www.saveundershaw.com.
Sherlock's Home on Amazon
1903 saw The Adventure of The Empty House and the return of Sherlock Holmes to 221b Baker Street where he explains the deception of his death at the Reichenbach Falls to his faithful friend Dr John Watson. 2012 sees The Crime of The Empty House where the former home of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Undershaw, lies in disrepair and the threat of being destroyed forever. Commissioned by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself, Undershaw was witness to the creation of many of his most famous works, including The Hound of the Baskervilles and The Return of Sherlock Holmes. It is a building deserving preservation for the British nation, and indeed the world, for all time. Sadly, the building is currently under threat from the property developers who wish to divide the house into 3 separate units and build a further 5 alongside. Planning permission for development has already been approved by Waverley Borough Council. The Undershaw Preservation Trust (UPT), with Mark Gatiss [BBC Sherlock] as Patron, is dedicated to the preservation and protection of this important literary building and are campaigning to get this decision overturned, so the house can be restored to its original glory and enjoyed as the single dwelling Sir Arthur Conan Doyle intended it to be. This book is a collection of short Sherlock Holmes stories and poems written by fans from around the world in support of the Save Undershaw campaign - even the cover has been designed by fans. Royalties from the book go towards the UPT to preserve this wonderful house for future generations of Doyleans, Sherlock Holmes enthusiasts and literary fans of all kinds. More information on the Save Undershaw campaign can be found on their website: www.saveundershaw.com.
Sherlock's Home on Amazon
