TCDE-Team at 17:35, 21 February 2026

2026-02-21T17:35:37Z

TCDE-Team at 17:16, 21 February 2026

2026-02-21T17:16:13Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:16, 21 February 2026
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	=== I. ~~DESCRIPTION OF THE LETTERS~~ ===		=== I. Description of the Letters ===

	In 1974, the Metropolitan Toronto Reference Library acquired 76 letters and postcards, all but two of which were written by Arthur Conan Doyle to H. Greenhough Smith. (The two exceptions were notes by Conan Doyle to James Payn, editor of Cornhill Magazine, and to E.W. Hornung, Conan Doyle's brother-in-law and author of the Raffles stories). An additional six postcards to Smith were added later, making a total of 80 letters and postcards written by Conan Doyle to H. Greenhough Smith.		In 1974, the Metropolitan Toronto Reference Library acquired 76 letters and postcards, all but two of which were written by Arthur Conan Doyle to H. Greenhough Smith. (The two exceptions were notes by Conan Doyle to James Payn, editor of Cornhill Magazine, and to E.W. Hornung, Conan Doyle's brother-in-law and author of the Raffles stories). An additional six postcards to Smith were added later, making a total of 80 letters and postcards written by Conan Doyle to H. Greenhough Smith.
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	=== II. ~~DATING OF THE LETTERS~~ ===		=== II. Dating of the Letters ===

	Perhaps because mail was delivered so promptly in those days, Conan Doyle usually did not bother to date his letters. Of the 180 letters only about 35 are fully dated; others have month and day dates or omit the dates entirely. A few were dated when received at the Strand office. Approximate dates can often be determined by the names of stories on which the author is working. Broad periods can be defined by the author's various addresses given on his stationery. During the period of the correspondence he had three principal residences: 12 Tennison Road, Upper Norwood, London, 1891-1897; Undershaw, Hindhead, Surrey, 1897-1907; and Windlesham, Crowborough, Sussex, 1907-1930. In the mid-1920's he acquired a second residence at Bignell Wood, Minstead, Hampshire. There are letters from all these residences, the earliest dated one being from 12 Tennison Road, 17 October 1893. Peter Blau of Washington, D.C. arranged 54 of the Toronto letters in chronological order and assigned numbers to these and to the remaining letters in the group. So far as I can determine the Virginia letters have not been put into sequence. nor have I attempted to do so.		Perhaps because mail was delivered so promptly in those days, Conan Doyle usually did not bother to date his letters. Of the 180 letters only about 35 are fully dated; others have month and day dates or omit the dates entirely. A few were dated when received at the Strand office. Approximate dates can often be determined by the names of stories on which the author is working. Broad periods can be defined by the author's various addresses given on his stationery. During the period of the correspondence he had three principal residences: 12 Tennison Road, Upper Norwood, London, 1891-1897; Undershaw, Hindhead, Surrey, 1897-1907; and Windlesham, Crowborough, Sussex, 1907-1930. In the mid-1920's he acquired a second residence at Bignell Wood, Minstead, Hampshire. There are letters from all these residences, the earliest dated one being from 12 Tennison Road, 17 October 1893. Peter Blau of Washington, D.C. arranged 54 of the Toronto letters in chronological order and assigned numbers to these and to the remaining letters in the group. So far as I can determine the Virginia letters have not been put into sequence. nor have I attempted to do so.
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	=== III. ~~CONTENTS OF THE LETTERS~~ ===		=== III. Contents of the Letters ===

	Conan Doyle's letters are brief and business-like. In them he discusses his plans and projects; answers the occasional criticisms of his editor: sometimes invites suggestions for stories; occasionally discusses rates of payment (although he preferred to leave these matters to his agent, A.P. Watt); expresses his feelings about publicity, illustrations, and illustrators; and in general deals with the problems that crop up in the working life of a busy author.		Conan Doyle's letters are brief and business-like. In them he discusses his plans and projects; answers the occasional criticisms of his editor: sometimes invites suggestions for stories; occasionally discusses rates of payment (although he preferred to leave these matters to his agent, A.P. Watt); expresses his feelings about publicity, illustrations, and illustrators; and in general deals with the problems that crop up in the working life of a busy author.
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			=== IV. Background of the Correspondence ===
	=== IV. ~~BACKGROUND OF THE CORRESPONDENCE~~ ===

