Sherlock Holmes - Different editions

[andydecker]

This is a nice Sherlock Holmes edition in hardcover. It was produced by a German publisher in 1977 in a slip case.

I read the short stories more often than the novels. Aside from The Hound of the Baskervilles I am not a big fan of the longer works. Today I think them more interesting because of the historical topics than the actual plot.

This posted edition is the third printing. As often was the case at the time there is not additional material included, no essays about Holmes or Doyle. But this is a nice work of bookmaking.

[Jojo Lapin X]

Aug 20, 2022 16:49:52 GMT andydecker said:

I read the short stories more often than the novels. Aside from The Hound of the Baskervilles I am not a big fan of the longer works. Today I think them more interesting because of the historical topics than the actual plot.

I read them because they are such perfect examples of effective short-story writing.

[pulphack]

I agree. The Holmes novels can be hard work in places as pacing in the longer form was not Doyle's strong point. He was a master of the short story. The irony here being that his best work was in the short form and with Holmes (though not solely) yet he yearned to be remembered for his long winded historical novels. Like many writers he was the worst judge of his own work, it seems.

[Jojo Lapin X]

Aug 20, 2022 19:25:45 GMT pulphack said:

I agree. The Holmes novels can be hard work in places as pacing in the longer form was not Doyle's strong point. He was a master of the short story. The irony here being that his best work was in the short form and with Holmes (though not solely) yet he yearned to be remembered for his long winded historical novels. Like many writers he was the worst judge of his own work, it seems.

I imagine writing the Holmes stories came naturally to him, and was fun. He believed that since he had to labor much harder at his other work, it must therefore be better. This is a common mistake.