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My Dearest Holmes
"The accounts of these cases are too bound up with events in my personal life which, although they may provide a plausible commentary to much of my dealings with Mr Sherlock Holmes, can never be public while he or I remain alive."
Although Dr Watson is known for recording some sixty of his adventures with the celebrated Sherlock Holmes, he also wrote other reminiscences of their long friendship which were never intended for publication during their lifetimes. Rescued from oblivion by Rohase Piercy, two previously unknown stories about the great detective and his companion help to explain much which has puzzled some devotees.
Together Holmes and Watson face disturbing revelations as they investigate the case of the Queen Bee; and we finally learn what actually happened at the Reichenbach Falls and the real reasons which lay behind Holmes' faked death and subsequent return.
Although Dr Watson is known for recording some sixty of his adventures with the celebrated Sherlock Holmes, he also wrote other reminiscences of their long friendship which were never intended for publication during their lifetimes. Rescued from oblivion by Rohase Piercy, two previously unknown stories about the great detective and his companion help to explain much which has puzzled some devotees.
Together Holmes and Watson face disturbing revelations as they investigate the case of the Queen Bee; and we finally learn what actually happened at the Reichenbach Falls and the real reasons which lay behind Holmes' faked death and subsequent return.
142 pages, Paperback
First published April 14, 1988
28 people are currently reading
3509 people want to read
About the author
Rohase Piercy
7 books58 followersRohase Piercy was born in London in 1958 and now lives in Brighton (on the South Coast of England) with her husband Leslie, dog Spike and a fluctuating number of racing pigeons. She has two grown-up daughters.
When her debut novel, 'My Dearest Holmes' was published by the Gay Men's Press in 1988 it provoked howls of outrage from the Sherlock Holmes Society of London and from the mainstream media - (SHERLOCK HOMO! He's gay in new book!) However times have changed, and during the last ten years or so it has gained an appreciative readership and has been published in Italian (Mio Diletto Holmes, Tre Editori, 2011) and Japanese (Shinshokan, 2015).
At first glance Rohase's writing may seem confusingly diverse, but all of her novels present well known characters, stories or events from an alternative perspective - usually with LGBTQ overtones.
When her debut novel, 'My Dearest Holmes' was published by the Gay Men's Press in 1988 it provoked howls of outrage from the Sherlock Holmes Society of London and from the mainstream media - (SHERLOCK HOMO! He's gay in new book!) However times have changed, and during the last ten years or so it has gained an appreciative readership and has been published in Italian (Mio Diletto Holmes, Tre Editori, 2011) and Japanese (Shinshokan, 2015).
At first glance Rohase's writing may seem confusingly diverse, but all of her novels present well known characters, stories or events from an alternative perspective - usually with LGBTQ overtones.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
February 2, 2011
My Dearest Holmes contains two stories, with the conceit that they're both stories Watson set aside as being impossible to publish given the social circumstances of his day, and that he left them to be published years after his death, when it couldn't possibly affect him or his associates. The first deals with Watson's apparently unrequited love for Holmes, and provides background to his swift marriage to Mary, an arrangement of mutual benefit that allows both Watson and Mary to disguise their true preferences. The second deals with Sherlock's 'death', in the case involving Moriarty, and Watson's grief afterwards, and the true circumstances of their eventual reunion.
I had a lump in my throat for most of the book. It's well-written, in the style of the original Sherlock Holmes stories, and yet filled with feeling -- the focus is not on the mysteries, but on the characters and their feelings. It is very, very moving, even heartbreaking in the latter half, and fits in well to what I know of the canon, too. I enjoyed it very much.
I had a lump in my throat for most of the book. It's well-written, in the style of the original Sherlock Holmes stories, and yet filled with feeling -- the focus is not on the mysteries, but on the characters and their feelings. It is very, very moving, even heartbreaking in the latter half, and fits in well to what I know of the canon, too. I enjoyed it very much.
May 21, 2020
I was a little nervous about finally getting to read this - it had the potential to be really bad fanfic. But Piercy's writing actually fits right in with that of the Sherlock Holmes canon, making this feel very natural.
Set shortly before The Sign of the Four, the first half of My Dearest Holmes deals with a woman worried about her housemate's disappearance. I won't spoil that case, which in itself is rather interesting with plenty of the sorts of twists you expect from a Holmes case, but during the tale John Watson is sussed out by Holmes' client - she realises that Watson feels rather more than friendship for Holmes, and points out that Holmes probably knows this.
The moments between Holmes and Watson are terribly touching, for all that they aren't at all suggestive or explicit. Subtle words and gestures convey a wealth of affection between the two men, but while we know how Watson feels, Holmes never really shows his hand. It ends with Watson's decision to find a wife so that suspicion won't be cast on either him or Holmes, leading nicely to The Sign of the Four and his marriage to Mary.
The second part of the book focusses on the events up to and surrounding The Final Problem and then Holmes' return in The Adventure of the Empty House. It tweaks canon slightly, suggesting that this is Watson's personal account of events meant for him and maybe future, more liberal-minded readers, while The Final Problem and The Adventure of the Empty House were written for public reading.
Watson's heart-wrenching grief after the Reichenbach Falls incident is horrible to read, as is the anticipation, hope and fear when he travels to Paris when Mycroft Holmes (reluctantly) gives him a message. My gut was wrenched in the moments leading up to his seeing Holmes again, alive and well. While it's obvious Watson's feelings for Holmes have never dulled, we do still remain unsure of the true nature of Holmes' unarguably deep affection for Watson. Whatever it is, they accept one another, and trust and need each other dearly.
It's a beautiful look at the potential homoerotic undertones of the Holmes canon, and whether you choose to add it to your personal canon or not, it's gorgeously written with the same feel of the original stories.
This has definitely made its way on to my favourites list.
Set shortly before The Sign of the Four, the first half of My Dearest Holmes deals with a woman worried about her housemate's disappearance. I won't spoil that case, which in itself is rather interesting with plenty of the sorts of twists you expect from a Holmes case, but during the tale John Watson is sussed out by Holmes' client - she realises that Watson feels rather more than friendship for Holmes, and points out that Holmes probably knows this.
The moments between Holmes and Watson are terribly touching, for all that they aren't at all suggestive or explicit. Subtle words and gestures convey a wealth of affection between the two men, but while we know how Watson feels, Holmes never really shows his hand. It ends with Watson's decision to find a wife so that suspicion won't be cast on either him or Holmes, leading nicely to The Sign of the Four and his marriage to Mary.
The second part of the book focusses on the events up to and surrounding The Final Problem and then Holmes' return in The Adventure of the Empty House. It tweaks canon slightly, suggesting that this is Watson's personal account of events meant for him and maybe future, more liberal-minded readers, while The Final Problem and The Adventure of the Empty House were written for public reading.
Watson's heart-wrenching grief after the Reichenbach Falls incident is horrible to read, as is the anticipation, hope and fear when he travels to Paris when Mycroft Holmes (reluctantly) gives him a message. My gut was wrenched in the moments leading up to his seeing Holmes again, alive and well. While it's obvious Watson's feelings for Holmes have never dulled, we do still remain unsure of the true nature of Holmes' unarguably deep affection for Watson. Whatever it is, they accept one another, and trust and need each other dearly.
It's a beautiful look at the potential homoerotic undertones of the Holmes canon, and whether you choose to add it to your personal canon or not, it's gorgeously written with the same feel of the original stories.
This has definitely made its way on to my favourites list.
January 21, 2022
This is a truly important book: a historical testament to the resistance against late-1980s homophobia which allowed for the hope that, finally, the world was ready for a gay Holmes and Watson. Looking at the Holmesian landscape of the present day, it's disappointing to see that, though reading Holmes and Watson's dynamic as romantic is common in fanfiction, Rohase Piercy's groundbreaking novel has not exactly led to a spate of similar interpretations in mainstream media.
