The Field Bazaar - Doyle Short Stories
I never knew Doyle had written short stories featuring Holmes. And I was pleasantly surprised to see an entire collection on Internet archive. That is why I love reading projects which make you explore the rabbit hole of past books and authors. Beyond their obvious famous character creations, there are snippets of equally great works.
The Field Bazaar is a short story published on November 20, 1896 in an edition of "Bazaar Number" of The Student, which was a publication of the students' representative council at Edinburgh University. This background is interesting to read because just a few years ago, in December 1893, Doyle had unceremoniously made Holmes plunge to his death in Reichenbach Falls in the story "The Final Problem". The public outcry was severe, being such crazy followers of the detective. As a result of that, readers then and now popularly believe that the beloved English detective was 'resurrected' in 1901 in the novel The Hound of the Baskervilles. Which is what I believed too! But Holmes was brought back in this story The Field Bazaar". How fascinating for beliefs to be shaken like this.
Additional trivia is that the Craig Lockhart Pavilion in Edinburgh, Scotland was Built in 1897 partly with funds raised by sales of the issue of The Student. Its delightful that the structure still standing today, was part of history which has so much of quirky aspects to it.
The Field Bazaar is a first person narration by Watson. He is in conversation with Holmes about the subject of helping the Bazaar organized by the Edinburgh University. Thus the story is a reflection of Doyle's help to the publication. Inception or storyception?
Usually a story interests us because of its plot and character sketch or the writings style of the author. This is a unique story because the trivia and background behind it and the story mirroring the author's situation at that era, have all brought together an engrossing piece to read. Not to mention nostalgia of Holmes and the cultural legacy the detective has.
This week I will highlight some of Doyle's short stories in celebration of his upcoming birth anniversary on May 22nd.
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