Discussion Post: The Greek Interpreter

[spacemutineer.livejournal.com]

Our case this week is The Greek Interpreter, a favorite of many and it's easy to see why. What did you think about it?

As always, I've got a few questions and thoughts to get the ball rolling. Please add your own!

- Watson's descriptions of the Holmes brothers here are brutal. Holmes is a "a brain without a heart, as deficient in human sympathy as he was pre-eminent in intelligence." Mycroft is "corpulent", with a "broad, fat hand like the flipper of a seal". Do you think Holmes or Mycroft would object to Watson's blunt words being published for everyone to read, or is keeping a positive public persona something unworthy of time and concern for them? Or perhaps they aren't bothered by it since overall the depictions are (mostly) true, even if they are not kind and are embellished for art.

- In a way, Mycroft may deserve the unkind words given the fact he bears a significant amount of blame for the poor outcome of this case. First, he doesn't refer this case immediately to Sherlock despite the fact it is a matter of crime and mortal danger. According to Sherlock, Mycroft considers detective work to be "the merest hobby of a dilettante." Why take it on himself at all?

Then later, he puts the advertisement in the paper, thereby alerting the clearly ruthless criminals to the fact that Melas has betrayed them. In the end, Kratides is dead from poison (not starvation) and Melas nearly so. Do you think the outcome would have been different if Mycroft had brought in his brother from the start?

- Watson does quite a bit of the theorizing in this case and is remarkably good at it! He has some detective skills in his own right.

- Melas isn't the first interpreter. What happened to the first? Dead?

The Greek Interpreter: Together

[spacemutineer.livejournal.com]

Canon Story: The Greek Interpreter
Title: Together
Author: spacemutineer
Rating: PG-13
Author's Note: A scene at the Diogenes. Wish I could go. Does that make me queer? ;)

---

It is peace. Peace, and quiet. The waiter brings my wine, a rare vintage, and I retreat from the chaos outside these walls into the rich pleasures of a fine piece of fiction. I am not alone by any means. The room is filled with my fellows. Here all of us have come together to venture into other worlds alone.

The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter - Interrogatory

[methylviolet10b]

Author: methylviolet10b
Rating: PG
Character(s): Sherlock Holmes, Mycroft Holmes
Summary: A brief conversation between brothers.
Warnings: I'm in the midst of NaNo, so this probably makes even less sense than usual. On the plus side, there's really no spoilers here.
Word Count: 60
Author's Notes: 60 words of my own inspired by one of the canon stories.
Disclaimer: I don't own them.

GREE -- The Greek Interpreter

“So, Sherlock, when do you intend to introduce me to him?”

“I assume you mean my fellow-lodger?”

“My dear boy, I did not mean your landlady.”

“The request could hardly be more extraordinary if you had. Why this sudden interest?”

“I have never known you to socialize this long with anyone outside of myself. Therefore, he must be worth meeting.”

The Greek Interpreter: The Diogenes Club

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Canon Story: The Greek Interpreter
Title: The Diogenes Club
Author: thesmallhobbit
Rating: G
Spoilers: for The Final Problem

The Holmes brothers sat together in the Diogenes Club, enjoying a companionable silence.  Occasionally the older would help the younger with a problem; less often he would bring a problem to his brother.  He was not yet aware that one day he would have a bigger part to play, when his brother had to leave the country in a hurry.

The Greek Interpreter: Theory vs. Practice

[castiron.livejournal.com]

Canon Story: The Greek Interpreter
Title: Theory vs. Practice
Author: Castiron
Rating: G

My brother shakes his head over my inaction and indolence. He does not understand that actions lead to consequences, some desired and some not. This case, for example: had I not placed that advertisement, Mr. Kratides might yet live.

I have learned, however, from this tragedy. I shall keep to the theoretical, and leave the practical applications to my brother.

The Greek Interpreter

[flawedamythyst.livejournal.com]

Canon Story: The Greek Interpreter
Author: flawedamythyst
Rating: PG
Pairing: Holmes/Watson-y.


The telegram requesting I call on Mycroft weighed on my mind. Should I continue to hide Watson away for fear of my brother's judgement once he saw, in a glance, all that he meant to me, or should I bring together the two people I consider family and allow them both to see parts of me I had kept hidden?


*