Conan Doyle's Pocket Diary for 1889 - Revision history

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	\|author=Richard Lancelyn Green		\|author=Richard Lancelyn Green
	\|topic=Pocket Diary		\|topic=Pocket Diary
			\|summary=The article analyses Arthur Conan Doyle's 1889 pocket diary, showing it to be a uniquely detailed record of his literary work, submissions, payments, and publishing negotiations rather than a personal chronicle. It demonstrates that 1889 was the year Conan Doyle came of age as a professional author, documenting the production and success of Micah Clarke, The Sign of Four, and the foundations of his later career.
	}}		}}
	''Conan Doyle's Pocket Diary for 1889'' is an article written by [[Richard Lancelyn Green]] published in the [[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (Vol. 1, No. 1) in september 1989.		''Conan Doyle's Pocket Diary for 1889'' is an article written by [[Richard Lancelyn Green]] published in the [[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (Vol. 1, No. 1) in september 1989.

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	{{footer_acd_society_article}}		{{footer_acd_society_article}}
	{{footer_periodicals}}		{{footer_periodicals}}
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	''Conan Doyle's Pocket Diary for 1889'' is an article written by [[Richard Lancelyn Green]] published in the [[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (Vol. 1, No. 1) in september 1989.		''Conan Doyle's Pocket Diary for 1889'' is an article written by [[Richard Lancelyn Green]] published in the [[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (Vol. 1, No. 1) in september 1989.

			The article analyses [[Arthur Conan Doyle]]'s 1889 pocket diary, showing it to be a uniquely detailed record of his literary work, submissions, payments, and publishing negotiations rather than a personal chronicle. It demonstrates that 1889 was the year [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] came of age as a professional author, documenting the production and success of [[Micah Clarke]], [[The Sign of Four]], and the foundations of his later career.

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			{{Cargo_Research_Articles
			\|date=1989-09-01
			\|author=Richard Lancelyn Green
			\|topic=Pocket Diary
			}}
	''Conan Doyle's Pocket Diary for 1889'' is an article written by [[Richard Lancelyn Green]] published in the [[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (Vol. 1, No. 1) in september 1989.		''Conan Doyle's Pocket Diary for 1889'' is an article written by [[Richard Lancelyn Green]] published in the [[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (Vol. 1, No. 1) in september 1989.

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	[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p27-conan-doyle-s-pocket-diary-image.jpg\|thumb\|~~650px~~\|center\|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 27)]]		[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p27-conan-doyle-s-pocket-diary-image.jpg\|thumb\|750px\|center\|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 27)]]

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	[[The Manchester Weekly Times]] — Supplement for Saturday, June 8th 1889 [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]]'s Pocket Diary for 1889 shows this previously unrecorded serialisation of [[Micah Clarke]].		[[The Manchester Weekly Times]] — Supplement for Saturday, June 8th 1889 [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]]'s Pocket Diary for 1889 shows this previously unrecorded serialisation of [[Micah Clarke]].


			[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p27-conan-doyle-s-pocket-diary-image.jpg\|thumb\|650px\|center\|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 27)]]


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	[[Micah Clarke]]. His Statement ... - [[The Manchester Weekly Times\|Manchester Weekly Times]] [Supplement], 1889: 8 June, pp. 1-3, Chapters I-III; 15 June, pp. 1-3, IV-VI; 22 June, pp. 1-3, VII-IX; 29 June, pp. 1-3, X-XI; 6 July, pp. 1-3, XII-XIN: 13 July. pp. 1-3, XIV-XVI; 20 July, pp 1-3, XVII-XVII; 27 July, pp. 1-2, XIX-XX; 3 August, pp. 1-3, XXI-XXII; 10 August, pp. 1-3, XXII-XXIV; 17 August, pp. 1-2, XXV-XXVI; 24 August, pp. 1-2, XXVII-XXVIII; 31 August, pp. 1-2, XXIX-XXX; 7 September, pp. 1-2, XXXI; 14 September, pp. 1-2, XXXII; 21 September, pp. 1-2, XXXIII-XXXIV; 28 September, pp. 1-3, XXXV-XXXVI.		[[Micah Clarke]]. His Statement ... - [[The Manchester Weekly Times\|Manchester Weekly Times]] [Supplement], 1889: 8 June, pp. 1-3, Chapters I-III; 15 June, pp. 1-3, IV-VI; 22 June, pp. 1-3, VII-IX; 29 June, pp. 1-3, X-XI; 6 July, pp. 1-3, XII-XIN: 13 July. pp. 1-3, XIV-XVI; 20 July, pp 1-3, XVII-XVII; 27 July, pp. 1-2, XIX-XX; 3 August, pp. 1-3, XXI-XXII; 10 August, pp. 1-3, XXII-XXIV; 17 August, pp. 1-2, XXV-XXVI; 24 August, pp. 1-2, XXVII-XXVIII; 31 August, pp. 1-2, XXIX-XXX; 7 September, pp. 1-2, XXXI; 14 September, pp. 1-2, XXXII; 21 September, pp. 1-2, XXXIII-XXXIV; 28 September, pp. 1-3, XXXV-XXXVI.


