Peschel - Sherlock Holmes Victorian Parodies and Pastiches: 1888-1899

The debut of Sherlock Holmes in the pages of The Strand magazine introduced one of fictions most memorable heroes. Arthur Conan Doyles spellbinding tales of mystery and detection, along with Holmes deep friendship with Doctor Watson, touched the hearts of fans worldwide, and inspired imitations, parodies, songs, art, even erotica, that continues to this very day. Sherlock Holmes Victorian Parodies and Pastiches: 1888-1899 collects more than 60 piecesshort stories, poems, newspaper clippings, and cartoonsall published during the opening years of Conan Doyles literary career. Also included are much of the original art and more than 150 footnotes identifying obscure words, historical figures, and events that readers were familiar with at the time. Peschel Press 223B Casebook Seriesnamed because theyre next door to the original storiesis dedicated to publishing the fanfiction created by amateur and professional writers during Conan Doyles lifetime. Each book covers an era, publication, or writer, and includes lively mini-essays containing insights into the work, Conan Doyle, and those who were inspired by him. A lifelong fan of mysteries, and Sherlock Holmes in particular, Bill Peschel is a former award-winning journalist living in Hershey. He is the annotator of novels by Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers, publisher of the three-volume Rugeley Poisoner series, and author of Writers Gone Wild (Penguin).

Edited by Bill Peschel

Peschel Press ~ Hershey, Pa.

Fanfiction did not begin with Sherlock Holmes. Depending on how elastic your definition, you could say fanfictiona story based on a real person or someone elses fictional creationhas been around nearly as long as storytelling. Hercules, for example, was the original Superman, and his twelve labors the first anthology. Then there were the Bronte siblings, who used the sons of the Duke of Wellington as heroes in their Angrian Saga. Even Frankenstein inspired hundreds of stories.

But the meeting between the King of Bohemia and Sherlock over the recovery of certain indiscreet photographs inspired writers to kidnap the great detective for their own purposes. Some poked fun at the stories and its tropes, others placed Sherlock and Watson (or Blotsom, or Flotsam, or Potson) into stories of their own creation. Advertisers saw the value in appropriating him to use as a salesman. During the 1890s, more than 50 stories were published, and the number would only grow in years to come. Today, the Internet and the low cost of self-publishingfueled by the popularity of Sherlock on TV and in the movieshave created an explosion of fan-driven stories, part of what once critic called the tsunami of swill that degrades the culture.

Well let others fight that battle. A more interesting question is: Why Sherlock? Why did he inspire the outburst of parodies and pastiches that continue to this day?

Looking at the historical record, theres nothing else comparable to the flow of stories, artwork, and poetry centered around the inhabitants of 221B Baker Street. The Victorian era had popular detectives such as Max Carrados, Dr. John Thorndyke, and The Old Man in the Corner, not to mention Poes Dupin and Gaboriaus Monsieur Lecoq. There were also popular characters that could have inspired writers, such as Dracula, Captain Nemo, even Conan Doyles Gerard and Professor Challenger.

With all that available, again, why choose Holmes?

Several reasons, I believe. First is the incredible popularity of the stories. Although Conan Doyles first two novels didnt make much of a dent in the public consciousness, the short stories were popular from their first appearance. Issues of The Strand flew off the stands when Conan Doyles name was on the cover. When Sherlock vanished at Reichenbach Falls, more than 20,000 people cancelled their subscriptions.

Holmes also benefitted from being portrayed in the short stories. Unlike A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of Four, where whole chapters passed without him, the stories distilled Holmes highly original character and abilities. Patterns appeared. The curtain rising on the cozy rooms at Baker Street, the dramatic appearance of the victim with an unusual story, the ferreting out of information from the tiniest clues, the unmasking of the villain and the celebration afterwards with dinner and a concert.

It is in that concentrated form that he spread through the culture. Within two years after A Scandal in Bohemia, Sherlocks name appeared in a Punch article as a candidate to investigate a mystery. The writer was confident that readers would understand the reference. But that was just the start. The distinctive personalities of Holmes and Watsonthe highly intelligent, highly observant man of logic and science, paired with the emotional, physical, loyal friendmade them adaptable for any kind of story. In others hands, they could be treated seriously. Or, they could be portrayed as fools: the Holmes whose detailed observations are always wrong, and the doctor whose admiration knows no bounds.

Then there were the tropes that surrounded them. The gaslit and fog-shrouded streets of London, Holmes eccentric behavior (the drug abuse, the experiments, the target practice in the sitting room), the distraught stranger entering the room with a strange tale. These details performed the role of set dressing, and could be the source of jokes in their own right.

Familiarity, popularity and easily conveyed details. These created the conditions that encouraged Holmes and Watson to spread through the worlds cultures. It would be suitable to say that the medical man Conan Doyle had created a virus that infected literature, and caused an outbreak of fanfictionitis that continues to this day.

Bill Peschel

Hershey, Pa.

Writers are, by nature, unsociable and unclubbable (except at the hands of critics). But necessity is a mother, and when I needed help, I was fortunate to find allies who gave generously of their time and resources. These people mean a lot to me, not only for helping, but for being so darn much fun to work with.

Its traditional for a writer to honor ones spouse, but Teresa is more than a life partner. She edited the manuscript, provided suggestions I was smart enough to use, oversaw every aspect of production, and kept the household running with her budget smarts and guerilla shopping while writing her own books. Im proud and grateful to have her in my life.

A spotlight of praise should also fall on Denise Phillips at Hershey Public Librarys Interlibrary Loan Department for tracking down the resources I needed. Special thanks must also be given to my researcher Scott Harkless for digging up many of the pieces. Sherlockian Charles Press has my gratitude for his encouragement and much-needed copies of rare stories he went to great trouble to secure for his Bedside Book of Early Sherlockian Parodies and Pastiches.

Historical research involves finding treasures others have dug up. There have been many researchers who have gone before me, and by combining the results of their work, I was able to compile, and, in a few cases, even add to their extensive bibliography. Without the following researchers and writers, this collection would have been far smaller: