The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion

The Complete Sherlock Holmes
The Adventure of the Three Students (His Last Bow)

Availability The Valley of Fear; https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3289

Background Information

The Valley of Fear is the fourth and final Sherlock Holmes novel by British writer Arthur Conan Doyle. It is loosely based on the Molly Maguires and Pinkerton agent James McParland. The story was first published in the Strand Magazine between September 1914 and May 1915. The first book edition was copyrighted in 1914, and it was first published by George H. Doran Company in New York on February 27, 1915, and illustrated by Arthur I. Keller.

Publication History

The Valley of Fear was first serialized in The Strand Magazine from September 1914 to May 1915. In the Strand, it was published with thirty-one illustrations by Frank Wiles. In the United States, the novel was serialized from September to November 1914 in Associated Sunday Magazine supplements to various newspapers around the country.

The Valley of Fear was first published in book form by George H. Doran Company in New York on February 27, 1915, after the serialization was completed in the United States but before it had finished in the Strand. The first British book edition was published by Smith, Elder & Co. on June 3, 1915. Like the first Holmes novel A Study in Scarlet, The Valley of Fear has two parts. The first part is titled "The Tragedy of Birlstone", and the second is titled "The Scowrers". The novel concludes with a short epilogue.



A Short Review / Summary



The story follows Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as they unravel a series of seemingly unrelated crimes, including a coded message from Holmes' arch-nemesis, Professor Moriarty, and the murder of a former gang member.

The novel is structured in two parts, the first focusing on the mystery being solved by Holmes and the second on the backstory of a key character in the mystery. This story is known for its unexpected twists and intricate plotting, keeping readers guessing until the very end.

"The Valley of Fear" is considered an enduring classic in the detective fiction genre, showcasing the brilliance of Sherlock Holmes and the art of deduction.

The Complete Sherlock Holmes
The Valley of Fear
Discussion Questions

Part I: The Tragedy of Birlstone

1) Why do you think Douglas didn’t bother to hide his brand?

2) Why is the murder weapon questionable? How does it uncover some untruths in the sequence of events that the police and Holmes are given?

3) What was Mrs. Douglas’ intentions when she asked Watson if Holmes had an obligation to tell the police everything he knew? What was she trying to find out?

4) Why does Holmes advise the police to halt their investigation?
How is the singular dumbbell the key to solving this case?

5) What is the real reason that Mrs. Douglas and Barker were seemingly unbothered by the death of Mr. Douglas when Watson saw them a few hours later?

Part II: The Scowrers

6) Why is McMurdo so rude to the police when they speak to him on the train?

7) Why do you think McMurdo doesn’t consider what the Freemen do “crime” when speaking to Morris?

8) What is McMurdo’s true identity, and how does he reveal himself? Were there any hints that may have given him away?

9) How do these two parts of the book tie together? What role does each part play in the other?

Part 1 - The episode when Watson saw Mrs. Douglas and Cecil laughing together in the garden reminded me very much of the mountain of modern novels that use this technique to cast suspicions on a wife’s/partner’s infidelities. Watson immediately puts one and one together to make 3 and the triangle dominates his thoughts until Mr. Douglas reappears from the priest hole.

I enjoyed the description of the old moated manor house. It is based on Groombridge Place (see below) where Conan Doyle had visited frequently.



https://gazetteer.sherlock-holmes.org...

I thought very clever the use of in media res to make us understand what had happened to the characters before the main story

I think I only read this once before and a long time ago, so it was like coming to it completely fresh.

I really enjoyed the first half, particularly Watson's affair suspicions. And actually, though I groaned when it started, I quite enjoyed the second half too.

The Moriarty connection seemed weak though. Apart from the obvious continuity issues (since Watson doesn't know about Holmes until "The Final Problem"), it just seems to create a very stereotyped evil mastermind organization.

Part 2- I didn’t enjoy part two as much as the first part. It was too violent for me and the ‘revelation’ of the Pinkerton Detective rather unbelievable.

The story did prompt me to read about James McParland and the ‘Molly Maguires’, It was alleged that McParland was the real life Pinkerton Agent that Conan Doyle based his story on.

I found the real story much more fascinating.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_M...

There was very little in the Conan Doyle story about the hardships the miners had to endure and the corruption taking place in the police forces and big companies. The real story reveals the essential lawlessness that operated in Pennsylvania at that time.

McParland didn’t suffer the same fate as Douglas. It seems that he was largely untouched by the criminal gangs.

https://gazetteer.sherlock-holmes.org...

I agree with Emily that the Moriarty connection was weak. I enjoyed the novel, but it was obvious to me from the first that the murder victim was not Douglas (the destroyed face, the missing wedding ring).