sarahthecoat

Having been given a weeks extension, I’m still late with last story’s homework. This is more or less what I wrote in response to a post by @materialofonebeing (original at https://materialofonebeing.tumblr.com/).

I wondered about the bullying issue, Watson acknowledges it, frankly, without BS like “it wasn’t that bad” or outright denial. And when he’s in perplexity, Phelps doesn’t avoid contacting Watson to get Holmes’ help. So maybe it was something they grew past while they were still in school together? I don’t know… It could also be one of those Social Issues that ACD sometimes drops into his stories without overt commentary, like “just so you know I know this goes on”.

I wonder what “brain fever” is, ACD was a doctor, so presumably he wasn’t just making something up, but naming an actual complaint? what would we call it today? A severe anxiety attack, a nervous breakdown, a depressive episode? Ten weeks is a significant time.

And, i caught that bit about Watson bringing Phelps to baker st to spend the night, rather than taking him to his own home where he did also have a guest room. I get the sense that Phelps slept in Watson’s old room, and Watson in Holmes’, unless there was a second extra bedroom somewhere. No mention of letting “Mrs Watson” know that he was back in town but still on the case, or anything… hmm…

acd nava nava acd astudyincanon astudyincanonbookclub
Nov 7th, 2017