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The Narrative of John Smith
Before there was the astute detective Sherlock Holmes and his capable compatriot Watson, there was the opinionated Everyman John Smith. In 1883, when he was just twenty-three, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote The Narrative of John Smith while he was living in Portsmouth and struggling to establish himself as both a doctor and a writer. He had already succeeded in having a number of short stories published in leading magazines of the day, such as Blackwood’s , All the Year Round , London Society , and the Boy’s Own Paper —but as was the accepted practice of literary journals of the time, his stories had been published anonymously. Thus, Conan Doyle knew that in order to truly establish his name as a writer, he would have to write a novel. That novel—the first he ever wrote and only now published for the first time—is The Narrative of John Smith . Many of the themes and stylistic tropes of his later writing, including his first Sherlock Holmes story, A Study in Scarlet —published in 1887—can be clearly seen. More a series of ruminations than a traditional novel, The Narrative of John Smith is of considerable biographical importance and provides an exceptional window into the mind of the creator of Sherlock Holmes. Through John Smith, a fifty-year-old man confined to his room by an attack of gout, Conan Doyle sets down his thoughts and opinions on a range of subjects—including literature, science, religion, war, and education—with no detectable insecurity or diffidence. His writing is full of bravado. Though unfinished, The Narrative of John Smith stands as a fascinating record of the early work of a man on his way to being one of the best-known authors in the world. This book will be welcomed with enthusiasm by the numerous Conan Doyle devotees.
138 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2011
87 people are currently reading
3421 people want to read
About the author
Arthur Conan Doyle
15.8k books24.3k followersSir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle was a Scottish writer and physician. He created the character Sherlock Holmes in 1887 for A Study in Scarlet, the first of four novels and fifty-six short stories about Holmes and Dr. Watson. The Sherlock Holmes stories are milestones in the field of crime fiction.
Doyle was a prolific writer. In addition to the Holmes stories, his works include fantasy and science fiction stories about Professor Challenger, and humorous stories about the Napoleonic soldier Brigadier Gerard, as well as plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction, and historical novels. One of Doyle's early short stories, "J. Habakuk Jephson's Statement" (1884), helped to popularise the mystery of the brigantine Mary Celeste, found drifting at sea with no crew member aboard.
Doyle was a prolific writer. In addition to the Holmes stories, his works include fantasy and science fiction stories about Professor Challenger, and humorous stories about the Napoleonic soldier Brigadier Gerard, as well as plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction, and historical novels. One of Doyle's early short stories, "J. Habakuk Jephson's Statement" (1884), helped to popularise the mystery of the brigantine Mary Celeste, found drifting at sea with no crew member aboard.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
Want to read
November 20, 2016Will probably read solely because of dr. Spencer Reid.
June 27, 2016
"The choice of inanimate companions is to my mind only second to that of animate ones. Show me a man's chambers and I'll give you a pretty fair estimate of his intellect and capacity. What the eye rests upon, the mind will dwell upon. It is easier to think daintily in a parlor than in an attic." - The Narrative of John Smith, p. 16
So sayeth our opinionated Mr. John Smith and so we can imagine a similar perspective spouted off by none other than the infinitely recreated and remarkably popular Sherlock Holmes. I think this is what I particularly enjoyed about this work; while, on the surface, it is a collection of opinions, beliefs, and ideals of the elderly everyman, Mr. John Smith, a man laid up with gout for a week and urged to pen and ink to pass the time by his physician, it is also a remarkable wealth of semi-autobiographical information concerning the young man that would introduce Sherlock to the world only a few years later in A Study in Scarlet.
Written in 1883 when Arthur Conan Doyle was 23 years old, The Narrative of John Smith was Conan Doyle's first attempt at a novel. At this time a novel was the holy grail to the Southsea physician. Having had several short stories published in popular magazines and journals, regularly and frustratingly anonymously, Conan Doyle knew he would need to set himself to writing a novel in order to gain a name for himself. While he possessed a solid education and his own practice by this time, his passion was writing and books as evidenced by both interviews and his later work Through The Magic Door (1907) as an art form/form of expression, intellectual stimulant, and comfort.
While The Narrative remains unfinished after being rewritten by Conan Doyle post being lost on its way to the publisher, it possesses many perspectives that, once burgeoned and fleshed out, would appear in later works. Though he never sent this rewrite back out into the publishing world and, in an article titled 'My First Book' in The Idler in 1893, said:
"I must in all honesty confess that my shock at its disappearance would be as nothing to my horror if it were suddenly to appear again - in print."
implying he was happy to set aside this endeavor for other things and was possibly aware of its shortcomings when compared to later work, The Narrative provides a wealth of clues concerning his development as a writer as well as to the man behind the often eclipsing Sherlock. For those fans of the famous sleuth, I certainly recommend this unfinished novel as a particularly enjoyable way to sleuth and sup on those clues.
I was equally impressed by the Notes and Introduction by Jon Lellenburg, Daniel Stashower, and Rachel Foss. They have done a good job of including interesting and little known (to me) snippets of Conan Doyle's influences, experiences, and relationships.
While it is an unpolished work in progress that abruptly ends, The Narrative is an entertaining enough read. John Smith may ramble on a bit but there is humor and intellect apparent in his rambling. All said, however, those that might be most interested in this work will be those who want to learn more about author rather than subject.
May 1, 2021
Reading this gave me the feeling that I was listening to my grandpa talk- except instead of stories of his youth, I got opinions of the man who would later write the Sherlock Holmes stories. It was quite a fascinating read, actually, even though this isn’t your typical novel- there aren’t any “characters” or even much of a plot, but the writing is very smooth and fun to read. It’s humorous at times, and I found myself agreeing with him on many accounts. It was a cozy read all in all.
Some of my favorite quotes:
“We may rouse our souls to some supreme effort, but we cannot steel them against the slow sapping of a sordid commonplace existence.”
Or this:
“Of what practical value is a faith which is so delicate that it must be screened off from every gust of controversy?”
And of course:
“There’s nothing I hate so much as idleness- except perhaps labour.”
Some of my favorite quotes:
“We may rouse our souls to some supreme effort, but we cannot steel them against the slow sapping of a sordid commonplace existence.”
Or this:
“Of what practical value is a faith which is so delicate that it must be screened off from every gust of controversy?”
And of course:
“There’s nothing I hate so much as idleness- except perhaps labour.”
December 31, 2022
I can't lie - the only reason I wanted to read this is because Dr. Spencer Reid is gifted and gives a copy of it in Criminal Minds, and I'm currently going through a big MGG phase. The book itself is one I found to be decidedly dull and certainly not one I'd read again.
March 15, 2012
I adored this book, to put it simply. But if you go into it with the wrong idea, I think you're going to have trouble. I got this book because it was the first novel (or attempt at a novel, as it is incomplete) that Doyle wrote when he moved to my hometown of Southsea. And, obviously, I like Arthur Conan Doyle. If all you have ever read is Sherlock Holmes and you know little about his creator, this may be a little heavy going and too bizarrely structured. But if you have an idea of how his brain worked and the sort of things that interested him, then you will probably get a kick out of this.
First off, there is basically no plot. It centres around a man, John Smith, who is laid up at home with rheumatic gout and, to keep himself from boredom, expounds whatever is on his mind at the time into a journal of some sort. There are the occasional interactions with other tenants of his building, as well as his landlady and a neighbour but they are few and far between. It's easy to forget that you are even listening to a supposedly 50-year-old fictional character, because more often than not, it comes across as the passionate thoughts and opinions of the much younger (23 at the time) Doyle. His attitude towards religion has always fascinated me and there are large parts dedicated to that as well as a number of other weird and wonderful concepts (I, personally, loved his rant about punishing people for the misuse of books!). When it came to matters of war and the British Empire, I found myself getting a bit swamped because they are concepts I have very little knowledge or understanding of, while Doyle was very passionate in his attitudes. His monologues on science and medicine are also interesting, if sometimes disconcerting! There are a lot of big ideas in such a small story.
The annotations throughout are very interesting and helpful. It's fun to see how, even though Doyle abandoned the book believing it to be pretty terrible, he would retain certain elements and use them in future stories. Whether they be Sherlock Holmes tales or perhaps the Stark Munroe Letters, it's curious to see what really stuck with him.
