Silver Blaze re-read

[mightymads]

It's a great story on so many levels! Holmes and Watson's interaction is beautiful: Holmes highly values Watson's input in the case and considers Watson's involvement a great favour. We also have glimpses of Holmes's fallible, human side: he states himself that he'd made a blunder and that he is far from the image of the ideal reasoner he would like to be, that which Watson presents in the stories. Watson is always low-key about his own merits, but this story is one of the best examples how Watson complements Holmes to perfection. He hears out Holmes's reasoning which helps Holmes to have a clear picture (the way Watson does it, though: "I lay back against the cushions, puffing at my cigar..." Quite a languid Bohemian, isn't he?). Then Watson offers his medical expertise, confirming Holmes's conjectures, and identifies the cataract knife for what it is—an instrument for a delicate operation (no doubt here ACD's own training in ophthalmology came in handy)—and thus pushes Holmes into the right direction. He also observes the returning trail of footsteps while Holmes is focused on the other trail and fails to notice it. His help is so substantial, but he, as always, just waves it off and gives all the spotlight to Holmes, like a modest and loving partner he is.

Watson is fiercely protective of Holmes and just has to retort when Colonel is disdainful towards Holmes. I'm pretty sure the exchange between the Colonel and Watson would have escalated to high words had not Holmes entered the room. As ever, Watson reads Holmes excellently: he can tell that Holmes arrived at some conclusions, and it is he who touches Holmes lightly, arousing him from the reverie. When Holmes solves the case, he playfully pinches Watson's arm, and Watson has no objection whatsoever about pranking the Colonel who wasn't nice to Holmes.

In this story Holmes's "ear-flapped travelling cap" makes an appearance. I googled it for fun, and it seems that rather than a deerstalker it could be this:


or this:



See this tumblr post for more interesting info.

This story features another reference to Romani people as a red herring. There was already one in SPEC, so this becomes a running gag of sorts.

£37 in 1888 is £4,845.30 in 2019. Quite a costly dress indeed!

Now to inaccuracies in this story. In his autobiography ACD himself admitted that he knew next to nothing about horse racing and didn't bother to research:

Sometimes I have got upon dangerous ground where I have taken risks through my own want of knowledge of the correct atmosphere. I have, for example, never been a racing man, and yet I ventured to write "Silver Blaze," in which the mystery depends upon the laws of training and racing. The story is all right, and Holmes may have been at the top of his form, but my ignorance cries aloud to heaven. I read an excellent and very damaging criticism of the story in some sporting paper, written clearly by a man who did know, in which he explained the exact penalties which would have come upon every one concerned if they had acted as I described. Half would have been in jail and the other half warned off the turf for ever. However, I have never been nervous about details, and one must be masterful sometimes. When an alarmed Editor wrote to me once: "There is no second line of rails at that point," I answered, "I make one." On the other hand, there are cases where accuracy is essential.

Naturally, I had to find out what exactly was wrong. This is a superb explanation, with lots of in-depth info. Highly recommend it!

Comments

[dorinda]

I love this story! It's enjoyable and solid (despite factual inaccuracy, which I join ACD in not really minding), with a good mystery and pleasing characterization.

I like everything you mention--plus of course it has the famous aphorism about the dog in the night-time, which is evocatively put and also a great clue!

And the bit you mention about Holmes' fallibility: “Because I made a blunder, my dear Watson—which is, I am afraid, a more common occurrence than any one would think who only knew me through your memoirs., I love that for plainly stating the difference between the Holmes of the tales and the real Holmes behind the scenes. It gives us a great niche to get our hooks into, to pry the two apart, and to think about the tales both as potential cover, and also as (mostly) Watson's POV--the way Holmes is shown as so amazing and even superhuman, constructed by a writer who loves and admires him beyond measure.

The Bert Coules radioplays had Holmes articulate this exact point, though I can't remember off the top of my head which one(s) it was--but Holmes specifically remarks on how Watson's stories so often put Watson himself into the background and the shadows, which is inaccurate and unjust. ♥ And Watson tells him that it has a literary purpose, for the contrast. Of course I love the idea of a Holmes who doesn't want Watson's light hidden under a bushel.

[mightymads]

Behind-the-scenes possibilities have always intrigued me. It’s so much fun to infer and imagine. Holmes is so playful in this story, and this re-read made me appreciate the gentle interactions between him and Watson.

I love the Bert Coules adaptations too. If I remember right, Watson says there that they have to play their respective roles and give the public what it expects from them. Holmes also says something similar in BLAN, “Watson has some remarkable characteristics of his own to which in his modesty he has given small attention amid his exaggerated estimates of my own performances.”

[earthspirits]

Lovely look at "Silver Blaze". I do love the way Holmes & Watson interact in this one.

[mightymads]

Those little details were so heartwarming. It was really amazing to have rediscovered them :)

[luthienberen]

This story was fabulous! I agree with everything you said. I especially love how much Holmes relied on Watson here, how he was permitted to shine, because as Holmes himself said: the man hides his talents.

We also have glimpses of Holmes's fallible, human side: he states himself that he'd made a blunder and that he is far from the image of the ideal reasoner he would like to be, that which Watson presents in the stories.

Holmes' trait of censuring himself is admirable for unlike many proud people he owns up to his mistakes - not the trait of an arrogant cold reasoner!

Watson identifying the instrument sings to my soul. I love it when Watson can be a doctor or his knowledge is recognised on a case.

The Holmes - Watson connection here is potent and I am thrilled by how much of this was translated into the Granda episode.

Also...THAT dress! Yowser. It better have been sewn from silk and satin, full of colour and lace or jewellery. :O

HA, glad I wasn't drinking when I read that quote! Well, yes. On one hand I agree with Doyle: in-depth research or precision in tales is not always necessary. On the other hand, we have seen how badly a story can be when said research is neglected *STUD American sojourn*

Thank you for the extra info to read!

I do think that Silver Blaze is an excellent start to Memoirs. :)

[mightymads]

The Granada episode, that epic “Linger” moment ;)

The explanation about the racing rules and the ethical question concerning Holmes placing a bet on Silver Blaze is fascinating. Other canon stories are also covered in that blog, and at the moment I’m enjoying reading all the insightful commentary there.

[rachelindeed]

I don't have much to add apart from what you and everyone else has said. I'll just say that this is one of my favorite Holmes stories and, I think, one of the best written ones Doyle ever did. It manages an excellent balance between the mystery (which is creative, clever, and satisfying) and the characters (lots of great, warm moments between Holmes and Watson, the two of them working as a team, plus some wonderful dialogue -- "But the dog did nothing in the night-time." "That was the curious incident," remarked Sherlock Holmes. ICONIC. Even the one-time guest characters like Inspector Gregory and Colonel Ross are well-drawn.)

Plus, Holmes's pure snark in this one gives me so much joy! The little zingers he drops which are huge clues that he knows no one else will understand, ahahahaha!

“So you despair of arresting the murderer of poor Straker,” said he.

Holmes shrugged his shoulders. “There are certainly grave difficulties in the way,” said he.

You sly devil!

[mightymads]

The characters are indeed are very well-drawn, and the story is very nicely balanced, with just enough exposition and action, and Holmes is at his finest. Besides, according to the source I’ve mentioned above, the Granada adaptation fixed ACD’s blunders regarding horse racing :)