	~~H. Greenhough Smith~~

	By the beginning of 1891, Arthur Conan Doyle had laid the foundations of his career as a writer. In addition to short stories sometimes published anonymously, he had published the first two Sherlock Holmes novels and his ambitious historical novel Micah Clarke. But he had not yet achieved fame or acquired a wide popular audience. In 1891, with the appearance of the first series of Sherlock Holmes short stories in The Strand Magazine, he became one of the most popular and best-loved authors of his day. This happy consummation was at least in part made possible by the perspicacity of H. Greenhough Smith, literary editor of The Strand Magazine, who instantly recognised the talent of the new writer.		By the beginning of 1891, Arthur Conan Doyle had laid the foundations of his career as a writer. In addition to short stories sometimes published anonymously, he had published the first two Sherlock Holmes novels and his ambitious historical novel Micah Clarke. But he had not yet achieved fame or acquired a wide popular audience. In 1891, with the appearance of the first series of Sherlock Holmes short stories in The Strand Magazine, he became one of the most popular and best-loved authors of his day. This happy consummation was at least in part made possible by the perspicacity of H. Greenhough Smith, literary editor of The Strand Magazine, who instantly recognised the talent of the new writer.
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	=== V. ~~SHERLOCK HOLMES~~ ===		=== V. Sherlock Holmes ===

	In the two sets of letters there are 36 references to Sherlock Holmes. Some of these are passing mentions as when, in a letter written from Undershaw. Conan Doyle says: 'My History keeps me too busy for any work' [i.e. The Great Boer War — ed.]. and adds, 'Poor Sherlock. R.I.P.' (UV, undated).		In the two sets of letters there are 36 references to Sherlock Holmes. Some of these are passing mentions as when, in a letter written from Undershaw. Conan Doyle says: 'My History keeps me too busy for any work' [i.e. The Great Boer War — ed.]. and adds, 'Poor Sherlock. R.I.P.' (UV, undated).
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	=== VI. ~~OTHER WORKS~~ ===		=== VI. Other Works ===

	The letters contain references to, and comments on, many of the non-Sherlockian works, from The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard (1896) to The Maracot Deep (1929). his last novel. Naturally, the stories that did not appear in The Strand are not often discussed, except when the author explains to the editor why he chose to publish them elsewhere. His assessments of his works are frank, and often reveal creative satisfaction with them, as the following letter about an unnamed book which is clearly Sir Nigel shows:		The letters contain references to, and comments on, many of the non-Sherlockian works, from The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard (1896) to The Maracot Deep (1929). his last novel. Naturally, the stories that did not appear in The Strand are not often discussed, except when the author explains to the editor why he chose to publish them elsewhere. His assessments of his works are frank, and often reveal creative satisfaction with them, as the following letter about an unnamed book which is clearly Sir Nigel shows:
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	=== VII. ~~SPIRITUALISM~~ ===		=== VII. Spiritualism ===

	The World War which deprived Conan Doyle of his first son. Kingsley, and his beloved brother, Innes, confirmed him in his conviction that life did not stop at the grave. In the last decade of his life he devoted his major energies to the cause of Spiritualism, and many of his writings dealt with the subject. He felt, however, that a writer's opinions should be kept in the background, and he did not take advantage of The Strand to assert his views, writing 'I do not feel that I should use my special position with Strand readers for the purpose of proselytising. (MTRL. 75. undated). Nor did he use his fiction to advance the cause, except in one instance. Spiritualism is the theme of The Land of Mist, a Professor Challenger novel, about which he had this to say to his editor:		The World War which deprived Conan Doyle of his first son. Kingsley, and his beloved brother, Innes, confirmed him in his conviction that life did not stop at the grave. In the last decade of his life he devoted his major energies to the cause of Spiritualism, and many of his writings dealt with the subject. He felt, however, that a writer's opinions should be kept in the background, and he did not take advantage of The Strand to assert his views, writing 'I do not feel that I should use my special position with Strand readers for the purpose of proselytising. (MTRL. 75. undated). Nor did he use his fiction to advance the cause, except in one instance. Spiritualism is the theme of The Land of Mist, a Professor Challenger novel, about which he had this to say to his editor:
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	=== VIII. ~~ILLUSTRATIONS~~ ===		=== VIII. Illustrations ===

	Illustrations, an important element in The Strand's format, accompanied all the Conan Doyle stories and articles published in the magazine, and the author was not at all shy in expressing his feelings about them, especially if he felt they detracted from his work:		Illustrations, an important element in The Strand's format, accompanied all the Conan Doyle stories and articles published in the magazine, and the author was not at all shy in expressing his feelings about them, especially if he felt they detracted from his work:
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	=== IX. ~~BUSINESS MATTERS~~ ===		=== IX. Business Matters ===