So, basically, as a Doyle story in itself, yes...it is pretty terrible. There are hints at characters to come but it is obvious he wasn't comfortable with this kind of writing just yet. As an essay type of piece, taken instead as an insight into Doyle's thoughts on the world of religion, medicine, war, art etc. it is brilliant way to get inside the head of the man that would eventually create such renowned characters and prove to be one of the most important and fascinating literary people in English history.
I would highly recommend giving it a read.
First off, there is basically no plot. It centres around a man, John Smith, who is laid up at home with rheumatic gout and, to keep himself from boredom, expounds whatever is on his mind at the time into a journal of some sort. There are the occasional interactions with other tenants of his building, as well as his landlady and a neighbour but they are few and far between. It's easy to forget that you are even listening to a supposedly 50-year-old fictional character, because more often than not, it comes across as the passionate thoughts and opinions of the much younger (23 at the time) Doyle. His attitude towards religion has always fascinated me and there are large parts dedicated to that as well as a number of other weird and wonderful concepts (I, personally, loved his rant about punishing people for the misuse of books!). When it came to matters of war and the British Empire, I found myself getting a bit swamped because they are concepts I have very little knowledge or understanding of, while Doyle was very passionate in his attitudes. His monologues on science and medicine are also interesting, if sometimes disconcerting! There are a lot of big ideas in such a small story.
The annotations throughout are very interesting and helpful. It's fun to see how, even though Doyle abandoned the book believing it to be pretty terrible, he would retain certain elements and use them in future stories. Whether they be Sherlock Holmes tales or perhaps the Stark Munroe Letters, it's curious to see what really stuck with him.
So, basically, as a Doyle story in itself, yes...it is pretty terrible. There are hints at characters to come but it is obvious he wasn't comfortable with this kind of writing just yet. As an essay type of piece, taken instead as an insight into Doyle's thoughts on the world of religion, medicine, war, art etc. it is brilliant way to get inside the head of the man that would eventually create such renowned characters and prove to be one of the most important and fascinating literary people in English history.
I would highly recommend giving it a read.
May 6, 2021
“Romanzo fantasma” non è un romanzo, ma un discorso a ruota libera dell'autore, che si veste dei panni di un uomo ultracinquantenne che, a causa di un attacco di gotta, è costretto dal medico a restarsene a riposo in casa. Il titolo originale è “The narrative of John Smith”; i personaggi di contorno che talvolta compaiono (il dottore, il vicino ex-militare, la domestica) servono più che altro a dare il la a riflessioni e opinioni, ma non c'è una vera trama, uno sviluppo... non si va da nessuna parte. A.C. Doyle aveva ventitré anni quando lo scrisse; la prima versione andò perduta dalle poste, quindi lui si mise di buona lena per riscriverlo da principio, ma poi lo abbandonò, a metà di una pagina, lasciando in sospeso una domanda. A seguito Doyle ebbe a dire che vedere pubblicato questo testo sarebbe stato non l'avverarsi di un sogno, ma di un incubo.
E invece eccoci qui. Sorry, Arthur.
Quindi il giovane non-ancora-papà di Sherlock Holmes qui si lancia con entusiasmo, indossando la maschera del cinquantenne, in un lungo rant in cui esprime la sua visione sulla vita, la religione, la società, la medicina e via ancora. Conoscevo già la personalità di A. C, Doyle da altri libri (“Arthur e George” di Barnes, e il diario dello stesso Doyle come medico di bordo su una baleniera) e quindi già avevo presente il tipo: un uomo con grandissima fiducia nei progressi della scienza, con idee estremamente moderne in fatto di giustizia, di religione e di società multirazziale.
Siamo nel 1883 e dice (per bocca di un altro personaggio):
“Vedrei volentieri un po' più di trasfusione nell'Impero. Più visi neri nelle strade di Londra e più visi bianchi nelle parti rurali dell'India […] Quanto al nostro Parlamento, dovrebbe essere un'assemblea multicolore, con ogni sfumatura dal nero, al marrone, al rosso e giallo, con alla testa ogni tanto un primo ministro color bronzo. Che importa quanti pigmenti ha un uomo nella pelle, se ha una testa che ragiona e un cuore leale?”
Roba da far venire le convulsioni a certa gente anche nell'anno 2021.
La visione di Doyle nel progresso dell'umanità, sia dal punto di vista morale che della tecnologia che della medicina è straordinariamente ottimista; ha avuto ragione sulle scienze, si è sbagliato sul prevedere una società paritaria ove ogni povertà e disuguaglianza sarebbe stata estirpata.
Ci sono qua e là alcuni elementi che verranno ripresi nei racconti di Sherlock Holmes, o che riecheggiano le esperienze di vita dello stesso Doyle, e può essere divertente cercare di riconoscerli (senza affidarsi alle note, magari, che li spiegano sempre)
Tuttavia ammetto che la lettura alla lunga è stata noiosetta. Errore mio, forse: libro più adatto a essere letto “un capitolo ogni tanto” piuttosto che “tutto di fila”, e capisco anche perché Doyle a un certo punto preferisse non vederlo mai pubblicato: scritto da un giovane pieno di ardore e di entusiasmo, ha tutti i difetti di un'opera scritta da un giovane pieno di ardore e di entusiasmo. È normale che un autore metta le sue idee in un libro, ma qui sono strombazzate in modo fine a se stesso, senza una trama in cui inserirle, una storia a cui accompagnarle.
Se anche le poste non lo avessero perduto, se anche il manoscritto fosse giunto alla casa editrice, non riesco a immaginarlo accettato e pubblicato, soprattutto quando proveniva non da un autore affermato che avrebbe venduto a prescindere, ma da un giovanotto ancora sconosciuto.
Resta comunque interessante per gli estimatori di A.C. Doyle, per i fan di Sherlock Holmes... solo, appunto, magari leggetelo a rate.
E invece eccoci qui. Sorry, Arthur.
Quindi il giovane non-ancora-papà di Sherlock Holmes qui si lancia con entusiasmo, indossando la maschera del cinquantenne, in un lungo rant in cui esprime la sua visione sulla vita, la religione, la società, la medicina e via ancora. Conoscevo già la personalità di A. C, Doyle da altri libri (“Arthur e George” di Barnes, e il diario dello stesso Doyle come medico di bordo su una baleniera) e quindi già avevo presente il tipo: un uomo con grandissima fiducia nei progressi della scienza, con idee estremamente moderne in fatto di giustizia, di religione e di società multirazziale.
Siamo nel 1883 e dice (per bocca di un altro personaggio):
“Vedrei volentieri un po' più di trasfusione nell'Impero. Più visi neri nelle strade di Londra e più visi bianchi nelle parti rurali dell'India […] Quanto al nostro Parlamento, dovrebbe essere un'assemblea multicolore, con ogni sfumatura dal nero, al marrone, al rosso e giallo, con alla testa ogni tanto un primo ministro color bronzo. Che importa quanti pigmenti ha un uomo nella pelle, se ha una testa che ragiona e un cuore leale?”
Roba da far venire le convulsioni a certa gente anche nell'anno 2021.
La visione di Doyle nel progresso dell'umanità, sia dal punto di vista morale che della tecnologia che della medicina è straordinariamente ottimista; ha avuto ragione sulle scienze, si è sbagliato sul prevedere una società paritaria ove ogni povertà e disuguaglianza sarebbe stata estirpata.
Ci sono qua e là alcuni elementi che verranno ripresi nei racconti di Sherlock Holmes, o che riecheggiano le esperienze di vita dello stesso Doyle, e può essere divertente cercare di riconoscerli (senza affidarsi alle note, magari, che li spiegano sempre)
Tuttavia ammetto che la lettura alla lunga è stata noiosetta. Errore mio, forse: libro più adatto a essere letto “un capitolo ogni tanto” piuttosto che “tutto di fila”, e capisco anche perché Doyle a un certo punto preferisse non vederlo mai pubblicato: scritto da un giovane pieno di ardore e di entusiasmo, ha tutti i difetti di un'opera scritta da un giovane pieno di ardore e di entusiasmo. È normale che un autore metta le sue idee in un libro, ma qui sono strombazzate in modo fine a se stesso, senza una trama in cui inserirle, una storia a cui accompagnarle.
Se anche le poste non lo avessero perduto, se anche il manoscritto fosse giunto alla casa editrice, non riesco a immaginarlo accettato e pubblicato, soprattutto quando proveniva non da un autore affermato che avrebbe venduto a prescindere, ma da un giovanotto ancora sconosciuto.
Resta comunque interessante per gli estimatori di A.C. Doyle, per i fan di Sherlock Holmes... solo, appunto, magari leggetelo a rate.
April 9, 2015
This is supposed to be Conan Doyle's first book, the only copy of which was lost in the post and never recovered, rewritten from memory and found upon his death. It was recently published (2011) by the British Museum which purchased it at auction.
Not a mystery or adventure story but a long rambling philosophy supposedly narrated by John Smith to his doctor and friends. I actually found it quite interesting.
Not a mystery or adventure story but a long rambling philosophy supposedly narrated by John Smith to his doctor and friends. I actually found it quite interesting.
February 4, 2022
if we ever invent time travel and waste it on something stupid like the kennedy assassination rather than getting the rest of this manuscript i am going to be pissed
December 29, 2019
I found The Narrative of John Smith perplexing. As much as enjoyed reading it, I wished it had been completed, because it leaves you left hanging a little. I knew when I bought it that it was unfinished. I believe it to be a self-reflection piece of narrative. Even though it is fiction, I believe it was a parallel between his life, and the fictitious one he wrote about. One can't write about their life after passing, so it would ring true that it would be left unfinished. Although I wish he could have, it would have been nice to see how he would have ended it.
October 2, 2015
There are pieces of music, notes really, stuck in your head that you heard in passing or a long time ago. The notes have a touch of familiarity though the lyrics or the complete arrangement escape your memory. It haunts you every now and then, slamming in your mind at odd and different times.
The narrative of John Smith is something like that. This half a novel is far from perfect or even good. Its a glimpse to the evolving mind of Doyle - in the way he saw things and understood them. It cannot be anything less than a memoir to his thought process, the organic way it seems to have shaped into a man who gave the world its greatest detective.
The severe lack in experience in his observation is almost cute. The ramblings of protagonist is probably a mirror to Doyle's own shaping mind that isn't a well oiled machine yet. This book is a must read for writers who think that every keystroke should produce a masterpiece and every piece of writing is their magnum opus.
The process of reading this book/draft can be a humbling experience and can teach a lesson or two on writing.
Three stars (though the content doesn't demand anything more than one point five or two if one is being generous). Why not? Its Doyle.
The narrative of John Smith is something like that. This half a novel is far from perfect or even good. Its a glimpse to the evolving mind of Doyle - in the way he saw things and understood them. It cannot be anything less than a memoir to his thought process, the organic way it seems to have shaped into a man who gave the world its greatest detective.
The severe lack in experience in his observation is almost cute. The ramblings of protagonist is probably a mirror to Doyle's own shaping mind that isn't a well oiled machine yet. This book is a must read for writers who think that every keystroke should produce a masterpiece and every piece of writing is their magnum opus.
The process of reading this book/draft can be a humbling experience and can teach a lesson or two on writing.
Three stars (though the content doesn't demand anything more than one point five or two if one is being generous). Why not? Its Doyle.
April 11, 2014
Hardcover: 144 pages
Publisher: The British Library Publishing Division (26 Sep 2011)
Language English
ISBN-10: 0712358412
ISBN-13: 978-0712358415
Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 13.6 x 1.8 cm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainme...
Publisher: The British Library Publishing Division (26 Sep 2011)
Language English
ISBN-10: 0712358412
ISBN-13: 978-0712358415
Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 13.6 x 1.8 cm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainme...
July 7, 2024
I don’t mean to say I hated it, because I definitely didn’t, but I don’t really get why it was published at all. The thing itself is not even finished, and even though the autor sent it to publishers, he later regretted it, so why bother?
It’s hard to believe this was written by the same man who wrote the great Sherlock Holmes. I know everyone starts somewhere, and I also know the whole point of it is to be the thoughts of a sick man laying in what might be his deathbed, but it feels too disorganised to even be a book.
I understand what the point was, and I’m willing to say it may just not be for me, but it truly feels out of place in Conan Doyle’s world.
I’d give it a 2,5, just because it’s ACD and because he was young and starting out, and I don’t think I could write better than this myself so I don’t feel it’s fair to rate it so harshly. Plus I got to learn a lot of new vocabulary, otherwise it might be one of the most boring ones I’ve read this year.
It’s hard to believe this was written by the same man who wrote the great Sherlock Holmes. I know everyone starts somewhere, and I also know the whole point of it is to be the thoughts of a sick man laying in what might be his deathbed, but it feels too disorganised to even be a book.
I understand what the point was, and I’m willing to say it may just not be for me, but it truly feels out of place in Conan Doyle’s world.
I’d give it a 2,5, just because it’s ACD and because he was young and starting out, and I don’t think I could write better than this myself so I don’t feel it’s fair to rate it so harshly. Plus I got to learn a lot of new vocabulary, otherwise it might be one of the most boring ones I’ve read this year.
January 21, 2025
"A lonely man gets so much thought bottled up in him that when he does open his mouth it just foams out of him"
July 1, 2015
"The dead are such good company that one is apt to think too little of the living."
A 'novel' about Arthur C Doyles, ehm John Smith's, musings on politics, philosophy, regligion etc. Overall, meh.
A 'novel' about Arthur C Doyles, ehm John Smith's, musings on politics, philosophy, regligion etc. Overall, meh.
July 6, 2022
such intricate opinions. I wish I could reread this book.
May 31, 2021
"Debería haber una Sociedad para la Prevención de la Crueldad contra los Libros. Odio ver a los pobres pacientes maltratados y desfigurados. Un libro [...] es la esencia concentrada de un hombre. El pobre Horacio Flaco se ha convertido ya en impalpable polvo, pero aquí está su espíritu mismo, atrapado como una mosca en ámbar, en ese volumen de lomo marrón de la esquina."No estaría en la lista inmediata de libros que recomendaría sin dudarlo, porque después de todo es el manuscrito de un trabajo inconcluso que no tiene ni pies ni cabeza, si apenas una vaga dirección. Conan Doyle narra las disertaciones y divagaciones de un hombre confinado a una semana de encierro por culpa de la gota reumática, con toques autobiográficos en ciertas opiniones y anécdotas y aun así distanciándose de a momentos del protagonista con pinceladas definitivamente ficticias.
"—Puede que [otras personas] parezcan perfectas a los ojos del hombre —dice—, pero puede que estén muy lejos de ser lo mismo a ojos de Dios.Personalmente, me gusta muchísimo cómo narra Conan Doyle, disfruto infinitamente de cómo estructura sus diálogos y la caracterización de sus personajes. Me hace reír y me hace cuestionar temas sobre los cuales, hasta el momento, pensaba que ya tenía una opinión fija. En ocasiones se volvió un desafío leer tanto material desorganizado y sin sentido pero la experiencia general fue genial, como siempre en manos de este autorazo.
—Si un hombre criticón no puede encontrarles falta —replico—, no tienen mucho que temer de un Creador misericordioso."
Por otro lado, amé la investigación involucrada en la publicación de este manuscrito. Ningún detalle con trasfondo más allá del descrito en el texto es dejado sin explicación, y termina siendo una buena manera de adentrarse en la vida de Conan Doyle sin leer estrictamente una biografía. No tenía idea de cuántas características de sus personajes eran autorreferenciales hasta cierto punto, ni cuántos de los lugares que describió había visitado, y así con otras varias temáticas que tocan tanto el manuscrito como las notas hechas por los editores.
Recomiendo para los seguidores de la obra de Conan Doyle en cualquier grado.
December 26, 2021
I started this book after reading that it was an unpublished manuscript of the infamous Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but I stayed because I also learned that he wrote/submitted this manuscript when he was 23 years old (a significant age to me at this time). I liked how they kept the words/sentences he crossed out in the original.
A lot of the novel reminded me of some of his earlier works like”The Americans Tale” where the narrator (main character) babbles a lot, like they just talk for extended periods of time about their thoughts and it just spirals. I understand that the premise of the novel is a man with gout thats to remain at home for an extended period of time, so all he really can do is think and contemplate and you, as the reader, are on the journey with him. It got a little difficult to focus since it felt like there was no story, its just the thoughts and opinions of this fifty year old man stuck in his house. I would still give it a read if want to look at the beginnings of ACD novel writing but as a novel/story by itself, without its infamous writer counterpart, it’s a little laking to me. It was very difficult to finish this book, I think I skimmed over so much of it I would barely consider it read.