Still, this only makes Piercy's novel all the more powerful and important to reconsider, as it is republished for its 30th anniversary. Does it hold up, in 2018? I think so. The novel is split into two sections. The first is a short story imagining events that caused Watson to consider marrying to protect his (and Holmes's) reputation, involving a 'confirmed spinster' who is searching for her missing partner.
This first story is decent, offering some powerful insights into Watson's constant fear of discovery and the added burden of concealing his feelings for Holmes, but it is ultimately less engaging than the longer section that follows: a retelling of Holmes's 'death' and subsequent resurrection in 'The Final Problem' and 'The Empty House'. This longer story is quite brilliant at points, with some startlingly tender moments upon Holmes and Watson's reunion, as Watson finally begins to sense the depths of Holmes's attachment to him. For the most part, Holmes and Watson feel believably in-character, and though the interactions between the two tend to be drawn subtly, their affection shines through.
I'm glad I bought this book, on a whim, wondering whether it would be worth it when so many free interpretations of Holmes and Watson's relationship exist online. It was worth it: this book and its reception in the British press on its original publication are a powerful reminder that, unlike Watson's professed hope that his story would be well-received a century on, there is still a long way to go before that wish becomes a reality.
Still, this only makes Piercy's novel all the more powerful and important to reconsider, as it is republished for its 30th anniversary. Does it hold up, in 2018? I think so. The novel is split into two sections. The first is a short story imagining events that caused Watson to consider marrying to protect his (and Holmes's) reputation, involving a 'confirmed spinster' who is searching for her missing partner.
This first story is decent, offering some powerful insights into Watson's constant fear of discovery and the added burden of concealing his feelings for Holmes, but it is ultimately less engaging than the longer section that follows: a retelling of Holmes's 'death' and subsequent resurrection in 'The Final Problem' and 'The Empty House'. This longer story is quite brilliant at points, with some startlingly tender moments upon Holmes and Watson's reunion, as Watson finally begins to sense the depths of Holmes's attachment to him. For the most part, Holmes and Watson feel believably in-character, and though the interactions between the two tend to be drawn subtly, their affection shines through.
I'm glad I bought this book, on a whim, wondering whether it would be worth it when so many free interpretations of Holmes and Watson's relationship exist online. It was worth it: this book and its reception in the British press on its original publication are a powerful reminder that, unlike Watson's professed hope that his story would be well-received a century on, there is still a long way to go before that wish becomes a reality.
January 31, 2013
Well, I'd say its for completists only, given that the premise is that Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are gay, and most of the book is about Watson pining in unrequited love for Holmes. That's going to be a dealbreaker for a lot of readers, which is understandable. The stories of the Sherlockian Canon are about the deep friendship between the two as much as they are about crime-solving, and most fans don't like to see that friendship tampered with. I happen to be a completist, and owner of such books as The Sexual Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (crap) and In Bed With Sherlock Holmes (fascinating), as well as plenty of other questionable Sherlockiana (Sherlock Holmes vs. Dracula, anyone?).
This book was published in 1988, long before Robert Downey Jr. and Benedict Cumberbatch made Sherlock Holmes sexy and before shabbily-written Sherlockian fan fiction became a niche genre of what used to be called 'pastiche.' Piercy believes that ACD wrote Sherlock Holmes to be 'coded' gay, a theory that's been kicking around Sherlockian circles for some decades now, perhaps going back to Rex Stout's tongue-in-cheek essay of 1941, "Was Watson a Woman?" But gay Holmes wasn't given much more credence than any other crackpot theory, such as Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler were the parents of Nero Wolfe or Professor Moriarity was Holmes' maths tutor. (Clearly we Sherlockians have too much time on our hands). But with Holmes' success in recent pop culture, there is a much larger audience for books like My Dearest Holmes.
The book's premise is admittedly hard to fit into the actual Canon; Conan Doyle wrote Dr. Watson to be unambiguously attracted to women, and Piercy's retconning Mary Morstan into a lesbian who marries Watson to pose as his beard is completely implausible. Yet Piercy captures the style of the original stories quite well. It's not a bad read, and the characters ring true. The mystery in the first section is capably handled, if not quite as good as ACD, but who is? The angst of Watson's pining does start to get a bit tiresome, though. But it's definitely more of a romance than a mystery, so I guess angst is to be expected. And Piercy does respect Canon Holmes' attitude towards love, which is that it's rubbish that would destroy the clarity of his deductive reasoning, which most readers interpret as asexuality (although I am not convinced asexuality is the same thing as aversion to love). Nothing explicit here, the story is practically G-rated, but nonetheless, this is gay Holmes and Watson, which will no doubt be offensive to some fans. It's too bad Piercy didn't write any other pastiche, as she does have a knack for writing in the style of Conan Doyle and overall I think her talents would have been better applied to a mystery pastiche than an angsty romance.
This book was published in 1988, long before Robert Downey Jr. and Benedict Cumberbatch made Sherlock Holmes sexy and before shabbily-written Sherlockian fan fiction became a niche genre of what used to be called 'pastiche.' Piercy believes that ACD wrote Sherlock Holmes to be 'coded' gay, a theory that's been kicking around Sherlockian circles for some decades now, perhaps going back to Rex Stout's tongue-in-cheek essay of 1941, "Was Watson a Woman?" But gay Holmes wasn't given much more credence than any other crackpot theory, such as Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler were the parents of Nero Wolfe or Professor Moriarity was Holmes' maths tutor. (Clearly we Sherlockians have too much time on our hands). But with Holmes' success in recent pop culture, there is a much larger audience for books like My Dearest Holmes.
The book's premise is admittedly hard to fit into the actual Canon; Conan Doyle wrote Dr. Watson to be unambiguously attracted to women, and Piercy's retconning Mary Morstan into a lesbian who marries Watson to pose as his beard is completely implausible. Yet Piercy captures the style of the original stories quite well. It's not a bad read, and the characters ring true. The mystery in the first section is capably handled, if not quite as good as ACD, but who is? The angst of Watson's pining does start to get a bit tiresome, though. But it's definitely more of a romance than a mystery, so I guess angst is to be expected. And Piercy does respect Canon Holmes' attitude towards love, which is that it's rubbish that would destroy the clarity of his deductive reasoning, which most readers interpret as asexuality (although I am not convinced asexuality is the same thing as aversion to love). Nothing explicit here, the story is practically G-rated, but nonetheless, this is gay Holmes and Watson, which will no doubt be offensive to some fans. It's too bad Piercy didn't write any other pastiche, as she does have a knack for writing in the style of Conan Doyle and overall I think her talents would have been better applied to a mystery pastiche than an angsty romance.
July 11, 2012
I'm only giving ANY stars to this because Piercy clearly did his homework within the canon.
Technically speaking, anything "Sherlockian" that's been written in the past 100 years is fan fic. I've come across some good interpretations, which manage to insert some feasible story lines into the existing canon, but this... Well, it's similar to most modern fan fic, where the indignant fans just *know* there is a sexual undercurrent between certain characters, but the original author didn't do the story justice - so they must embellish upon it to make you understand what you've been missing!
I know I'm going against the majority of reviews here, but I *liked* the platonic relationship between Holmes and Watson. I innocently thought, not having a synopsis available, that the title was a take on the common, "My dear Watson," retort Holmes often used. Um...not the case. Let me be clear: I'm not homophobic. I just happen to LIKE the characters the way they were originally written. If this story had taken place with other, non-canon characters, there'd be a few more stars to this review, as Piercy does use Watson's tone well and it's actually decently-written as a period piece.
