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Is Sherlock worse for too much action? Gatiss sends his verse reaction Is Sherlock worse for too much action? Gatiss sends his verse reaction
(35 minutes later)
In 1912 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle took to rhyming verse in response to what he saw as unfair criticism, so it seems entirely appropriate that his modern-day adapter Mark Gatiss might do the same.In 1912 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle took to rhyming verse in response to what he saw as unfair criticism, so it seems entirely appropriate that his modern-day adapter Mark Gatiss might do the same.
Conan Doyle was responding to a disparaging piece in a magazine called London Opinion, Gatiss to a piece in the Guardian.Conan Doyle was responding to a disparaging piece in a magazine called London Opinion, Gatiss to a piece in the Guardian.
The Guardian article in question is one by Ralph Jones, under the headline: ‘Sherlock is slowly and perversely morphing into Bond. This cannot stand.’ The Guardian article in question is one by Ralph Jones, under the headline: “Sherlock is slowly and perversely morphing into Bond. This cannot stand.”
Jones expresses “grave concern” that the creators of the BBC’s contemporary Sherlock, which stars Benedict Cumberbatch, are taking the character to an action-hero realm which does not ring true or chime with the original stories. “He is a nerd, not an action figure; a scientist, not a spy,” writes Jones.Jones expresses “grave concern” that the creators of the BBC’s contemporary Sherlock, which stars Benedict Cumberbatch, are taking the character to an action-hero realm which does not ring true or chime with the original stories. “He is a nerd, not an action figure; a scientist, not a spy,” writes Jones.
Gatiss responded with a poem which he has titled To an Undiscerning Critic (With Apologies to AC Doyle).Gatiss responded with a poem which he has titled To an Undiscerning Critic (With Apologies to AC Doyle).
Gatiss writes: “Here is a critic who says with low blow/ Sherlock’s no brain-box but become double-O./ Says the Baker St boy is no man of action -/ whilst ignoring the stories that could have put him in traction.”Gatiss writes: “Here is a critic who says with low blow/ Sherlock’s no brain-box but become double-O./ Says the Baker St boy is no man of action -/ whilst ignoring the stories that could have put him in traction.”
He points out that there is evidence of Holmes boxing, in the stories The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist, The Adventure of the Gloria Scott and The Sign of the Four.He points out that there is evidence of Holmes boxing, in the stories The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist, The Adventure of the Gloria Scott and The Sign of the Four.
In The Adventure of the Empty House, the story in which Holmes explains his supposed death in his struggle with Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls, the detective’s proficiency in a martial art is revealed – “the misspelled wrestle Doyle called baritsu”, writes Gatiss.In The Adventure of the Empty House, the story in which Holmes explains his supposed death in his struggle with Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls, the detective’s proficiency in a martial art is revealed – “the misspelled wrestle Doyle called baritsu”, writes Gatiss.
Baritsu is a misspelling of bartitsu which was a self-defence method invented by the British engineer Edward William Barton-Wright and in the news when Conan Doyle was writing his story.Baritsu is a misspelling of bartitsu which was a self-defence method invented by the British engineer Edward William Barton-Wright and in the news when Conan Doyle was writing his story.
“In hurling Moriarty over the torrent/ did Sherlock find violence strange and abhorrent?” asks Gatiss.“In hurling Moriarty over the torrent/ did Sherlock find violence strange and abhorrent?” asks Gatiss.
He concludes: “There’s no need to invoke in yarns that still thrill,/ Her Majesty’s Secret Servant with licence to kill/ From Rathbone through Brett to Cumberbatch dandy/ With his fists Mr Holmes has always been handy.”He concludes: “There’s no need to invoke in yarns that still thrill,/ Her Majesty’s Secret Servant with licence to kill/ From Rathbone through Brett to Cumberbatch dandy/ With his fists Mr Holmes has always been handy.”
Gatiss’s letter-poem to the Guardian is reminiscent of Conan Doyle’s 1912 response to the critic Arthur Guiterman who complained, in verse, that Holmes should not say negative things about fictional detectives when Conan Doyle himself owed so much to them.Gatiss’s letter-poem to the Guardian is reminiscent of Conan Doyle’s 1912 response to the critic Arthur Guiterman who complained, in verse, that Holmes should not say negative things about fictional detectives when Conan Doyle himself owed so much to them.
Conan Doyle’s “To an undiscerning critic” missive was ruder than the one from Gatiss, opening with the lines: “Sure there are times when one cries with acidity,/ ‘Where are the limits of human stupidity?’” Conan Doyle’s To an Undiscerning Critic missive was ruder than the one from Gatiss, opening with the lines: “Sure there are times when one cries with acidity,/ ‘Where are the limits of human stupidity?’”
The Guardian’s letters desk said they did not normally publish poetry or doggerel, but given it was Gatiss this could be the inaugural. The Guardian’s letters desk said it did not normally publish poetry or doggerel, but given it was Gatiss this could be the inaugural.