A lot of the novel reminded me of some of his earlier works like”The Americans Tale” where the narrator (main character) babbles a lot, like they just talk for extended periods of time about their thoughts and it just spirals. I understand that the premise of the novel is a man with gout thats to remain at home for an extended period of time, so all he really can do is think and contemplate and you, as the reader, are on the journey with him. It got a little difficult to focus since it felt like there was no story, its just the thoughts and opinions of this fifty year old man stuck in his house. I would still give it a read if want to look at the beginnings of ACD novel writing but as a novel/story by itself, without its infamous writer counterpart, it’s a little laking to me. It was very difficult to finish this book, I think I skimmed over so much of it I would barely consider it read.
December 9, 2022
First, I let the title deceive me because my initial thought was that it was a historical fiction story told from the perspective of John Smith, as in the Pocahontas/John Smith story. However, this John Smith was named so just as we’d give the name John Doe. The character is a nobody and the entire book was the ramblings of his own mind because he had little to occupy him while he laid up in bed sick for a week.
I should have known better when I read from the introduction, a letter the author wrote to his mother said, “…I know I can write small stories in a taking way, but am I equal to a prolonged effort— can I extend a plot without weakening it— can I preserve the identity of a character throughout — these are the questions which vex me.” The authors of the introduction immediately answered the question and continued, “On the evidence of the Narrative, the answer to his questions was a resounding ‘No’.”
Basically there is no plot or characterization. Why did I even bother reading this?
I should have known better when I read from the introduction, a letter the author wrote to his mother said, “…I know I can write small stories in a taking way, but am I equal to a prolonged effort— can I extend a plot without weakening it— can I preserve the identity of a character throughout — these are the questions which vex me.” The authors of the introduction immediately answered the question and continued, “On the evidence of the Narrative, the answer to his questions was a resounding ‘No’.”
Basically there is no plot or characterization. Why did I even bother reading this?
January 19, 2019
You can see certain lines and reflections that would come to be part of his main claim to fame. And there are some very logical and rational arguments about religion and society that he puts forth. You can see the geniuses behind the man and appreciate his intelligence. But the work does get too dense and times. It is a product of its time with references from that time period and therefore provides an excellent study of that era. But I don't think it would have stood the test of time if it has been published. Taking a line from his own book.. we should be thankful for our troubles for they were sent by Providence to make the road clear for the blessings that are to come.
July 15, 2024
Being a fan of the creator of Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson and Professor Moriarty, this manuscript peaked my curiosity however this felt more like thoughts put to paper without rhyme or reason and in no particular order giving the entire piece the voice of a rambling old man. The ramblings were all over the map from one subject to a neighbour and on to a different subject I actually had to stop considering this as a book in traditional sense of beginning, middle, end and go just with the flow on this one.
December 4, 2024
Starting at the beginning. This is the first novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but only published recently, not in his lifetime. The original manuscript was lost in the mail and apparently he tried to remember and recreate it. It was found in 4 bound notebooks of his. It's a mundane story, rather stream of conscious. But you can see where the beginnings of Sherlock Holmes expounding various topics comes from.
March 7, 2025
Reminded me of a much optimistic and open minded 'A rebours' by Huysmans in some way...idk I just really liked the pondering this man gets up to. I always enjoyed Doyle's writing but I like it much better here somewhat, says some pretty nice stuff. Idk. I probably have more to say about it with my own voice. If someone offered it to me I'd fold too
July 21, 2023
it’s one of those books you put on your TBR to sound smart bc you read it. it’s a posthumously published unfinished manuscript, i mean it is what it is.
with that said, there are some BANGER one liners in the that i found myself reading a few times over to feel it sink in.
with that said, there are some BANGER one liners in the that i found myself reading a few times over to feel it sink in.
Read
February 12, 2021Did not finish this book so can't rate it.
May 18, 2021
Too rough and unfinished for my taste. Lots of rambling.