			[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p29-conan-doyle-s-pocket-diary-rotated.jpg\|thumb\|750px\|center\|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 29)]]

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	From a bibliographical point of view the most interesting entry in the diary concerns the second serial publication of [[Micah Clarke]]. It was known that the book had not been serialised before publication and that the shortened version had appeared in 1892 in ''Longman's School Magazine'', but the diary shows that the whole novel was serialised nm 1889 after the appearance of the book. The entry on 31 May 1889 reads: <q>'£15 from Manchester Exam. Per Longman & Co.'</q>		From a bibliographical point of view the most interesting entry in the diary concerns the second serial publication of [[Micah Clarke]]. It was known that the book had not been serialised before publication and that the shortened version had appeared in 1892 in ''Longman's School Magazine'', but the diary shows that the whole novel was serialised nm 1889 after the appearance of the book. The entry on 31 May 1889 reads: <q>'£15 from Manchester Exam. Per Longman & Co.'</q>

	This refers to the ''Manchester Examiner'', the publishers of the ''Manchester Weekly Times''. [[Micah Clarke]] was serialised there between 8 June and 28 September 1889. This early association with the Manchester Weekly Times has added interest as the same newspaper purchased the first shared rights to [[Uncle Bernac]] and '[[The Fiend of the Cooperage]]' in 1897 (publishing them at the same time or a day or two before their publication in the Queen). The file for the newspaper in the Manchester Public Library from which the details in the Soho Bibliography were taken can now be shown to be incomplete and it is not true, as was supposed, that the 'supplement' was launched in 1897.		This refers to the ''Manchester Examiner'', the publishers of the ''[[The Manchester Weekly Times\|Manchester Weekly Times]]''. [[Micah Clarke]] was serialised there between 8 June and 28 September 1889. This early association with the [[The Manchester Weekly Times\|Manchester Weekly Times]] has added interest as the same newspaper purchased the first shared rights to [[Uncle Bernac]] and '[[The Fiend of the Cooperage]]' in 1897 (publishing them at the same time or a day or two before their publication in the Queen). The file for the newspaper in the Manchester Public Library from which the details in the Soho Bibliography were taken can now be shown to be incomplete and it is not true, as was supposed, that the 'supplement' was launched in 1897.