My first clue should've been that Watson, our narrator, describes Mr. Conan Doyle as his publicist. The entire book is an outlet for Watson to open up about "what really happened" at Reichenbach Falls, as well as the "real reason" Watson got married. More than twice during these 125 pages, I felt like I was doing something wrong, just having this 'literature' on my e-reader. There weren't any explicit scenes; it was primarily a tale of angst and generalized Watson's "indiscretions", but I was particularly offended at Piercy baldly stating that Watson trolled for "devious" and illegal sexual partners when denied the person he wanted. Plainly, it's self-serving -- or perhaps community-serving -- fan fic. NOT recommended for people who actually enjoy Doyle's works.
Technically speaking, anything "Sherlockian" that's been written in the past 100 years is fan fic. I've come across some good interpretations, which manage to insert some feasible story lines into the existing canon, but this... Well, it's similar to most modern fan fic, where the indignant fans just *know* there is a sexual undercurrent between certain characters, but the original author didn't do the story justice - so they must embellish upon it to make you understand what you've been missing!
I know I'm going against the majority of reviews here, but I *liked* the platonic relationship between Holmes and Watson. I innocently thought, not having a synopsis available, that the title was a take on the common, "My dear Watson," retort Holmes often used. Um...not the case. Let me be clear: I'm not homophobic. I just happen to LIKE the characters the way they were originally written. If this story had taken place with other, non-canon characters, there'd be a few more stars to this review, as Piercy does use Watson's tone well and it's actually decently-written as a period piece.
My first clue should've been that Watson, our narrator, describes Mr. Conan Doyle as his publicist. The entire book is an outlet for Watson to open up about "what really happened" at Reichenbach Falls, as well as the "real reason" Watson got married. More than twice during these 125 pages, I felt like I was doing something wrong, just having this 'literature' on my e-reader. There weren't any explicit scenes; it was primarily a tale of angst and generalized Watson's "indiscretions", but I was particularly offended at Piercy baldly stating that Watson trolled for "devious" and illegal sexual partners when denied the person he wanted. Plainly, it's self-serving -- or perhaps community-serving -- fan fic. NOT recommended for people who actually enjoy Doyle's works.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2018
In 1988, author Rohase Piercy did something remarkable and controversial.
She published a book in which Dr John Watson was in love with Sherlock Holmes. (Whether Holmes reciprocates is the grand question of much of the rest of the book.)
Boy, did some people find that idea challenging. The Daily Mail seemed to think it would cause the fall of England, though the Guardian responded with bemused good humour.
Many readers who had thought about the queer possibilities of this literary partnership were delighted.
The book
A preface by Dr Watson is followed by part one, 'A Discreet Investigation', in which a case leads Holmes and Watson to the demi monde, a tangled case of blackmail and the question of whether Sherlock Holmes has noticed that his client and her intimate friend are in fact a lesbian couple.
Told canonically from Watson's point of view, Watson's unrequited love for Holmes and attempts to deal with his unrequited affections become central. Does Holmes know of Watson's dangerous leanings, or to whom they are directed? Will Watson's 'indiscretions', the way in which he tries to manage his hopeless desire, destroy their friendship? Or will Watson find a way to live with his nature while protecting both himself and Sherlock Holmes's reputation?
Watson's resolution to this crisis with Mary Morstan (who has secrets of her own) isn't the end of the matter, however. The second half of My Dearest Holmes, 'The Final Problem', deals with the aftermath of Watson's solution, as well as the events at the Reichenbach Falls and 'The Adventure of The Empty House'. It's a far cry from the stories Watson wrote for The Strand, which are necessarily inaccurate to protect their original clients as well as Watson's deeply troubled heart.
30th Anniversary Edition
2018 marks 30 years since My Dearest Holmes caused such consternation, and so Rohase Piercy has published an anniversry edition. The new edition is framed with a foreward by Charlie Raven, exploring the changes in attitude to LGBTQ relationships in the intervening 30 years, and a final essay by Piercy – "Sherlock Holmes: a Decadent Detective?" – on the gothic and decadent origins of the character.
This reprint of My Dearest Holmes comes into a world where queer readings of Holmes and Watson are not so rare – Improbable Press even specialises in Holmes♥Watson fiction!
How does it stand up, 30 years later?
The Review
Reader, it is wonderful. An angst-fest for sure, but splendidly paced, and full of teasing moments. Some canon-esque humour gets in there, and some entertaining reworkings of the stories we know, shifted to become the history of "what really happened" in this telling.
Holmes is as ineffable as ever, often fond of his friend, sometimes unkind, and a stickler for not getting sentimental about things. Along with John Watson, you can't tell how Sherlock really feels about his friend. What, if anything, does he feel, and what might he be repressing? How much does his use of the cocaine bottle relate to everything he never says?
Watson's inner turmoil is compassionately explored, as is the world under the surface of respectable London, with loves and liaisons not accepted by the mainstream but definitely humming away in the shadows.
There are cases of course (where Holmes is, there too are puzzles) but the true, unexpressed feelings between these two great friends and colleagues is the largest puzzle of all, and it's only resolved in the last few chapters.
Piercy's writing, like the best new Holmesian adventures, mimics the tone of Conan Doyle without becoming clumsy or cliched. My Dearest Holmes has a style reminiscent of Doyle and is easy to read in that regard.
Which is great, because I gulped it all down. There's a lot of hurt before we get any comfort at all, but it's well told and not without lighter, warmer moments. And while subtle in its execution, the payoff is worth the wait.
She published a book in which Dr John Watson was in love with Sherlock Holmes. (Whether Holmes reciprocates is the grand question of much of the rest of the book.)
Boy, did some people find that idea challenging. The Daily Mail seemed to think it would cause the fall of England, though the Guardian responded with bemused good humour.
Many readers who had thought about the queer possibilities of this literary partnership were delighted.
The book
A preface by Dr Watson is followed by part one, 'A Discreet Investigation', in which a case leads Holmes and Watson to the demi monde, a tangled case of blackmail and the question of whether Sherlock Holmes has noticed that his client and her intimate friend are in fact a lesbian couple.
Told canonically from Watson's point of view, Watson's unrequited love for Holmes and attempts to deal with his unrequited affections become central. Does Holmes know of Watson's dangerous leanings, or to whom they are directed? Will Watson's 'indiscretions', the way in which he tries to manage his hopeless desire, destroy their friendship? Or will Watson find a way to live with his nature while protecting both himself and Sherlock Holmes's reputation?
Watson's resolution to this crisis with Mary Morstan (who has secrets of her own) isn't the end of the matter, however. The second half of My Dearest Holmes, 'The Final Problem', deals with the aftermath of Watson's solution, as well as the events at the Reichenbach Falls and 'The Adventure of The Empty House'. It's a far cry from the stories Watson wrote for The Strand, which are necessarily inaccurate to protect their original clients as well as Watson's deeply troubled heart.
30th Anniversary Edition
2018 marks 30 years since My Dearest Holmes caused such consternation, and so Rohase Piercy has published an anniversry edition. The new edition is framed with a foreward by Charlie Raven, exploring the changes in attitude to LGBTQ relationships in the intervening 30 years, and a final essay by Piercy – "Sherlock Holmes: a Decadent Detective?" – on the gothic and decadent origins of the character.
This reprint of My Dearest Holmes comes into a world where queer readings of Holmes and Watson are not so rare – Improbable Press even specialises in Holmes♥Watson fiction!
How does it stand up, 30 years later?
The Review
Reader, it is wonderful. An angst-fest for sure, but splendidly paced, and full of teasing moments. Some canon-esque humour gets in there, and some entertaining reworkings of the stories we know, shifted to become the history of "what really happened" in this telling.
