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Lot 2229

DOYLE, ARTHUR CONAN. 1859-1930.

11 June 2008, 13:00 EDT
New York

Sold for US$10,800 inc. premium

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DOYLE, ARTHUR CONAN. 1859-1930.

“I HAVE MY EAR ON THE GROUND”: ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE ON WRITING SHERLOCK HOLMES STORIES.
Autograph Letter Signed (“A Conan Doyle”), 2 pp recto and verso, 12mo, Lyndhurst, November 12, [1926], on Doyle’s personal correspondence card, [to R. Hemingsley of the Birmingham Daily Times], concerning criticism of the Sherlock Holmes stories, light unobtrusive insect wear to recto, not affecting text, slight waterstain on left side.

Doyle continues a correspondence with a colleague who had been critical of his work, and reassures him that he has not taken offense. In part: “I do not feel galled by criticism [but?] always feel that if one does the very best one can time will sort it out and what is worthy will remain & what dies should die ... I was conscious at one time that Holmes was strained & for some years I only wrote one story a year. I can truly say I have never written to order or allowed the money side of it to influence me at all. But I have not felt him strained in the last series of six. Five of them are done, and I will not do the sixth if I have any reason to think there is a declension. I have my ear on the ground.” Doyle’s final series of Sherlock stories, The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes, appeared in 1927.
Provenance: Sotheby's London, 24 July 1995, lot 166.
See illustration.

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