The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion
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The Valley of Fear
Arthur Conan Doyle Collection
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The Valley of Fear - Part One
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Karel - I think there were a couple of Moriarty's men who were able to get out of the charges against them. And that's why Sherlock had to stay out of sight and pretend he was dead. But - and I can't remember exactly what happens to them - but in the Empty House, they are no longer a threat, and that's why Sherlock is free to come back.I hope that helps without giving any spoilers! :-)
I finally finished part 1. Thanks for all the info about the London A-Z and the Almanaque, when I readed I couldnt decipher what the heck was that, I dont think I´ve ever seen one of that (other than a regular calender). I was also confused about the 3 feet moat. If there was an inminent threat against Mr Douglas, why would he feel safe with the bridge up??? Were there crocodiles and piranhas in the shallow pond????
There was a part when I had a burst of laughter (and I was in a bus, BTW), when Holmes is telling both inspectors to take the day off and go and "enjoy the country pleasures and then come back tired but happy" haha. I read it twice just to laugh again.
In the early chapters I though that Ms Douglas was one of the worst hags I´d read before, so I feel so excited that reading this book I had glimpses of the solution of the crime before the end (although with doubts because of the tattoo =) ), which is more that I could do before. About the Moriarty of the books, there really isnt much of him there, is it? I mean, as someone mention, he reminds me of the godfather who make the orders but no one can put evidence in the table against him. And about the Moriarty of the BBC show, I must be the only person who hates the actor who represents him. His voice is so irritating.
I found Holmes a lot funnier than in the stories first published, I´m not sure if the humour is voluntary or involuntary but it have certainly made me laugh a lot more. That description about the fitness weigh that how an athletic person would train with only one weight, causing the body to be half developed was histerical.Other thing that surprise me (a lot) is the camaraderie he shows for Inspector McDonald. Holmes respect him, not only as person but his inteligence and methods. I believe is the 1st member of Scotland Yard which Holmes truly respects. Before him all the members of Scotland Yard were tenacious but short-minded (or plainly stupid).
Karel - we all laughed at the 3 foot moat - especially since the detectives all seemed to think that the murderer wouldn't be able to cross it. :-)Sherlock is a lot kinder to the detectives in this story. He's said in a number of the stories that he has nothing against the detectives - they turned against him, not Sherlock turning against them. He and McDonald seem to have a mutual regard to each other's work.
And the stories are funny. It is a very dry humor, but it is there. And I like dry humor better because - to me at least - often times it is "smarter" humor.
What I cant decipher is if Sherlock is making subtle or inteligent jokes or if simply he is talking seriously and his comments just make us laugh?I mean, he is a gentleman, and maybe in his time he was blunt, he certainly isnt in this times, so I perceive (but that could just be me) his "insults" as very subtle. Anyway, the point is that I didnt find that much humour in the stories published at 1887-1893, but in this one in particular there is a lot of it through the whole part 1, at least (which was published in 1914-1915).
And where the heck is Watson´s wife??? Seriously, the aliens took her? Did she move to India? Did she swam in the 3-feet moat and was eaten by the pirahnas???? That doubt is eating my brain.
Karel wrote: "And where the heck is Watson´s wife??? Seriously, the aliens took her? Did she move to India? Did she swam in the 3-feet moat and was eaten by the pirahnas???? That doubt is eating my brain."LOL on the piranhas comment, Karel. Indeed Watson's wife must have been the most patient woman on earth. She just lets him run off with Holmes whenever he wants to without uttering a single complaint.
Then again, maybe she wanted to get rid of him for some reason.
Karel wrote: "And where the heck is Watson´s wife??? Seriously, the aliens took her? Did she move to India? Did she swam in the 3-feet moat and was eaten by the pirahnas???? That doubt is eating my brain."Ha ha!
She comes in and out of the stories, but never is a main character (at least in the stories I've read to date) in anything other than The Sign of Four.
Amanda - I agree - she is either patient or is glad to see him go. ;)
My question is because I´ve been reading the stories and books in chronological order (using the date they were published) and before the Final Problem, the wife is mentioned by Watson like: "I told my wife" or "my 2nd year of marriage" or something.But after The Empty House she is not even mention again in any story or the book (and I´ve been paying attention). I am reading now the final 12 stories that were published, they are both old, they still live together and still no sign of her. O.o
Did Holmes killed her and concealed the body in such a way that she would never be found??? (as he always presumed he would if he would have been a villain ha ha)
I think Karel it is the typical Doyle forgetting what he is doing with the characters. He once referred to John as "James." Also, he didn't edit well so there are a lot of other mistakes as well.
Lynnm wrote: "I think Karel it is the typical Doyle forgetting what he is doing with the characters. He once referred to John as "James." Also, he didn't edit well so there are a lot of other mistakes as well."I looked up Watson's wife in a Sherlock Holmes commentary I have. It said that Watson's wife died between the time of the "The Final Problem" and "The Empty House."
Watson mentions "a sad bereavement" in "The Empty House" which many SH experts take to mean the death of Watson's wife.
Watson does mention a wife again in later stories, so many scholars assume he re-married.
Amanda wrote: "Lynnm wrote: "I think Karel it is the typical Doyle forgetting what he is doing with the characters. He once referred to John as "James." Also, he didn't edit well so there are a lot of other mist..."Yes, I read yesterday one story told by Holmes (is so strange BTW), and in it he says that in the year 1905 Watson went with his wife somewhere. But is true, her name is never said, so it could be a 2nd marriage.
Karel - I just read the Empty House, and as Amanda said, Sherlock mentions Watson's "sad bereavement." I've already read the novels and a couple of the short stories from the post-Reichenbach Falls era of the Sherlock stories so can't really comment on whether or not there was a 2nd marriage. I have to say - even though we aren't reading it - that the Empty House was a great short story. Up there as one of my favorites to date. I just wish (view spoiler).
Lynnm wrote: "I have to say - even though we aren't reading it - that the Empty House was a great short story. Up there as one of my favorites to date. I just wish (view spoiler)."I will look more closely into the "sad bereavement", I was so eager to know what happened to Holmes that probably didnt notice it.
In the last stories Holmes is always saying that his greatests enemies/villains/criminal-minds were Moriarty and the Colonel. =D
Karel - it's just a very brief statement. Watson is notes that even in his absence, Sherlock is aware of Watson's "sad bereavement." Easy to miss.And if you hadn't talked about Watson's wife/wives, I probably would have missed the significance of the statement. :-)
Just one question, Why is Moriarty still at his house being admired by everyone, I thought that in The Final Problem and then in The empty house, it was told that all Moriarty´s network and covers was blown up and that he could never return England. Seriously, what happened? Did Holmes´ plan (mentioned in the Final Problem) of making the villain fall didnt work out eventually?? Or it wasnt intend to touch Moriarty? No, I dont buy that. (oh, sorry for my poor english, not my original language ;) ) Ok now, I promise to return in the afternoon. =)