Holmes is as ineffable as ever, often fond of his friend, sometimes unkind, and a stickler for not getting sentimental about things. Along with John Watson, you can't tell how Sherlock really feels about his friend. What, if anything, does he feel, and what might he be repressing? How much does his use of the cocaine bottle relate to everything he never says?
Watson's inner turmoil is compassionately explored, as is the world under the surface of respectable London, with loves and liaisons not accepted by the mainstream but definitely humming away in the shadows.
There are cases of course (where Holmes is, there too are puzzles) but the true, unexpressed feelings between these two great friends and colleagues is the largest puzzle of all, and it's only resolved in the last few chapters.
Piercy's writing, like the best new Holmesian adventures, mimics the tone of Conan Doyle without becoming clumsy or cliched. My Dearest Holmes has a style reminiscent of Doyle and is easy to read in that regard.
Which is great, because I gulped it all down. There's a lot of hurt before we get any comfort at all, but it's well told and not without lighter, warmer moments. And while subtle in its execution, the payoff is worth the wait.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2015
This book is pure garbage. I found the content tedious and needless.
August 25, 2017
I'M SO EMOTIONAL RIGHT NOW DON'T TOUCH ME
May 6, 2025
Avendo saputo che questo libro è in uno spirito simile dei film di Robert Downey Jr e Jude Law, l'ho acquistato per curiosità (e anche perché mi piace questa coppia, in qualunque modo la si voglia intendere).
Si tratta di un pastiche, in quanto l'autrice scrive imitando lo stile di Conan Doyle; così come si tratta di un retelling, perché la storia viene narrata nei cosiddetti "anelli mancanti", e viene qui esplicitata una natura romantica del rapporto tra Holmes e Watson. Non la definirei una fanfiction nel senso stretto del termine, perché è stata pubblicata nel 1988, prima che le ondate di fanfictions ci sommergessero, inoltre sarebbe irrispettoso, data la cura e i dettagli del canone, anche nel ricreare i personaggi il più possibili simili agli originali, che l'autrice ha messo.
Penso che il film debba essersi ispirato anche a questo libro per alcuni dettagli (per esempio la frustrazione di Watson verso il suo eccentrico compagno). Il focus è il loro rapporto, tuttavia lo definirei più retelling che romance, perché il tutto è condito dal mistery e dall'aderenza, in molti punti, al canone.
Sebbene in alcune parti mi sia detta:"È già tutto nell'originale, per chi voglia vederlo, non c'è bisogno di esplicitarlo" l'esperienza di lettura è stata effettivamente gradevole, come vedere un altro di quei film, stavolta in chiave più romantica che comica. I libri di Doyle sono talvolta pesanti, e l'accostarci qualcosa di leggero per spingerti a continuare in quell'universo non è una cattiva idea, che poi per me è esattamente lo scopo principale dei retelling e degli adattamenti cinematografici: spingerti con più forza verso le fonti, che rimangono in vetta,oltre a intrattenerti ulteriormente con i tuoi personaggi preferiti.
P.s: Il titolo originale è My dearest Holmes, avrei preferito la traduzione rimanesse fedele all'originale, trovo il titolo attuale leggermente...zuccheroso.
3,5 ☆, arrotondo volentieri a 4 perché è una lettura molto piacevole.
Si tratta di un pastiche, in quanto l'autrice scrive imitando lo stile di Conan Doyle; così come si tratta di un retelling, perché la storia viene narrata nei cosiddetti "anelli mancanti", e viene qui esplicitata una natura romantica del rapporto tra Holmes e Watson. Non la definirei una fanfiction nel senso stretto del termine, perché è stata pubblicata nel 1988, prima che le ondate di fanfictions ci sommergessero, inoltre sarebbe irrispettoso, data la cura e i dettagli del canone, anche nel ricreare i personaggi il più possibili simili agli originali, che l'autrice ha messo.
Penso che il film debba essersi ispirato anche a questo libro per alcuni dettagli (per esempio la frustrazione di Watson verso il suo eccentrico compagno). Il focus è il loro rapporto, tuttavia lo definirei più retelling che romance, perché il tutto è condito dal mistery e dall'aderenza, in molti punti, al canone.
Sebbene in alcune parti mi sia detta:"È già tutto nell'originale, per chi voglia vederlo, non c'è bisogno di esplicitarlo" l'esperienza di lettura è stata effettivamente gradevole, come vedere un altro di quei film, stavolta in chiave più romantica che comica. I libri di Doyle sono talvolta pesanti, e l'accostarci qualcosa di leggero per spingerti a continuare in quell'universo non è una cattiva idea, che poi per me è esattamente lo scopo principale dei retelling e degli adattamenti cinematografici: spingerti con più forza verso le fonti, che rimangono in vetta,oltre a intrattenerti ulteriormente con i tuoi personaggi preferiti.
P.s: Il titolo originale è My dearest Holmes, avrei preferito la traduzione rimanesse fedele all'originale, trovo il titolo attuale leggermente...zuccheroso.
3,5 ☆, arrotondo volentieri a 4 perché è una lettura molto piacevole.
August 17, 2021
This is a classic story that is strong enough to stand retelling. Rohase Piercy make this a pleasure to read. It is told in the traditional style of Conan Doyle with sensitivity and charm. I enjoyed every page and I didn’t want it to end.
April 21, 2018
First of all, THANK YOU to Goodreads and Rohase Piercy for sending this to me as a giveaway prize. I have legit wanted to read this for, like, probably 10 years? Ever since I first got super obsessed (as opposed to low-key obsessed) with Sherlock Holmes, and in particular with the Holmes/Watson dynamic.
I distinctly remember reading the Holmes canon back in 6th grade and declaring to my classmates that he and Watson must be in love. This was before I knew I was queer myself, and right before my obsessive shipping days of Remus/Sirius frenzy began (remember HMS Wolfstar? I sure do), so at the time it was more of a passing comment than anything I had a clear conviction on, or personal stake in. But I saw it then, and despite the scorn and ridicule it earned me from my fellow 11-year-olds, I stood by it.
Then, in college, after a Bad Thing happened, Sherlock Holmes became my salvation. I read the stories over and over. I memorized all of the abbreviations and consulted all of the (many) scholarly timelines. I read essays and books and, of course, fanfiction. And the romance between Holmes and Watson, their slow-burn, steady, all-encompassing love for each other, got me through that time more than anything else did-- when I had trouble trusting or believing in anyone.
All of which is to say: I ship it.
Piercy published this originally back in 1988, which is insane. (For reference, it was 2001 when I insisted on queering Holmes in 6th grade and was bullied mercilessly for it-- imagine how much worse it would have been 15 years earlier.) And of course, people went crazy and clutched their pearls and screamed about the children exactly as much as you would expect. But I think it must have been a huge relief for the people like me, who had seen it from the beginning, who had felt seen and heard and validated by it, who had needed that icon, that iconic relationship, to be something they could be a part of.
So in that sense, this book is a tour de force.
As a pastiche, it's a good read, with skillful writing and pretty good characterization. I did find Piercy's Watson slightly too self-conscious and awkward for my tastes-- I suppose it makes sense considering the subject matter of the book (namely, Watson coming to terms with his feelings for Holmes), but it did feel somewhat off from the narration of the originals, where Watson is a pretty confident man even when Holmes is being an ass to him. There were a few moments where my second-hand embarrassment squick kicked in and I had to jump ahead a page or two just to ensure it got smoothed out. But for the most part, this was pretty minor, and the second half of the book in particular (circa FINA) was lovely. (Although she did remove one of my favorite canon moments, darn it!)