	Although Conan Doyle preferred to leave business matters to his agent, A.P. Watt, some of his letters deal with financial questions. When he discussed word rates. serialisation rights, and the like, Conan Doyle was always polite and considerate, but he stated his terms and preferences firmly.		Although Conan Doyle preferred to leave business matters to his agent, A.P. Watt, some of his letters deal with financial questions. When he discussed word rates. serialisation rights, and the like, Conan Doyle was always polite and considerate, but he stated his terms and preferences firmly.
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	=== X. ~~CHARACTER OF THE AUTHOR~~ ===		=== X. Character of the Author ===

	Like most successful writers, Conan Doyle frequently received letters from aspiring authors requesting his help. As he had a generous nature, such appeals did not go unanswered. He writes to Smith regarding a poor Norwegian lady 'who earns a precarious livelihood by translating English stories into Norse':		Like most successful writers, Conan Doyle frequently received letters from aspiring authors requesting his help. As he had a generous nature, such appeals did not go unanswered. He writes to Smith regarding a poor Norwegian lady 'who earns a precarious livelihood by translating English stories into Norse':
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	=== XI. ~~THE STORYTELLER~~'~~S ART~~ ===		=== XI. The Storyteller's Art ===

	Given the tendency of present-day scholars to seek out real-life analogues for the incidents, persons, and places in the Sherlock Holmes canon, it is interesting and instructive to examine these letters to see what were Conan Doyle's views of the relationship of fact to fiction. How he felt about the matter is explicit in an early letter in which he reacts to an objection made to a detail in 'The Lost Special':		Given the tendency of present-day scholars to seek out real-life analogues for the incidents, persons, and places in the Sherlock Holmes canon, it is interesting and instructive to examine these letters to see what were Conan Doyle's views of the relationship of fact to fiction. How he felt about the matter is explicit in an early letter in which he reacts to an objection made to a detail in 'The Lost Special':
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	=== XII. ~~SUMMARY~~ ===		=== XII. Summary ===

	These, then, are some of the high points of the Conan Doyle-Greenhough Smith correspondence. Their specifics aside, the letters tell a story of a finely sustained relationship between a famous author and an almost forgotten editor that endured for almost forty years. Conan Doyle obviously had more to give than did Smith, for although the latter was by no means passive he did not play the kind of role in honing Conan Doyle's writing skills that Maxwell Perkins, for instance, did in the case of Thomas Wolfe. But Smith was an experienced editor, well able to judge the potential reader interest of a piece. Always available for consultation on projects, he provided Conan Doyle with the sympathetic ear that authors need.		These, then, are some of the high points of the Conan Doyle-Greenhough Smith correspondence. Their specifics aside, the letters tell a story of a finely sustained relationship between a famous author and an almost forgotten editor that endured for almost forty years. Conan Doyle obviously had more to give than did Smith, for although the latter was by no means passive he did not play the kind of role in honing Conan Doyle's writing skills that Maxwell Perkins, for instance, did in the case of Thomas Wolfe. But Smith was an experienced editor, well able to judge the potential reader interest of a piece. Always available for consultation on projects, he provided Conan Doyle with the sympathetic ear that authors need.

TCDE-Team: Created page with "{{Cargo_Research_Articles |date=1992-01-01 |author=Cameron Hollyer |topic=Correspondence |summary=This scholarly study reconstructs and analyses the surviving correspondence between Arthur Conan Doyle and his Strand editor H. Greenhough Smith, drawing on manuscript collections in Toronto and Virginia. Through detailed quotation and contextual commentary, it illuminates Conan Doyle's creative process, editorial negotiations, views on illustration, business dealings, S..."

2026-02-21T17:12:32Z

Created page with "{{Cargo_Research_Articles |date=1992-01-01 |author=Cameron Hollyer |topic=Correspondence |summary=This scholarly study reconstructs and analyses the surviving correspondence between Arthur Conan Doyle and his Strand editor H. Greenhough Smith, drawing on manuscript collections in Toronto and Virginia. Through detailed quotation and contextual commentary, it illuminates Conan Doyle's creative process, editorial negotiations, views on illustration, business dealings, S..."

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TCDE-Team at 17:35, 21 February 2026

TCDE-Team at 17:16, 21 February 2026