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vivdunstanI've read this story several times, but this is the first time I've really enjoyed it. And I think it's probably that I'm looking at it from a more adult perspective, and appreciating things that much younger me didn't like. I remember finding it as dull as dishwater when I watched the otherwise excellent Jeremy Brett TV series - this was the first of the short stories to air on TV in there, in 1984.
Putting the rest in spoiler space, because I am going to get into some detail.
It's a curious tale, that starts without Dr Watson being in position at 221B Baker Street. He's been away, living with his wife and working as a general practitioner. It's also an unusual story because I think it's the only one where Holmes has a Mrs Turner as his landlady, not Mrs Hudson.
However many classic elements are there. I particularly liked the reference to Holmes's "Index", a paper-based index which he builds and uses as a personal reference library. Which is very old technology now, but then would have been quite cutting edge. And it is easy enough to understand in this modern computer world.
Another key idea of the Holmes stories is Holmes's use of disguises. He gets through several in this story. And, significantly, he isn't the only character to appear in disguise ...
And, of course, there are Holmes's quick-witted deductions. Not just with the European royal, but also with Watson on his return to Baker Street.
I also loved the hints to other unwritten stories: the Trepoff murder in Odessa, the Atkinson brothers tragedy in Trincomalee, and the mission for the Dutch royal family. Some of the stories mentioned in passing like this throughout the Sherlock Holmes canon have been written up by other authors and/or fans. But often I prefer just to imagine what might have happened. Taken together it's an evocative and inspiring list.
As for the story itself, it's fairly simple, but ultimately boils down to the complex staged scene at Irene Adler's house. Where Holmes tricks her into revealing a secret hiding location. Only for her to trick him in return. And in multiple ways.
Female characters rarely have enough agency in Sherlock Holmes stories. Even here Irene Adler is seen for much of it through the perspective of a woman pursued by two lovers, one of whom she marries. She's presented in many ways as of the weaker sex, and in a passive role. But then she gets the last say. I do wonder how this was perceived at the original time of publication, when in other respects she was framed within - but also going against - Victorian social norms. Given that, it's an interesting choice by Conan Doyle for the first Sherlock Holmes short story.
It's also notable that the police are absent from this story. This is very much a case of Holmes working on his own - well with Watson helping - as a consulting detective. Police are very much an irrelevancy here.
And I love how there is always scope to learn something new about Holmes's world. For example a single mention in the text of the word "gasogene" sent me off to learn about this late Victorian equivalent of the Sodastream.
Incidentally I adore the BBC Sherlock version of this, "A Scandal in Belgravia". To be fair I watched this at a much older age than I saw the Jeremy Brett TV version in 1984. I doubt my parents would have been so enthused if 11-year-old me had seen the Benedict Cumberbatch version.
Putting the rest in spoiler space, because I am going to get into some detail.
It's a curious tale, that starts without Dr Watson being in position at 221B Baker Street. He's been away, living with his wife and working as a general practitioner. It's also an unusual story because I think it's the only one where Holmes has a Mrs Turner as his landlady, not Mrs Hudson.
However many classic elements are there. I particularly liked the reference to Holmes's "Index", a paper-based index which he builds and uses as a personal reference library. Which is very old technology now, but then would have been quite cutting edge. And it is easy enough to understand in this modern computer world.
Another key idea of the Holmes stories is Holmes's use of disguises. He gets through several in this story. And, significantly, he isn't the only character to appear in disguise ...
And, of course, there are Holmes's quick-witted deductions. Not just with the European royal, but also with Watson on his return to Baker Street.
I also loved the hints to other unwritten stories: the Trepoff murder in Odessa, the Atkinson brothers tragedy in Trincomalee, and the mission for the Dutch royal family. Some of the stories mentioned in passing like this throughout the Sherlock Holmes canon have been written up by other authors and/or fans. But often I prefer just to imagine what might have happened. Taken together it's an evocative and inspiring list.
As for the story itself, it's fairly simple, but ultimately boils down to the complex staged scene at Irene Adler's house. Where Holmes tricks her into revealing a secret hiding location. Only for her to trick him in return. And in multiple ways.
Female characters rarely have enough agency in Sherlock Holmes stories. Even here Irene Adler is seen for much of it through the perspective of a woman pursued by two lovers, one of whom she marries. She's presented in many ways as of the weaker sex, and in a passive role. But then she gets the last say. I do wonder how this was perceived at the original time of publication, when in other respects she was framed within - but also going against - Victorian social norms. Given that, it's an interesting choice by Conan Doyle for the first Sherlock Holmes short story.
It's also notable that the police are absent from this story. This is very much a case of Holmes working on his own - well with Watson helping - as a consulting detective. Police are very much an irrelevancy here.
And I love how there is always scope to learn something new about Holmes's world. For example a single mention in the text of the word "gasogene" sent me off to learn about this late Victorian equivalent of the Sodastream.
Incidentally I adore the BBC Sherlock version of this, "A Scandal in Belgravia". To be fair I watched this at a much older age than I saw the Jeremy Brett TV version in 1984. I doubt my parents would have been so enthused if 11-year-old me had seen the Benedict Cumberbatch version.
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