I do think the mystery was, well, not quite up to Doyle's par. It was pretty obvious to me exactly what was happening there from the beginning, which wouldn't have been an issue (I wasn't reading for the mystery anyway) except that it contributed to my overall sense of Watson being just slightly, well, more Bruce-like than I would have wanted. For the record, this applies only to the first half of the book, as the second does away with the mystery element altogether-- which I frankly preferred.
Overall, I'm just so thrilled to finally get a chance to read-- and own!-- this landmark book, which serves as a piece of history in its own right for the Sherlock Holmes legend, not to mention for the LGBTQ+ movement. And thank you again to the author, whose other books I'm definitely going to go check out.
I distinctly remember reading the Holmes canon back in 6th grade and declaring to my classmates that he and Watson must be in love. This was before I knew I was queer myself, and right before my obsessive shipping days of Remus/Sirius frenzy began (remember HMS Wolfstar? I sure do), so at the time it was more of a passing comment than anything I had a clear conviction on, or personal stake in. But I saw it then, and despite the scorn and ridicule it earned me from my fellow 11-year-olds, I stood by it.
Then, in college, after a Bad Thing happened, Sherlock Holmes became my salvation. I read the stories over and over. I memorized all of the abbreviations and consulted all of the (many) scholarly timelines. I read essays and books and, of course, fanfiction. And the romance between Holmes and Watson, their slow-burn, steady, all-encompassing love for each other, got me through that time more than anything else did-- when I had trouble trusting or believing in anyone.
All of which is to say: I ship it.
Piercy published this originally back in 1988, which is insane. (For reference, it was 2001 when I insisted on queering Holmes in 6th grade and was bullied mercilessly for it-- imagine how much worse it would have been 15 years earlier.) And of course, people went crazy and clutched their pearls and screamed about the children exactly as much as you would expect. But I think it must have been a huge relief for the people like me, who had seen it from the beginning, who had felt seen and heard and validated by it, who had needed that icon, that iconic relationship, to be something they could be a part of.
So in that sense, this book is a tour de force.
As a pastiche, it's a good read, with skillful writing and pretty good characterization. I did find Piercy's Watson slightly too self-conscious and awkward for my tastes-- I suppose it makes sense considering the subject matter of the book (namely, Watson coming to terms with his feelings for Holmes), but it did feel somewhat off from the narration of the originals, where Watson is a pretty confident man even when Holmes is being an ass to him. There were a few moments where my second-hand embarrassment squick kicked in and I had to jump ahead a page or two just to ensure it got smoothed out. But for the most part, this was pretty minor, and the second half of the book in particular (circa FINA) was lovely. (Although she did remove one of my favorite canon moments, darn it!)
I do think the mystery was, well, not quite up to Doyle's par. It was pretty obvious to me exactly what was happening there from the beginning, which wouldn't have been an issue (I wasn't reading for the mystery anyway) except that it contributed to my overall sense of Watson being just slightly, well, more Bruce-like than I would have wanted. For the record, this applies only to the first half of the book, as the second does away with the mystery element altogether-- which I frankly preferred.
Overall, I'm just so thrilled to finally get a chance to read-- and own!-- this landmark book, which serves as a piece of history in its own right for the Sherlock Holmes legend, not to mention for the LGBTQ+ movement. And thank you again to the author, whose other books I'm definitely going to go check out.
Read
November 27, 2011First of all you have to consider that this novel was released in 1988, so well ahead of the movie on Sherlock Holmes and James Watson that so openly suggested that the relationship between the two had a sexual undercurrent. Actually I have two thoughts in mind upon finishing this book: one is that both movie than book have to be very accurate to the original characters since they share so much in common that only having the same origins can explain that, or second hypothesis is that maybe the screenwriters were aware of the existence of My Dearest Holmes and instilled some of their characteristics into the movie characters.
The novel is told from Watson’s point of view and is the account of two of their adventures; in the first one Holmes and Watson are living together and when investigating in a case Watson has the chance to meet with a lady who shares with him some “particular” interests; the lady’s assumption is that Holmes and Watson are a couple in life as they are in career, but Watson will confess that his is an unrequited love, and that Holmes is unaware of Watson’s preferences. As the lady suggests, maybe Holmes is not aware of Watson’s love, but for sure he is dependent from Watson to an emotional level that is even deeper than a simply love relationship. I didn’t feel in Holmes a struggle to admit homosexual feelings, but more a fear of opening himself to the danger of love, whatever the companion is a man or a woman. Holmes has also an addiction to cocaine, addiction that he uses as a shield whenever he wants to rule out something or someone, even Watson, from his mind.
In the second story, Watson is married and has left Holmes; I found this attitude of Watson a little cowardly, like he hadn’t fought enough for his love for Holmes. True, his marriage is only by name, and his own wife has a female lover, but nevertheless he abandoned Holmes without giving the man the chance to make a decision. Between the two, I found Holmes to be the more coherent, and yes, also the more courageous; he maybe is not able to express his feelings if not dragged to the point of no return, but at least he is not betraying his heart.
My Dearest Holmes is a romance that is not a romance; there will be no a sexual realization of the romance, and in this situation, if nothing change, it’s likely that Watson will search that sexual satisfaction outside their bond, but nevertheless the bond is there and it’s strong. At the end Holmes and Watson will be a “couple” in everything if not in the “mechanical” demonstration of that bond.
Even if along with the relationship, this is also the account of two “cases” of Holmes and Watson, the mystery plot is nice but not as important as the romance, so yes, I would definitely classify this one as a romance and a good one for that.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1419676326/?...
The novel is told from Watson’s point of view and is the account of two of their adventures; in the first one Holmes and Watson are living together and when investigating in a case Watson has the chance to meet with a lady who shares with him some “particular” interests; the lady’s assumption is that Holmes and Watson are a couple in life as they are in career, but Watson will confess that his is an unrequited love, and that Holmes is unaware of Watson’s preferences. As the lady suggests, maybe Holmes is not aware of Watson’s love, but for sure he is dependent from Watson to an emotional level that is even deeper than a simply love relationship. I didn’t feel in Holmes a struggle to admit homosexual feelings, but more a fear of opening himself to the danger of love, whatever the companion is a man or a woman. Holmes has also an addiction to cocaine, addiction that he uses as a shield whenever he wants to rule out something or someone, even Watson, from his mind.
In the second story, Watson is married and has left Holmes; I found this attitude of Watson a little cowardly, like he hadn’t fought enough for his love for Holmes. True, his marriage is only by name, and his own wife has a female lover, but nevertheless he abandoned Holmes without giving the man the chance to make a decision. Between the two, I found Holmes to be the more coherent, and yes, also the more courageous; he maybe is not able to express his feelings if not dragged to the point of no return, but at least he is not betraying his heart.
My Dearest Holmes is a romance that is not a romance; there will be no a sexual realization of the romance, and in this situation, if nothing change, it’s likely that Watson will search that sexual satisfaction outside their bond, but nevertheless the bond is there and it’s strong. At the end Holmes and Watson will be a “couple” in everything if not in the “mechanical” demonstration of that bond.
Even if along with the relationship, this is also the account of two “cases” of Holmes and Watson, the mystery plot is nice but not as important as the romance, so yes, I would definitely classify this one as a romance and a good one for that.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1419676326/?...
June 26, 2017
*SPOILERS* in case you still clicked.
Many of the other reviews on this book give the impression that some readers assume that Holmes is cold and unfeeling in everything including this adaptation. I actually found this Holmes to be quite an emotional chap who hides it very well. Honestly I'm unsure as to how he can be read any other way.