	Soon after [[Micah Clarke]] had been accepted [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]] retrieved his earlier novel '[[The Firm of Girdlestone\|Girdlestone & Co.]]'. Even though it had been offered to Longman in May 1886 and rejected (as it had been by [[Temple Bar]]. Richard Bentley and Sons, and the Cornhill), the changed circumstances induced him to send it to them again, but it still found no favour and was returned on 29 March 1889. He therefore sent it to the ''People'' (which was owned by the proprietor of the ''Globe'' evening newspaper) and he probably did so because of an earlier letter from the editor, J. Madge. He had rejected [[Micah Clarke]] as unsuitable for a popular paper, saying '... it has next to no attraction for female readers who form undoubtedly a large percentage of our subscribers. Again it is hardly sensational enough.' Whatever its other faults, these criticisms could not be made against '[[The Firm of Girdlestone\|Girdlestone and Co.]]'. On 14 May 1889 the diary records: <q>'"Girdlestone" to Madge, 367 Strand'</q>. On 15 June 1889 there is an entry: <q>'£240-0-0 Madge & Co'</q> showing that the novel had been accepted. It was a large sum and two entries the following month show how the money was invested. £100 went into the <q>'Tramway Mortgage'</q> and £115 went on the mortgage of a house in Landport.		Soon after [[Micah Clarke]] had been accepted [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]] retrieved his earlier novel '[[The Firm of Girdlestone\|Girdlestone & Co.]]'. Even though it had been offered to Longman in May 1886 and rejected (as it had been by [[Temple Bar]]. Richard Bentley and Sons, and the Cornhill), the changed circumstances induced him to send it to them again, but it still found no favour and was returned on 29 March 1889. He therefore sent it to the ''People'' (which was owned by the proprietor of the ''Globe'' evening newspaper) and he probably did so because of an earlier letter from the editor, J. Madge. He had rejected [[Micah Clarke]] as unsuitable for a popular paper, saying '... it has next to no attraction for female readers who form undoubtedly a large percentage of our subscribers. Again it is hardly sensational enough.' Whatever its other faults, these criticisms could not be made against '[[The Firm of Girdlestone\|Girdlestone and Co.]]'. On 14 May 1889 the diary records: <q>'"Girdlestone" to Madge, 367 Strand'</q>. On 15 June 1889 there is an entry: <q>'£240-0-0 Madge & Co'</q> showing that the novel had been accepted. It was a large sum and two entries the following month show how the money was invested. £100 went into the <q>'Tramway Mortgage'</q> and £115 went on the mortgage of a house in Landport.
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	Two further works feature in the diary. On 17 April 1889: <q>'Sent "[[A Physiologist's Wife]]" to Longmans.'</q> The next mention is on 26 April when it was sent to the [[The Cornhill Magazine\|Cornhill Magazine]] and then again on 13 June when it was returned. The diary shows it was offered to [[Blackwood's Magazine\|Blackwood]] the same day (though this is a day after the date on the letter which accompanied it and which is preserved in the Blackwood archive.) On 28 June [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]] at last achieved his early ambition by penetrating the 'stout Scottish barrier' which had refused his previous work: <q>'Blackwood accepted Physiologist's Wife.'</q> The story — which [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]] said was written under the influence of Henry James — appeared in [[Blackwood's Magazine]] in September 1890 and was collected in [[Round the Red Lamp]]. The other work is his essay on Robert Louis Stevenson, '[[Mr. Stevenson's Methods in Fiction\|The Methods of Mr. Stevenson in Fiction]]'. After being offered to the [[The Fortnightly Review\|Fortnightly Review]] on 14 October, and to the [[The Nineteenth Century\|Nineteenth Century]] on 26 October, it was sent on 21 November to the [[The National Review\|National Review]], accepted by them on 16 December, and published in January 1890. It was reprinted in the Boston [[The Living Age\|Living Age]] the following month and extracts were included in J. A. Hammertun's Stevensoniana in 1903, but it is otherwise uncollected.		Two further works feature in the diary. On 17 April 1889: <q>'Sent "[[A Physiologist's Wife]]" to Longmans.'</q> The next mention is on 26 April when it was sent to the [[The Cornhill Magazine\|Cornhill Magazine]] and then again on 13 June when it was returned. The diary shows it was offered to [[Blackwood's Magazine\|Blackwood]] the same day (though this is a day after the date on the letter which accompanied it and which is preserved in the Blackwood archive.) On 28 June [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]] at last achieved his early ambition by penetrating the 'stout Scottish barrier' which had refused his previous work: <q>'Blackwood accepted Physiologist's Wife.'</q> The story — which [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]] said was written under the influence of Henry James — appeared in [[Blackwood's Magazine]] in September 1890 and was collected in [[Round the Red Lamp]]. The other work is his essay on Robert Louis Stevenson, '[[Mr. Stevenson's Methods in Fiction\|The Methods of Mr. Stevenson in Fiction]]'. After being offered to the [[The Fortnightly Review\|Fortnightly Review]] on 14 October, and to the [[The Nineteenth Century\|Nineteenth Century]] on 26 October, it was sent on 21 November to the [[The National Review\|National Review]], accepted by them on 16 December, and published in January 1890. It was reprinted in the Boston [[The Living Age\|Living Age]] the following month and extracts were included in J. A. Hammertun's Stevensoniana in 1903, but it is otherwise uncollected.