January 29, 2022
interesting
not what I expected, but delighted. Perhaps, its raw state were the seeds of something more powerful. I enjoyed it
not what I expected, but delighted. Perhaps, its raw state were the seeds of something more powerful. I enjoyed it
February 16, 2023
A parte qualche spunto interessante l'ho trovato una roba noiosissima. Passiamo ad altro
January 22, 2013
This edition is all that remains of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's first attempt at writing a novel; the complete manuscript being lost in the post, en route to the publishers. Having no other copy (these were the days before backup hard drives and printers of course), he resolved to re-write the novel from scratch. Which he in part did, completing the first five chapters before abandoning the project on the sixth.
In this novel, Doyle strongly adheres to the axiom “write what you know”. In what seems more akin to a biographical piece, he gives us his thoughts (albeit via the fictional character John Smith) on a wide range of subjects - be it medical, art, literature, religion or war.
The medical bits seemed a bit too bogged down in detail for my liking (but that is no doubt down to my ignorance on the subject and nothing less), but the rest was easy to follow. The conversations held between the main character, John Smith and the old campaigner who lived upstairs, proved to be a highlight for me.
Instead of completing a novel that he knew wasn’t working, Doyle instead chose to let the parts he liked slowly filter into his subsequent stories (something that Douglas Adams would come to do with his own unpublished material, nigh on a century later), with the novel ‘The Stark Munro Letters’ and the short stories that made up ‘Round The Red Lamp’ benefiting most.
Unfortunately the most damning verdict I can give on this novel is that it cut off suddenly mid-point and I did not mind in the least. If that had occurred with any of Conan Doyle's other novels, it would surely have affected me a lot more.
In this novel, Doyle strongly adheres to the axiom “write what you know”. In what seems more akin to a biographical piece, he gives us his thoughts (albeit via the fictional character John Smith) on a wide range of subjects - be it medical, art, literature, religion or war.
The medical bits seemed a bit too bogged down in detail for my liking (but that is no doubt down to my ignorance on the subject and nothing less), but the rest was easy to follow. The conversations held between the main character, John Smith and the old campaigner who lived upstairs, proved to be a highlight for me.
Instead of completing a novel that he knew wasn’t working, Doyle instead chose to let the parts he liked slowly filter into his subsequent stories (something that Douglas Adams would come to do with his own unpublished material, nigh on a century later), with the novel ‘The Stark Munro Letters’ and the short stories that made up ‘Round The Red Lamp’ benefiting most.
Unfortunately the most damning verdict I can give on this novel is that it cut off suddenly mid-point and I did not mind in the least. If that had occurred with any of Conan Doyle's other novels, it would surely have affected me a lot more.
July 5, 2012
John Smith is diagnosed with rheumatism and gout and is advised by his doctor to stay in for a week. Being the active person that he is, he insisted that he’s perfectly able-bodied. His doctor then proposed that he write something, and so his narrative commenced.
This book contains the actual manuscript that Doyle wrote between 1883 and 1884, with the erasures and some missing words. The manuscript ended at chapter 6, mid-page. It is an exhibition of John Smiths ideas, visionaries and philosophies in life. It also portrays Conan Doyle’s knowledge in medicine as he was a doctor himself.
For a person who likes reading philosophy and people’s intellectual opinions, this book was a treat. Although, it kind of gets a little boring if you’re not really immersed into the book and what you’re reading. My mind wandered off a few times while browsing through the pages.
And, if you’re a fan of Sir Conan Doyle, this one sure is a real jewel to you bookshelves because this is like Sherlock Holmes’ elder brother, or something.
This book contains the actual manuscript that Doyle wrote between 1883 and 1884, with the erasures and some missing words. The manuscript ended at chapter 6, mid-page. It is an exhibition of John Smiths ideas, visionaries and philosophies in life. It also portrays Conan Doyle’s knowledge in medicine as he was a doctor himself.
For a person who likes reading philosophy and people’s intellectual opinions, this book was a treat. Although, it kind of gets a little boring if you’re not really immersed into the book and what you’re reading. My mind wandered off a few times while browsing through the pages.
And, if you’re a fan of Sir Conan Doyle, this one sure is a real jewel to you bookshelves because this is like Sherlock Holmes’ elder brother, or something.
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