The two parts make a wonderful frame for this love story. It's not an easy love story, that much is obvious due to context- but it is very well told. Holmes and Watson must decide whether or not to risk their reputation and freedom in order to realise their feelings for one another. Watson is the dreamer. Holmes is the realist. It is full to the brim with angst.
Part One sets up the problem. The boys are on a case involving two lesbian lovers. Watson finds a confidant in one, going to her for advice on what to do about his feelings for Holmes. She reminds him of the illegality of such things and presses him to find a wife. Queue a heartfelt conversation that reveals that Holmes is aware of Watson's feelings and agrees that there is nothing to be done.
Now, maybe this is where others found Holmes' softer qualities lacking. He's not forthcoming about his own feelings here. Somehow, though, I never stumbled over this scene feeling anything other than sadness for BOTH of them. Holmes is decidedly unhappy about his reasoning, and wishes things could be different.
Part Two follows Reichenbach and all of its heartbreak. How Moriarty threatens to out Watson and make hell of their lives. How Holmes didn't want Watson to leave him at the Falls. How Watson tried to cope afterwards, and how Mary passes quietly. Did I mention that this is angsty?
Some hope remains for the finals few chapters, however. The return has a kick to it, starting off with a public kiss (whoa there Watson) and ending with Holmes and Watson cuddling, yes CUDDLING in bed in a Parisian hotel room. Watson moves back to Baker Street! After leaving to avoid temptation! THIS STORY IS GAY AND IT ENDS HAPPILY AND THAT IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT.
Apart from all of that- excellent writing style, wonderful dialogue, supreme subtle description of the most emotional parts, namely Watson's grief at the Falls when he returns. Full of lesbians (always a plus). Arthur Conan Doyle as a character (nice).
Real talk here though, if you've watched TAB and are a TJLCer then this is relevant.
Ailbhe out. (pun)
Many of the other reviews on this book give the impression that some readers assume that Holmes is cold and unfeeling in everything including this adaptation. I actually found this Holmes to be quite an emotional chap who hides it very well. Honestly I'm unsure as to how he can be read any other way.
The two parts make a wonderful frame for this love story. It's not an easy love story, that much is obvious due to context- but it is very well told. Holmes and Watson must decide whether or not to risk their reputation and freedom in order to realise their feelings for one another. Watson is the dreamer. Holmes is the realist. It is full to the brim with angst.
Part One sets up the problem. The boys are on a case involving two lesbian lovers. Watson finds a confidant in one, going to her for advice on what to do about his feelings for Holmes. She reminds him of the illegality of such things and presses him to find a wife. Queue a heartfelt conversation that reveals that Holmes is aware of Watson's feelings and agrees that there is nothing to be done.
Now, maybe this is where others found Holmes' softer qualities lacking. He's not forthcoming about his own feelings here. Somehow, though, I never stumbled over this scene feeling anything other than sadness for BOTH of them. Holmes is decidedly unhappy about his reasoning, and wishes things could be different.
Part Two follows Reichenbach and all of its heartbreak. How Moriarty threatens to out Watson and make hell of their lives. How Holmes didn't want Watson to leave him at the Falls. How Watson tried to cope afterwards, and how Mary passes quietly. Did I mention that this is angsty?
Some hope remains for the finals few chapters, however. The return has a kick to it, starting off with a public kiss (whoa there Watson) and ending with Holmes and Watson cuddling, yes CUDDLING in bed in a Parisian hotel room. Watson moves back to Baker Street! After leaving to avoid temptation! THIS STORY IS GAY AND IT ENDS HAPPILY AND THAT IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT.
Apart from all of that- excellent writing style, wonderful dialogue, supreme subtle description of the most emotional parts, namely Watson's grief at the Falls when he returns. Full of lesbians (always a plus). Arthur Conan Doyle as a character (nice).
Real talk here though, if you've watched TAB and are a TJLCer then this is relevant.
Ailbhe out. (pun)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2014
This book will most likely remain unread by people who can't conceive of any other sort of relationship between Watson and Holmes other than platonic friendship - and that's a pity, because they're missing out on a good book. It's certainly better written than most of the pastiches I read, and with more respect for the characters. Indeed, it is very IN character, somehow. Expect nothing terribly shocking (like smut, ha) but expect lots of angst... The first part (story) is a very Conan Doyle-esque case where the reader is, as usual, a step behind Holmes and many steps ahead of Watson (actually, Watson is so dim in this one that you're left wondering if Holmes may not be right that sentiment befuddles the mind); and so we learn of Watson's feelings for Holmes, presumed to be unrequited. The last story is like a first draft of The Final Problem - You thought you knew what the final problem was? You were wrong ;) - of which the published version is the final cut, slightly tweaked and much abridged. One of the cool things is how this book provides explanations for the little details that ACD has overlooked and fans have been wondering about. Another cool thing is that the style closely resembles ACD's. The author navigates the issues between Holmes and Watson with both lucidity and sensitivity and provides clever explanations whenever steering from what is universally accepted as canon. I recommend this book to all Sherlockians, and let the chips fall where they may :)
November 14, 2011
I was intrigued by this item, a gay interpretation of the great friendship between Holmes and Watson, and I wasn't quite sure what I was going to make of it when I first started reading. I've always thought there was a deep and powerful bond between the two men, but I wasn't sure I liked the idea of it being more than that.
However, when I got into the story, I was very pleasantly surprised. The writing is excellent, and despite the obvious differences from the canonical, the voice is believable and very much in the Watson style. The period detail, and the nods to the original stories are also very well done, and with a light hand rather than ladled on.
It's very much a romance between the two men, dealing with Watson's unrequited feelings for his brilliant friend as much as his desire for him. It's not a work of erotica, and love scenes are 'off camera', with the focus on the angst and yearning of Watson, and the difficulty of being in love with a man who doesn't show emotion and has difficulty even feeling it. The author does a really good job of conveying Watson's anguish, and the result makes for a sincere and moving read.
However, when I got into the story, I was very pleasantly surprised. The writing is excellent, and despite the obvious differences from the canonical, the voice is believable and very much in the Watson style. The period detail, and the nods to the original stories are also very well done, and with a light hand rather than ladled on.
It's very much a romance between the two men, dealing with Watson's unrequited feelings for his brilliant friend as much as his desire for him. It's not a work of erotica, and love scenes are 'off camera', with the focus on the angst and yearning of Watson, and the difficulty of being in love with a man who doesn't show emotion and has difficulty even feeling it. The author does a really good job of conveying Watson's anguish, and the result makes for a sincere and moving read.
June 12, 2018
i won a copy of My Dearest Holmes: Thirtieth Anniversary Edition by Rohase Piercy from Goodreads.
Fans of Arthur Conan Doyle's original series about Sherlock Holmes will appreciate the ways in which Rohase Piercy "fills in the blanks" of several gaps in the original tales in her book My Dearest Holmes. Piercy has wonderfully captured the original language and time as she writes these two novellas as memoirs from the pen of John Watson, yet she gives the reader interesting insigbt, imagining Watson as a gay man in love with Holmes.
The first story, A Discreet Investigation, is an excellent whodunit, and the second story, The Final Problem, covers the period of time that Holmes was presumed dead after his altercation with Moriarty.
My Dearest Holmes: Thirtieth Anniversary Edition also contains a previously published article by Rohase Piercy that is fascinating reading in itself. This book is sure to be treasured by Sherlock Holmes fans.
Fans of Arthur Conan Doyle's original series about Sherlock Holmes will appreciate the ways in which Rohase Piercy "fills in the blanks" of several gaps in the original tales in her book My Dearest Holmes. Piercy has wonderfully captured the original language and time as she writes these two novellas as memoirs from the pen of John Watson, yet she gives the reader interesting insigbt, imagining Watson as a gay man in love with Holmes.
