Letter to Mr. Hemingsley (14 march 1890)
This letter was written by Arthur Conan Doyle on 14 march 1890 from Bush Villa, Southsea, to Mr. Hemingsley.
Letter
- Bush Villa
- Southsea
- March 14th /90
Dear Hemingsley
Many thanks for your note. I have forwarded a copy of "The Sign of Four" for Mr. Palmer. Lippincott is so little read as yet that the story is fresh to the public. Yet I should never have thought of using it as a serial had I not had several unsolicited requests from different papers. So I thought I might as well extend it. No other offer in the Birmingham district. I think the intermediate syndicate may very well be dispensed with in transactions between author and editor.
Saw Longmans yesterday. The Polestar was sold right out in a day. They are now reprinting, and no doubt your copy will reach you then. "Mysteries & Adventures" is a pirated edition of tales written years ago in London Society — some of them when I was little more than a boy. It is rough on me having these youthful effusions brought out in this catchpenny fashion, but I have no legal redress. The less reviewed or read they are the better. So glad you liked Micah. He has made some warm friends. I am on a historical novel now "The Vital Message" which I think will be better than Micah.
With kindest regards
Yours very truly
A. Conan Doyle
