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vivdunstanGoing into quite a significant story, that I'd forgotten much of!
The most important thing in this story is that it introduces Sherlock's brother Mycroft, as well as the Diogenes Club. Both of which are relatively underused in the Holmes canon, though they have led to many pastiches/spinoffs (Kim Newman's Diogenes Club books not the least), but are a really neat idea.
The mystery itself is another domestic-based one, of a relationship opposed by a family member (for frankly very good reasons!). But what sets it apart is the interpretation aspect, as the Greek interpreter of the title is brought in to interview a bandaged and tortured Greek speaking man.
Even this alone wouldn't be enough to make it interesting. But there's a really neat section of their conversation, where the two of them manage to add additional words in Greek, to ask and answer questions to and fro, without the baddies knowing. That is very original, and neatly executed.
It's also another story with a semi positive ending, as the bad guys get their comeuppance. In this case, we are led to believe, as Holmes thinks, at the hands of the woman in the story.
So somewhat slight, but there's that very clever use of translation, and importantly we meet Mycroft and the Diogenes Club.
I should rewatch the Jeremy Brett TV version soon, while the story is fresh in my mind.
The most important thing in this story is that it introduces Sherlock's brother Mycroft, as well as the Diogenes Club. Both of which are relatively underused in the Holmes canon, though they have led to many pastiches/spinoffs (Kim Newman's Diogenes Club books not the least), but are a really neat idea.
The mystery itself is another domestic-based one, of a relationship opposed by a family member (for frankly very good reasons!). But what sets it apart is the interpretation aspect, as the Greek interpreter of the title is brought in to interview a bandaged and tortured Greek speaking man.
Even this alone wouldn't be enough to make it interesting. But there's a really neat section of their conversation, where the two of them manage to add additional words in Greek, to ask and answer questions to and fro, without the baddies knowing. That is very original, and neatly executed.
It's also another story with a semi positive ending, as the bad guys get their comeuppance. In this case, we are led to believe, as Holmes thinks, at the hands of the woman in the story.
So somewhat slight, but there's that very clever use of translation, and importantly we meet Mycroft and the Diogenes Club.
I should rewatch the Jeremy Brett TV version soon, while the story is fresh in my mind.