The first story, A Discreet Investigation, is an excellent whodunit, and the second story, The Final Problem, covers the period of time that Holmes was presumed dead after his altercation with Moriarty.
My Dearest Holmes: Thirtieth Anniversary Edition also contains a previously published article by Rohase Piercy that is fascinating reading in itself. This book is sure to be treasured by Sherlock Holmes fans.
July 11, 2011
A lesson worth learning: it's often not worth paying for what the internet does better elsewhere for free.
Some exquisite pining and lovely gay!Watson and asexual!Holmes (maybe? the author seemed a bit unclear) and mysteries revolving around unspoken sexuality, but you give me that much pining, that much devastation at Reichenbach, and all you leave me with is a single kiss and "then we moved back into Baker Street and solved lots of mysteries" and "solved lots of mysteries" isn't even a dodgy euphemism? No, I think not.
Yes, yes, I fully believe in the possibility of a happy platonic ending for Holmes and Watson, even this Holmes and Watson, but you don't give me all that angst and wrap it up with a single kiss and some platonic fondness.
Party foul, I say. Thank god for the rest of the internet.
Some exquisite pining and lovely gay!Watson and asexual!Holmes (maybe? the author seemed a bit unclear) and mysteries revolving around unspoken sexuality, but you give me that much pining, that much devastation at Reichenbach, and all you leave me with is a single kiss and "then we moved back into Baker Street and solved lots of mysteries" and "solved lots of mysteries" isn't even a dodgy euphemism? No, I think not.
Yes, yes, I fully believe in the possibility of a happy platonic ending for Holmes and Watson, even this Holmes and Watson, but you don't give me all that angst and wrap it up with a single kiss and some platonic fondness.
Party foul, I say. Thank god for the rest of the internet.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2013
One of the best modern Sherlock Holmes interpretations I have ever read! At times I was almost certain the words were Arthur Conan Doyles. Beautiful style of writing. The story draws you in from start to finish. And the end was simply perfect.
August 20, 2021
Reading this, I felt like I was reading a recently discovered Conan Doyle story that had been hidden for decades. Rohase Piercy perfectly evokes the writing, the atmosphere and the story of a great Sherlock Holmes tale. Just wonderful!
February 13, 2017
I said to Paul, "This is the best book written in the history of literature," and I meant every word of it. Every sentence is incredibly satisfying, if you love angst. And my god do I love angst
December 10, 2023
Per i veri fan della Johnlock e per chi non disdegna.
Carino, carino, carino. Ma anche struggente, come l’amore disperato e intenso di John. I personaggi sono in character, tutto si svolge durante l’età vittoriana e l’autrice fa in modo di inserire queste storie nella stessa cornice e con i presupposti creati da Doyle, rendendo il tutto credibile.
Consigliato.
Carino, carino, carino. Ma anche struggente, come l’amore disperato e intenso di John. I personaggi sono in character, tutto si svolge durante l’età vittoriana e l’autrice fa in modo di inserire queste storie nella stessa cornice e con i presupposti creati da Doyle, rendendo il tutto credibile.
Consigliato.
July 22, 2024
3.5/5
How the characters were written didn’t feel perfect to me but it was extremely interesting to read anyway. It’s incredible this exists/has survived. Unironically I might prefer Bright Blue Ink on AO3.
How the characters were written didn’t feel perfect to me but it was extremely interesting to read anyway. It’s incredible this exists/has survived. Unironically I might prefer Bright Blue Ink on AO3.
November 21, 2022
رقيق وايد.... الحين أبا كتاب مشابه لمولدر وسكالي أو بموت 🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨
May 12, 2024
this was so touching and emotional that it left my heart raw, even though the ending was a good one T-T will definitely be returning to this as my comfort read in the future ❤️
September 19, 2024
I'll be emotionally unavailable for the next 10 working days, the weekends too
January 7, 2022
Being a strict "Doyle" fan, I find that I really enjoyed the perspective that this author took with the characters Holmes and Watson. I enjoyed the relationship and even more so that their love blended into a complicated friend "relationship." The book was short and easy to read. Good for a weekend away or a vacation read.
January 29, 2012
A nice deceit, that Rohase Piercy found the manuscripts and has published them. Watson’s preface is rather sad as it talks of how he hopes that men of his type have things better than men of his generation.
It’s been a very long time since I read Holmes in canon. I have the complete works and I hoovered them up all at once in my 20′s and haven’t read them since, but from what I remember these two little novellas, each cataloguing a different case of the great detective, are written by a true Holmesian.
The first story is: A Discreet Investigation and is set just after the Sign of Four. I think the first story in this two-story collection is more original, although as I say, my canon knowledge is rusty–but the second story seems definitely more derivative but I did enjoy them both.
Watson simply runs the story through a filter telling “the truth” rather than what he published at the time. Dealing with why he left Holmes’ residence, how they ended up in Europe together, why Moriaty was chasing Holmes and why Holmes was missing for the time he was. it’s true that Watson does get a little emo at times, and more overtly towards the end, but I found that quite endearing, and he does bottle things up and he strikes me as the kind of a man who would break down after bottling things up for years.He did have cause to be upset, after all! The voice in both stories seems to be to be pitch perfect–I couldn’t tell you if there are canon errors, and if you aren’t a complete nit-picky Holmes-fanatic then you won’t care that much.
Watson’s voice is very good, and the language is done beautifully to match the canon and the time when the original was written.
The second story is The Final Problem and Holmes prefaces it with a note which says that “It is always diffcult – indeed, almost impossible – to set down an accurate record of the more painful events of one’s life…” As this story begins, Watson is married to Mary Morstan and has left Holmes, his residence and his cases behind. I believe (I may be wrong) that the canon never confirms that John married Mary–although a second wife is mentioned at some point, so it’s possible. I am pretty sure that if you are fan of the canon you will enjoy these two stories immensely. I think you will forgive Watson’s foray into sentimentality, after all, it was something he was accused of often by the great detective.
Holmes is also written beautifully, particularly pure even for being in love and entirely unable to say or show it–I think the pure brittle heartbreak of how this is worked was my favourite section. There’s perhaps a smidge of OKHomo throughout, or a dollop… but it was all such a good read, and obviously done as an homage by someone who knows and loves his/her subject, I was quite willing to overlook it when a lesser writer would get more a smacked wrist.
Overall the two novellas do tend to lurch into too much emo at times, but the pure Holmesian character keeps it buoyed up despite this. I’m sure anyone with any interest in Holmes, detective fiction, turn of the century fiction will enjoy this as much as I did.
It’s been a very long time since I read Holmes in canon. I have the complete works and I hoovered them up all at once in my 20′s and haven’t read them since, but from what I remember these two little novellas, each cataloguing a different case of the great detective, are written by a true Holmesian.
The first story is: A Discreet Investigation and is set just after the Sign of Four. I think the first story in this two-story collection is more original, although as I say, my canon knowledge is rusty–but the second story seems definitely more derivative but I did enjoy them both.
Watson simply runs the story through a filter telling “the truth” rather than what he published at the time. Dealing with why he left Holmes’ residence, how they ended up in Europe together, why Moriaty was chasing Holmes and why Holmes was missing for the time he was. it’s true that Watson does get a little emo at times, and more overtly towards the end, but I found that quite endearing, and he does bottle things up and he strikes me as the kind of a man who would break down after bottling things up for years.He did have cause to be upset, after all! The voice in both stories seems to be to be pitch perfect–I couldn’t tell you if there are canon errors, and if you aren’t a complete nit-picky Holmes-fanatic then you won’t care that much.
Watson’s voice is very good, and the language is done beautifully to match the canon and the time when the original was written.