	There are three works which are not referred to in the diary: the reprint of A Study in Scarlet in March 1889, the anthology Strange Secrets issued in June, and 'The Bravoes of Market Drayton' which was published in Chambers's Journal on 24 August 1889. Doyle received no royalties from the first two and therefore had no reason to include them, but he should have received a payment from Chambers. Even if the article had been sent and paid for at an earlier date, he might have been expected to mention its publication. He is given as the author in an article which appeared in the magazine in 1895 alongside 'The Recollections of Captain Wilkie' — itself a very early story which had been discovered in their files, but there are no other known references to 'The Bravoes of Market Drayton' and until such evidence is found, a shadow of doubt must hang over the attribution.		There are three works which are not referred to in the diary: the reprint of [[A Study in Scarlet]] in March 1889, the anthology [[Strange Secrets]] issued in June, and '[[The Bravoes of Market-Drayton\|The Bravoes of Market Drayton]]' which was published in [[Chambers's Journal]] on 24 August 1889. [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]] received no royalties from the first two and therefore had no reason to include them, but he should have received a payment from Chambers. Even if the article had been sent and paid for at an earlier date, he might have been expected to mention its publication. He is given as the author in an article which appeared in the magazine in 1895 alongside '[[The Recollections of Captain Wilkie]]' — itself a very early story which had been discovered in their files, but there are no other known references to '[[The Bravoes of Market-Drayton\|The Bravoes of Market Drayton]]' and until such evidence is found, a shadow of doubt must hang over the attribution.

	Although the diary for 1889 docs not mention stories that had been long forgotten or articles that were never suspected, and though it does not refer to minor contributions made at the time (such as letters to newspapers) it does provide a very detailed picture of Doyle's literary work and adds important bibliographical information to what was already known. Because it was the first and because it chronicles the year in which Doyle came of age as an author, it is among the most important in the series.		Although the diary for 1889 docs not mention stories that had been long forgotten or articles that were never suspected, and though it does not refer to minor contributions made at the time (such as letters to newspapers) it does provide a very detailed picture of [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]]'s literary work and adds important bibliographical information to what was already known. Because it was the first and because it chronicles the year in which [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]] came of age as an author, it is among the most important in the series.

	The Manchester Weekly Times — Supplement for Saturday, June 8th 1889 [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]]'s Pocket Diary for 1889 shows this previously unrecorded serialisation of [[Micah Clarke]].		[[The Manchester Weekly Times]] — Supplement for Saturday, June 8th 1889 [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]]'s Pocket Diary for 1889 shows this previously unrecorded serialisation of [[Micah Clarke]].


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	2. The full details of the second serial publication of [[Micah Clarke]], given in the style of the Bibliography, are as follows:		2. The full details of the second serial publication of [[Micah Clarke]], given in the style of the Bibliography, are as follows:

	[[Micah Clarke]]. His Statement ... - Manchester Weekly Times [Supplement], 1889: 8 June, pp. 1-3, Chapters I-III; 15 June, pp. 1-3, IV-VI; 22 June, pp. 1-3, VII-IX; 29 June, pp. 1-3, X-XI; 6 July, pp. 1-3, XII-XIN: 13 July. pp. 1-3, XIV-XVI; 20 July, pp 1-3, XVII-XVII; 27 July, pp. 1-2, XIX-XX; 3 August, pp. 1-3, XXI-XXII; 10 August, pp. 1-3, XXII-XXIV; 17 August, pp. 1-2, XXV-XXVI; 24 August, pp. 1-2, XXVII-XXVIII; 31 August, pp. 1-2, XXIX-XXX; 7 September, pp. 1-2, XXXI; 14 September, pp. 1-2, XXXII; 21 September, pp. 1-2, XXXIII-XXXIV; 28 September, pp. 1-3, XXXV-XXXVI.		[[Micah Clarke]]. His Statement ... - [[The Manchester Weekly Times\|Manchester Weekly Times]] [Supplement], 1889: 8 June, pp. 1-3, Chapters I-III; 15 June, pp. 1-3, IV-VI; 22 June, pp. 1-3, VII-IX; 29 June, pp. 1-3, X-XI; 6 July, pp. 1-3, XII-XIN: 13 July. pp. 1-3, XIV-XVI; 20 July, pp 1-3, XVII-XVII; 27 July, pp. 1-2, XIX-XX; 3 August, pp. 1-3, XXI-XXII; 10 August, pp. 1-3, XXII-XXIV; 17 August, pp. 1-2, XXV-XXVI; 24 August, pp. 1-2, XXVII-XXVIII; 31 August, pp. 1-2, XXIX-XXX; 7 September, pp. 1-2, XXXI; 14 September, pp. 1-2, XXXII; 21 September, pp. 1-2, XXXIII-XXXIV; 28 September, pp. 1-3, XXXV-XXXVI.

