The Speckled Band: An Untimely Death

[numberthescars.livejournal.com]

Canon Story: The Speckled Band

Title: An Untimely Death

Author: numberthescars

Rating: G

Author's Notes: I always love reading these, but this is my first time joining in--I couldn't miss the chance to write about one of my favorite stories. This was inspired by Watson's comment at the beginning of the story: "I have only been freed during the last month by the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given..."

"I see you have read about Ms. Stoner," commented Holmes. "An unhappy occurrence. Still, some good may come of it."

True, the case would clear her name, but I wondered: did we do her disservice, all those years ago? A serpent's bite killed Cleopatra instantly--consumption is a slow and painful passing. I would know. I miss my Mary still.

Comments

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Poor Watson, it must be hard when he receives reminders of the death of his wife.

[numberthescars.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I always thought it was telling that Watson almost never mentions his wife in canon. I mean, we never even find out how or why Mary dies, only that she does...it makes me think remembering her still hurts a bit (or, alternatively, that ACD didn't want to bother with creating a whole backstory for their relationship...^.^).

[wytchcroft.livejournal.com]

i always thought it was an unspoken correlation between Watson and ACD. It's noticeable that Watson's medical skills are sometimes harshly picked upon - as Doyle perhaps did to himself from time to time.

[numberthescars.livejournal.com]

Good point! I hadn't thought of it that way, but you're probably right. And didn't ACD's first wife die from consumption? I have a feeling I read that somewhere....

ETA: if you believe wikipedia it was tuberculosis (which is the same consumption, I think)

[wytchcroft.livejournal.com]

all true - ACD also studied to be an Ocular specialist in Vienna yet failed to diagnose his daughter's severe astigmatic eyesight.
That said - such diagnosis's be they of a medical TB/Consumption or Optician type (to correct eye-sight in children) who really knows, the tools and skills in the late 19th and early 20th century... it was still another age really.
Modern biographers may judge too harshly perhaps. i wouldn't like to point the finger too much...

[numberthescars.livejournal.com]

Yes, I completely agree. I actually had wanted to add in a line to the effect of "despite my best efforts" or "despite the best care modern medicine could afford" but yeah, word count...I didn't know that about ACD's daughter. Have you read any good, detailed biographies about him? I've only read an article here and there, mostly focused on his writings rather than his life.

P.S. Sadly my local library didn't have the Ada Nield Chew book you recommended, but I did find a nice biography of her. ^_^

[wytchcroft.livejournal.com]

Hmm... *thinks*
i remember reading the Dickinson Carr bio:
http://www.amazon.com/Life-Sir-Arthur-Conan-Doyle/dp/0891908730/ref=la_B001IYTSPA_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1337802363&sr=1-11

and (ithimk) one by Michael Hardwicke and another by an american that i borrowed from the library some years back.
More recently there have been two quite interchangeable volumes;
http://www.amazon.com/The-Adventures-Arthur-Conan-Doyle/dp/0312378971/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337802657&sr=1-1-spell

http://www.amazon.com/The-Man-Created-Sherlock-Holmes/dp/074327525X/ref=pd_sim_b_3
which contain a lot of new info.
But most of all i recommend:
http://www.amazon.com/Uncollected-Sherlock-Holmes-Arthur-Conan/dp/014006432X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337802968&sr=1-1
which makes a wonderful companion to the canon and actually does have a lot of biographiical info too.
hope that helps :))
edit; link corrected!

[wytchcroft.livejournal.com]

PS; i hope you enjoy the Ada Nield Chew bio and maybe you'll find her book sometime in a second hand book-store or boot sale... :))

[numberthescars.livejournal.com]

o'.'o You are a GODDESS. Thank you so much! ^_^

P.S. Just ordered the AN Chew book second-hand off Amazon. Can't wait till it comes!

[shadowycat.livejournal.com]

Very touching!

[numberthescars.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

Sunday, May 20, 2012

[livejournal.livejournal.com]

User bwblack referenced to your post from Sunday, May 20, 2012 (http://holmesian-news.livejournal.com/209896.html) saying: [...] by (G | ACD) The Speckled Band: An Untimely Death [...]

[hisietari.livejournal.com]

So much story in so few lines. Very glad you decided to post! :)

[numberthescars.livejournal.com]

Me too! I may have become addicted...I'm already looking forward to next week's!

[spacemutineer.livejournal.com]

I'm finally at your first posting, and I'm so happy you're having a good time with the 60s! And doing a great job, to boot. This one hurts, but in just that right, most perfect way that does honor to the characters and the story. And to fit it all into 60 words takes work! Well done!

I'm a big fan of this 60 word format we've stumbled into. It really makes you think about word choice and structure. There's no room for dawdling -- you have to get to the point. It's such a fun way to play with words and enjoy the canon too. Thanks for coming along with us for it!

[numberthescars.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the welcome! I'm having a wonderful time, thanks so much for running such a great comm! ^_^