The second story is The Final Problem and Holmes prefaces it with a note which says that “It is always diffcult – indeed, almost impossible – to set down an accurate record of the more painful events of one’s life…” As this story begins, Watson is married to Mary Morstan and has left Holmes, his residence and his cases behind. I believe (I may be wrong) that the canon never confirms that John married Mary–although a second wife is mentioned at some point, so it’s possible. I am pretty sure that if you are fan of the canon you will enjoy these two stories immensely. I think you will forgive Watson’s foray into sentimentality, after all, it was something he was accused of often by the great detective.
Holmes is also written beautifully, particularly pure even for being in love and entirely unable to say or show it–I think the pure brittle heartbreak of how this is worked was my favourite section. There’s perhaps a smidge of OKHomo throughout, or a dollop… but it was all such a good read, and obviously done as an homage by someone who knows and loves his/her subject, I was quite willing to overlook it when a lesser writer would get more a smacked wrist.
Overall the two novellas do tend to lurch into too much emo at times, but the pure Holmesian character keeps it buoyed up despite this. I’m sure anyone with any interest in Holmes, detective fiction, turn of the century fiction will enjoy this as much as I did.
June 30, 2021
(4.5/5)
This is dang near perfect for me. A Holmes pastiche, told in Conan Doyle's style, but highlighting the queercoding and leaning into it, plucking at the threads of the hidden longing and weaving them together, while also giving full credence and autonomy to Mary (I truly adore the lavender marriage angle, it's probably my favorite reading of the Watson marriage).
Watson's love, fear, yearning, self-awareness and caution as he deals with the terrifying prospect of being in love with Holmes is lovely characterization; it's exactly the Watson I know. Conversely, Holmes' standoffishness coupled with cattiness and self-destruction, holding Watson at arm's length in order to hold him at all, are heartbreaking in their accuracy to the canon.
My only complaint about this whole novel, really, is the characterization of Mycroft. Here he plays the homophobic antagonist to Holmes and Watson reuniting after the events at Reichenbach; he resents Watson's queerness for putting his brother in danger, and he does his best to keep them from reuniting. This just doesn't land for me; I think, while Mycroft and Sherlock are very different in how they manifest their interests and personalities, they are very similar men, and sympathetic to and respectful of each other in the canon (to the extent Sherlock is ever respectful, at least). I don't think pastiches/fanfiction/derivative works of any sort need be tied to the canon character whole-cloth, but in this instance that distinction is one I'm not fond of. Additionally, Piercy leaned into using Mycroft's size (he is canonically fat) as a means of putting him down and signalling his antagonism, which is a bit yikes.
Both the original case that begins the novel and the retelling of The Final Problem that end it are marvelous; the former for its ingenuity in portraying communal queerness and the societal dangers of it, and the latter for telling a story distinct from what the canon tells us that still strikes true with the characters and the main events of the original story.
Really, really lovely novel. A must-read for those who recognize and love the queerness of the Holmes canon.
This is dang near perfect for me. A Holmes pastiche, told in Conan Doyle's style, but highlighting the queercoding and leaning into it, plucking at the threads of the hidden longing and weaving them together, while also giving full credence and autonomy to Mary (I truly adore the lavender marriage angle, it's probably my favorite reading of the Watson marriage).
Watson's love, fear, yearning, self-awareness and caution as he deals with the terrifying prospect of being in love with Holmes is lovely characterization; it's exactly the Watson I know. Conversely, Holmes' standoffishness coupled with cattiness and self-destruction, holding Watson at arm's length in order to hold him at all, are heartbreaking in their accuracy to the canon.
My only complaint about this whole novel, really, is the characterization of Mycroft. Here he plays the homophobic antagonist to Holmes and Watson reuniting after the events at Reichenbach; he resents Watson's queerness for putting his brother in danger, and he does his best to keep them from reuniting. This just doesn't land for me; I think, while Mycroft and Sherlock are very different in how they manifest their interests and personalities, they are very similar men, and sympathetic to and respectful of each other in the canon (to the extent Sherlock is ever respectful, at least). I don't think pastiches/fanfiction/derivative works of any sort need be tied to the canon character whole-cloth, but in this instance that distinction is one I'm not fond of. Additionally, Piercy leaned into using Mycroft's size (he is canonically fat) as a means of putting him down and signalling his antagonism, which is a bit yikes.
Both the original case that begins the novel and the retelling of The Final Problem that end it are marvelous; the former for its ingenuity in portraying communal queerness and the societal dangers of it, and the latter for telling a story distinct from what the canon tells us that still strikes true with the characters and the main events of the original story.
Really, really lovely novel. A must-read for those who recognize and love the queerness of the Holmes canon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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June 16, 2024If there is a prize for consuming the largest quantity of Sherlock Holmes adaptations, blatant rip-offs, and thinly veiled fan fiction, I would win it. I've always loved the original mysteries, and been able to sustain my interest through supplementary media, from the BBC show, to a series of gender bent YA novels. Some consider it sacrilege to alter, add on to, or otherwise re imagine any famous classical works, but I personally love anything that offers original ideas or new insights into existing content, and My Dearest Holmes delivered on that front.
Surprisingly, this work is one of very few retellings that actually touches on the relationship at the center of the story, and imagines it as a romance, without skirting around it or implying it. Piercy seems to deeply understand the characters at the center of this relationship, and as a result, the end product doesn't feel rushed or gratuitous. I've never felt that the nature of the friendship between Holmes and Watson needed to be anything other than what it was in the books for me to enjoy the story, but this adaptation in particular, does do justice to the concept.
My only real complaint is wishing that the accompanying mysteries had had more substance. In fairness, this is meant to be the private musings of John Watson, unpublishable in the original adventures; within that, it makes sense that a lot of the book takes place in the empty spaces in Arthur Conan Doyle originals, like The Final Problem; but an original mystery and characters are presented in the first half of the book, and the solution to it is rather flat, and requires next to no involvement from Watson.
Surprisingly, this work is one of very few retellings that actually touches on the relationship at the center of the story, and imagines it as a romance, without skirting around it or implying it. Piercy seems to deeply understand the characters at the center of this relationship, and as a result, the end product doesn't feel rushed or gratuitous. I've never felt that the nature of the friendship between Holmes and Watson needed to be anything other than what it was in the books for me to enjoy the story, but this adaptation in particular, does do justice to the concept.
My only real complaint is wishing that the accompanying mysteries had had more substance. In fairness, this is meant to be the private musings of John Watson, unpublishable in the original adventures; within that, it makes sense that a lot of the book takes place in the empty spaces in Arthur Conan Doyle originals, like The Final Problem; but an original mystery and characters are presented in the first half of the book, and the solution to it is rather flat, and requires next to no involvement from Watson.
February 2, 2020
5 stelle perché ho amato questa scrittrice che ha dato vita a qualcosa che ho sempre sognato fra Sherlock e John! Qualcosa che c'è sempre stato ma che nessuno ha mai sviluppato! Ho amato questa riscrittura e questi missing moments e il modo in cui sono stati scritti. L'introspezione di John ha descritto in modo commovente il suo amore per Sherlock. E di quest'ultimo verranno messi in luce degli aspetti che non sono soliti del personaggio.E ho apprezzato tanto la proiezione nel periodo storico del processo di Oscar Wilde che conferma il fatto che Conan Doyle abbia evitato di andare in questa direzione per via degli scandali dell'epoca. Devo ammettere però che avrei voluto altri capitoli sulla vita insieme dei due. Finalmente possono stare insieme consapevoli di quello che provano l'uno per l'altro e il libro finisce! Quindi l'unica pecca che riesco a trovare in questo libro è che è finito troppo presto!
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