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	[[The Firm of Girdlestone]] is dedicated to W. K. Burton whom [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]] had known since his childhood in Edinburgh and it was Burton's interest in photography which led [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]] to contribute articles to the [[The British Journal of Photography\|British Journal of Photography]]. Burton was a regular visitor to Bush Villas and in 1884 both he and [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]] began writing novels. Although he left England in the Spring of 1887 to take up an appointment as Professor of Sanitary Engineering at the Imperial University in Tokyo, Burton continued to send articles to the [[The British Journal of Photography\|British Journal of Photography]] and the diary shows that [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]] accepted the payments from Henry Greenwood (the proprietor of the magazine) on his behalf. During the previous year Burton sent three technical articles, four chapters of a series called 'Through Japan with a Camera', and a description of the 'Great Eruption at Mount Bandai.' The first article in 1889 appeared on 22 March ('The Stripping of Films from Gelatine Negatives for Photo-Mechanical Processes'), and the payment for this is shown in the diary on 31 March: <q>'£1. 0. 0 W. K. B. Brit Journ Phot.'</q>. After a further article had appeared in April and payment had been made, [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]] noted in his diary on 22 May (his thirtieth birthday): <q>'Sent W. K. B. his money 38-2-0.'</q> This was the proceeds from all the articles to date. 'Through Japan with a Camera' was continued during the summer and three further payments were sent to [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]] because of it.		[[The Firm of Girdlestone]] is dedicated to W. K. Burton whom [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]] had known since his childhood in Edinburgh and it was Burton's interest in photography which led [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]] to contribute articles to the [[The British Journal of Photography\|British Journal of Photography]]. Burton was a regular visitor to Bush Villas and in 1884 both he and [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]] began writing novels. Although he left England in the Spring of 1887 to take up an appointment as Professor of Sanitary Engineering at the Imperial University in Tokyo, Burton continued to send articles to the [[The British Journal of Photography\|British Journal of Photography]] and the diary shows that [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]] accepted the payments from Henry Greenwood (the proprietor of the magazine) on his behalf. During the previous year Burton sent three technical articles, four chapters of a series called 'Through Japan with a Camera', and a description of the 'Great Eruption at Mount Bandai.' The first article in 1889 appeared on 22 March ('The Stripping of Films from Gelatine Negatives for Photo-Mechanical Processes'), and the payment for this is shown in the diary on 31 March: <q>'£1. 0. 0 W. K. B. Brit Journ Phot.'</q>. After a further article had appeared in April and payment had been made, [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]] noted in his diary on 22 May (his thirtieth birthday): <q>'Sent W. K. B. his money 38-2-0.'</q> This was the proceeds from all the articles to date. 'Through Japan with a Camera' was continued during the summer and three further payments were sent to [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]] because of it.

	The most important entries in the diary relate to The Sign of Four which was written for Lippincott's Magazine. On 30 August 1889: 'Agreed to write Story of 45000 words for £100 for Lippincott'; on 30 September: '"The Sign of the Four" finshed & dispatched'; and on 2 November: '£100 from Lippincott'. The details of the famous lunch at the Langham Hotel with J. M. Stoddart at which Oscar Wilde was also a guest have been described elsewhere and it is sufficient to note that Doyle had started The White Company on 19 August, but set it to one side to fulfil this important commission.		The most important entries in the diary relate to [[The Sign of Four]] which was written for [[Lippincott's Monthly Magazine\|Lippincott's Magazine]]. On 30 August 1889: <q>'Agreed to write Story of 45000 words for £100 for Lippincott'</q>; on 30 September: <q>'"The Sign of the Four" finshed & dispatched'</q>; and on 2 November: <q>'£100 from Lippincott'</q>. The details of the famous lunch at the Langham Hotel with J. M. Stoddart at which Oscar Wilde was also a guest have been described elsewhere and it is sufficient to note that [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]] had started [[The White Company]] on 19 August, but set it to one side to fulfil this important commission.

