That's a great book, nothing like the words of the man himself, not intended for publication and really just to justify himself to The Mam. However much we might like to see out heroes as like ourselves, when you think about it, it's not that likely, and especially so at a hundred-plus year's distance.
We are "hard-wired" to notice difference and prefer the familiar, it's up to our conscious brain and social consensus to *decide* to embrace diversity rather than shun it. I see Doyle as, to the extent he could given all kinds of social pressures against it, sometimes trying to do that. He can be horribly classist and sexist as well, but as I say above, it would be very odd if he weren't.
I'm afraid I have little patience with the sort of prim 'keep my pure hands clean' attitude I have seen once or twice amongst those coming to the canon for the first time (usually from BBC Sherlock, which is hardly one to emulate in many respects in those areas) "oh, thank you for telling me it's racist, shudder, I won't read it now". Please learn some history, chummy, would be my response.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2014-01-12 12:56 pm (UTC)We are "hard-wired" to notice difference and prefer the familiar, it's up to our conscious brain and social consensus to *decide* to embrace diversity rather than shun it. I see Doyle as, to the extent he could given all kinds of social pressures against it, sometimes trying to do that. He can be horribly classist and sexist as well, but as I say above, it would be very odd if he weren't.
I'm afraid I have little patience with the sort of prim 'keep my pure hands clean' attitude I have seen once or twice amongst those coming to the canon for the first time (usually from BBC Sherlock, which is hardly one to emulate in many respects in those areas) "oh, thank you for telling me it's racist, shudder, I won't read it now". Please learn some history, chummy, would be my response.