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I'm sure Rose will be out here shortly. In the meantime, you can continue the discussion here.

While it was interesting to get the back story to the first Sherlock Holmes story, I confess that I had little interest in it. Yes, there were some interesting twists of plot and character as well as narrow escapes and tension, but, overall, Sherlock Holmes stories should just remain in the bustling, murky, muddy and often fog-shrouded environs of London and the English countryside.

For Westerns, there is always Louis L'Amour and Zane Gray.

I agree with Peter, why are we all of a sudden in Utah? It is rather jarring.

Since this is the first SH story, I wonder whether Doyle wasn't confident that the mere process of detection would be sufficiently interesting to appeal to his readers, and so added the whole Western backstory mostly to make what he might have thought of as a more saleable book.

The first time I read this story, I was using an in expensively printed hardcover. When I got to this point, I thought the book was so cheap because of a misprint. I was terribly disappointed for awhile. I can imagine Strand readers scratching their heads and wondering if they'd somehow missed an edition.

All of the novels (except Baskervilles, unless you count the moors) have a visit to someplace exotic. (I would guess the American West to be rather exotic to your average Londoner.)

It was confusing and jarring because there was no connection to rhe previous scene and indeed narrative. Doyle only needed to add a line or two to 'introduce' this section and we would have been fine.

I wonder now if the contemporary public reacted the same way we did or not...

Veronique wrote: "It was confusing and jarring because there was no connection to rhe previous scene and indeed narrative. Doyle only needed to add a line or two to 'introduce' this section and we would have been fi..."

Yes. I wonder the same thing. I also think Everyman may be on to something. I'm sure the idea of the "Wild West" was of great interest and curiosity to the late Victorians. Travel, reports, images and even "tours" of Wild West shows and personalities to England would have all combined to add interest and flavour to the Victorian imagination.

I imagine however, that when Doyle understood that Holmes himself was all that was needed to create a reading public the Wild West road into the sunset of his imagination.

It seems to me that the tone of the story changes during this flashback, as well. Suddenly there's melodrama and desperation. I could almost believe Holmes and Watson were invented to frame a short story which wasn't working on its own. Almost.
(I'm certainly glad Doyle stuck with the boys.)

I've been musing on what I think of as the melodrama in the American West section. In addition to being thrown by the abrupt change in story, I was appalled by prejudices and tone of this section when I first read this novel. But then I read Riders of the Purple Sage, quintessential Zane Grey. In retrospect, it's interesting to see so many similar elements. I actually had to check the publication dates to see if perhaps Doyle was inspired to try a "western" after reading Grey... But, no, Scarlet was published years before Purple. Perhaps we can do some comparisons in the final thread for this book?

Renee wrote: "I've been musing on what I think of as the melodrama in the American West section. In addition to being thrown by the abrupt change in story, I was appalled by prejudices and tone of this section w..."

Our cultural sensibilities certainly have shifted! Though I think we also have to keep in mind the history of the American frontier was always a violent one, whether it was 18th century Kentucky or 19th century American West. When life is stripped to the bare necessities an unforgiving land will produce an unforgiving people.

Like most of you, I found it jarring to be out in the Wild West in this first Sherlock Holmes novel. I suspect that Peter and Everyman are on target in terms of the curiosity of the Victorian age as a motivating factor behind the narrative. Perhaps Doyle was trying to find his bearings with his detective stories (as well as his writing in general)? Keep in mind that he had published several stories in periodicals during the previous ten years - one titled "The American" (1879). I wonder what he wrote about? Delphi's Conan Doyle collection does not include those early writings. However, I'm glad he ultimately settled for Victorian London as his main setting! Yay!

I enjoyed the sudden shift in locations. It made me think that, OK, I did to pay attention to what's going on here. Perhaps Doyle did this to illustrate Holmes' genius, that Holmes was able to figure out the murder even though its motives originated in a far-flung, exotic territory.

Is this why Doyle changed so suddenly from London to Nevada?

LOL Everyman! Love Snoopy!