	After The Sign of Four had been dispatched and because of his growing success, Doyle felt that he might now find a publisher for a collection of short stories. On 25 October hs diary states: 'Wrote to Boys Own Paper. London Society, Belgravia. and ~~Comhill~~ for tales', and four days later he wrote to Longman 'offering "Collected Tales"'. Their response was favourable and on 6 November he 'Sent 10 Tales to Longman'; then on 23 November: 'Agreed with Longman to publish "Captain of Polestar" at half profits. This very briefly is the publishing history of The Captain of the Polestar and Other Tales which was published the following March and which despite the publisher's limited expectations sold well. The Boy's Own Paper supplied 'Cyprian Overbeck Wells' (which appears in the book under the subtitle 'A Literary Mosaic'). From London Society came 'The Man from Archangel', 'That Little Square Box' and 'The Parson of Jackman's Gulch'. 'The Great Keinplatz Experiment' was from Belgravia, and from the Cornhill he took 'J. Habakuk Jephson's Statement', 'John Huxford's Hiatus' and 'The Ring of Thoth' (the last of these was still awaiting serial publication and did not appear until January 1890). The title story was from Temple Bar, and 'John Barrington Cowles' which had appeared in Cassell's Saturday Journal completed the volume. There is no record in the diary of Doyle having written to the last named magazines. but they were acknowledged with the others in the preface to the book.		After [[The Sign of Four]] had been dispatched and because of his growing success, [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]] felt that he might now find a publisher for a collection of short stories. On 25 October his diary states: <q>'Wrote to [[The Boy's Own Paper\|Boys Own Paper]], [[London Society]], [[Belgravia]], and [[The Cornhill Magazine\|Cornhill]] for tales'</q>, and four days later he wrote to Longman <q>'offering "Collected Tales"'</q>. Their response was favourable and on 6 November he <q>'Sent 10 Tales to Longman'</q>; then on 23 November: <q>'Agreed with Longman to publish "[[The Captain of the 'Pole-Star'\|Captain of Polestar]]" at half profits'</q>. This very briefly is the publishing history of [[The Captain of the Polestar and Other Tales]] which was published the following March and which despite the publisher's limited expectations sold well. [[The Boy's Own Paper]] supplied '[[Cyprian Overbeck Wells. A Literary Mosaic\|Cyprian Overbeck Wells]]' (which appears in the book under the subtitle 'A Literary Mosaic'). From [[London Society]] came '[[The Man from Archangel]]', '[[That Little Square Box]]' and '[[The Parson of Jackman's Gulch]]'. '[[The Great Keinplatz Experiment]]' was from [[Belgravia]], and from the [[The Cornhill Magazine\|Cornhill]] he took '[[J. Habakuk Jephson's Statement]]', '[[John Huxford's Hiatus]]' and '[[The Ring of Thoth]]' (the last of these was still awaiting serial publication and did not appear until January 1890). The title story was from [[Temple Bar]], and '[[John Barrington Cowles]]' which had appeared in [[Cassell's Saturday Journal]] completed the volume. There is no record in the diary of [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]] having written to the last named magazines, but they were acknowledged with the others in the preface to the book.

