The Private Life of Dr. Watson

by Michael Hardwick

Dr. John Watson relates the story of his life and adventures prior to meeting the consulting detective, Sherlock Holmes.

Genres: Detective, British Literature

298 pages, Hardcover

First published October 31, 1983

About the author

Married writer Mollie Hardwick.

Reviews

[Cris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having just finished Thomson's Watson and Holmes I found myself comparing Hardwick's work to Thomson's often. (In many ways Hardwick's story reads like a fully-fleshed story of Watson's life before he met Holmes while Thomson's book is a sparser outline.)

Overall I think I found Thomson's slightly more interesting, though Hardwick's works better as a story. (Probably because I enjoyed Thomson's attempts to understand the relationship between Watson and Holmes.) I think Hardwick's decision to end his story just before Watson met Holmes emphasizes that Hardwick wished this story to focus on Watson rather than Holmes-and-Watson.

While I found The Private Life of Dr. Watson in the Mystery section, it really isn't a mystery. Rather it's in the tradition of many fictional memoirs with a mixture of coming-of-age, action, misadventure and daily life.

[Quirkyreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Se my review on my book blog: http://quirkyreader.livejournal.com/2...

[Christa Saccullo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty Good

I give this four stars because:

1: Though it's not entirely what I envisioned of Watson's early life, the story paints a fair interpretation of the times and circumstances that would shape Watson's character. Plus, there are plenty of historical cameos if you know what to spot. I had thrills when I spotted a character from a G.A. Henty adventure I'd read in school...

2: I've always wanted to read a more detailed account of Watson's life before he met Holmes.

Despite tragedy, hardship, and a lot of womanizing (details thankfully left out), it was all designed to bring Watson to that rock bottom to meet Holmes.
Watson holds true, and you can see the progression in each choice of the man he will become.

Christa

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute but meh.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Born 1852 to a drunk of a father and with an older brother not much better how will John Watson become the man that is an important associate of Sherlock Holmes.
An interesting story

[Outlander · Rating 4 out of 5]

As fictional background stories go this one is okay, a bit laddish but amusing to read. Watson comes across as a bit more of a Casanova than I ever considered Watson to be, especially as the least likely of the conquests was Sarah Bernharte and Aggie was the most likely. Anyway it was a bit of change to read more about mine and Sherlock's favourite Boswell.

[LeAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. It is written from the perspective of Sherlock Holmes' right hand man, Dr. John Watson. I had to keep reminding myself that Dr. Watson was a fictitious character in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's novels and not a real person. I think I will look for more books by Michael Hardwick.