	When Doyle wrote to James Hogg of London Society on 25 October 1889, he may unwittingly have drawn the editor's attention to his early stories which had been sold outright and this may be why Hogg chose to select the seven which were published without authorisation as Mysteries and Adventures Alternatively, Hogg may have spurred Doyle ~~mto~~ action as he was responsible for an anthology called Strange Secrets which was ~~publshed~~ by Chatto & Windus in June 1889. This contained stories taken from London Society including one by Doyle, 'The Secret of Goresthorpe Grange'. Hogg subsequently arranged an American edition of Mysteries and Adventures under the title My Friend the Murderer and Other Stories with all eleven stones from London Society as well as Doyle's first published story from Chambers's Journal Hogg was also probably responsible for the Continental edition published in the 'English Library'. A note in later editions of Mysteries and Adventures (after it had been renamed The Gully of Bluemansdyke and Other Stories) states that the book had first appeared in 1889, but neiter Doyle nor the English Catalogue were aware of it until March of the following year.		When [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]] wrote to James Hogg of [[London Society]] on 25 October 1889, he may unwittingly have drawn the editor's attention to his early stories which had been sold outright and this may be why Hogg chose to select the seven which were published without authorisation as [[Mysteries and Adventures]]. Alternatively, Hogg may have spurred [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]] into action as he was responsible for an anthology called [[Strange Secrets]] which was published by [[Chatto & Windus]] in June 1889. This contained stories taken from [[London Society]] including one by [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]], '[[Selecting a Ghost\|The Secret of Goresthorpe Grange]]'. Hogg subsequently arranged an American edition of [[Mysteries and Adventures]] under the title [[My Friend the Murderer and Other Mysteries and Adventures\|My Friend the Murderer and Other Stories]] with all eleven stones from London Society as well as [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]]'s first published story from [[Chambers's Journal]] Hogg was also probably responsible for the Continental edition published in the 'English Library'. A note in later editions of [[Mysteries and Adventures]] (after it had been renamed [[The Gully of Bluemansdyke and Other Stories]]) states that the book had first appeared in 1889, but neiter [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]] nor the English Catalogue were aware of it until March of the following year.

	Two further works feature in the diary. On 17 April 1889: 'Sent "A Physiologist's Wife" to Longmans.' The next mention is on 26 April when it was sent to the Cornhill Magazine and then again on 13 June when it was returned. The diary shows it was offered to Blackwood the same day (though this is a day after the date on the letter which accompanied it and which is preserved in the Blackwood archive.) On 28 June Doyle at last achieved his early ambition by penetrating the 'stout Scottish barrier' which had refused his previous work: 'Blackwood accepted Physiologist's Wife. The story — which Doyle said was written under the influence of Henry James — appeared in Blackwood's Magazine in September 1890 and was collected in Round the Red Lamp. The other work is his essay on Robert Louis Stevenson, 'The Methods of Mr. Stevenson in Fiction'. After being offered to the Fortnightly Review on 14 October, and to the Nineteenth Century on 26 October, it was sent on 21 November to the National Review, accepted by them on 16 December, and published in January 1890. It was reprinted in the Boston Living Age the following month and extracts were included in J. A. Hammertun's Stevensoniana in 1903, but it is otherwise uncollected.		Two further works feature in the diary. On 17 April 1889: <q>'Sent "[[A Physiologist's Wife]]" to Longmans.'</q> The next mention is on 26 April when it was sent to the [[The Cornhill Magazine\|Cornhill Magazine]] and then again on 13 June when it was returned. The diary shows it was offered to [[Blackwood's Magazine\|Blackwood]] the same day (though this is a day after the date on the letter which accompanied it and which is preserved in the Blackwood archive.) On 28 June [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]] at last achieved his early ambition by penetrating the 'stout Scottish barrier' which had refused his previous work: <q>'Blackwood accepted Physiologist's Wife.'</q> The story — which [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]] said was written under the influence of Henry James — appeared in [[Blackwood's Magazine]] in September 1890 and was collected in [[Round the Red Lamp]]. The other work is his essay on Robert Louis Stevenson, '[[Mr. Stevenson's Methods in Fiction\|The Methods of Mr. Stevenson in Fiction]]'. After being offered to the [[The Fortnightly Review\|Fortnightly Review]] on 14 October, and to the [[The Nineteenth Century\|Nineteenth Century]] on 26 October, it was sent on 21 November to the [[The National Review\|National Review]], accepted by them on 16 December, and published in January 1890. It was reprinted in the Boston [[The Living Age\|Living Age]] the following month and extracts were included in J. A. Hammertun's Stevensoniana in 1903, but it is otherwise uncollected.

	There are three works which are not referred to in the diary: the reprint of A Study in Scarlet in March 1889, the anthology Strange Secrets issued in June, and 'The Bravoes of Market Drayton' which was published in Chambers's Journal on 24 August 1889. Doyle received no royalties from the first two and therefore had no reason to include them, but he should have received a payment from Chambers. Even if the article had been sent and paid for at an earlier date, he might have been expected to mention its publication. He is given as the author in an article which appeared in the magazine in 1895 alongside 'The Recollections of Captain Wilkie' — itself a very early story which had been discovered in their files, but there are no other known references to 'The Bravoes of Market Drayton' and until such evidence is found, a shadow of doubt must hang over the attribution.		There are three works which are not referred to in the diary: the reprint of A Study in Scarlet in March 1889, the anthology Strange Secrets issued in June, and 'The Bravoes of Market Drayton' which was published in Chambers's Journal on 24 August 1889. Doyle received no royalties from the first two and therefore had no reason to include them, but he should have received a payment from Chambers. Even if the article had been sent and paid for at an earlier date, he might have been expected to mention its publication. He is given as the author in an article which appeared in the magazine in 1895 alongside 'The Recollections of Captain Wilkie' — itself a very early story which had been discovered in their files, but there are no other known references to 'The Bravoes of Market Drayton' and until such evidence is found, a shadow of doubt must hang over the attribution.

TCDE-Team at 14:39, 3 February 2026

2026-02-03T14:39:33Z

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TCDE-Team at 14:09, 3 February 2026

2026-02-03T14:09:39Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:09, 3 February 2026
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	== Conan Doyle's Pocket Diary for 1889 ==		== Conan Doyle's Pocket Diary for 1889 ==
	[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p20-~~the~~-~~land~~-of-~~shadows~~.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|right\|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 20)]]		[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p20-conan-doyle-s-pocket-diary.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|right\|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 20)]]
	[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p21-~~the~~-~~land~~-of-~~shadows~~.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|right\|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 21)]]		[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p21-conan-doyle-s-pocket-diary.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|right\|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 21)]]
	[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p22-~~the~~-~~land~~-of-~~shadows~~.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|right\|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 22)]]		[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p22-conan-doyle-s-pocket-diary.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|right\|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 22)]]
	[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p23-~~the~~-~~land~~-of-~~shadows~~.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|right\|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 23)]]		[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p23-conan-doyle-s-pocket-diary.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|right\|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 23)]]
	[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p24-~~the~~-~~land~~-of-~~shadows~~.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|right\|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 24)]]		[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p24-conan-doyle-s-pocket-diary.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|right\|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 24)]]
	[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p25-~~the~~-~~land~~-of-~~shadows~~.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|right\|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 25)]]		[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p25-conan-doyle-s-pocket-diary.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|right\|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 25)]]
	[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p26-~~the~~-~~land~~-of-~~shadows~~.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|right\|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 26)]]		[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p26-conan-doyle-s-pocket-diary.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|right\|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 26)]]
	[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p27-~~the~~-~~land~~-of-~~shadows~~.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|right\|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 27)]]		[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p27-conan-doyle-s-pocket-diary.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|right\|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 27)]]
	[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p28-~~the~~-~~land~~-of-~~shadows~~.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|right\|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 28)]]		[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p28-conan-doyle-s-pocket-diary.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|right\|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 28)]]
	[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p29-~~the~~-~~land~~-of-~~shadows~~.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|right\|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 29)]]		[[File:acd-society-journal-1989-09-p29-conan-doyle-s-pocket-diary.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|right\|[[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (september 1989, p. 29)]]

	'''Blackwood's Pocket-Book and Diary. 1889.'''		'''Blackwood's Pocket-Book and Diary. 1889.'''
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	It seems probable that the 1889 diary is the first. Before then [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]] had pasted the letters from his publishers into a large scrapbook which he had been given as a wedding present and against them had recorded the dates that the various books were written. The scrapbook includes the letters from [[Ward, Lock & Co.\|Ward, Lock and Company]] concerning [[A Study in Scarlet]], several letters relating to '[[The Firm of Girdlestone\|Girdlestone and Co.]]' (as [[The Firm of Girdlestone]] was originally known), and the letters of rejection for [[Micah Clarke]]. It also has the proofs of a story from [[All The Year Round\|All the Year Round]], a copy of an article from the [[The British Journal of Photography\|British Journal of Photography]], the slip which accompanied the payment by the [[The Cornhill Magazine\|Cornhill Magazine]] for '[[J. Habakuk Jephson's Statement]]', and much else besides.		It seems probable that the 1889 diary is the first. Before then [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]] had pasted the letters from his publishers into a large scrapbook which he had been given as a wedding present and against them had recorded the dates that the various books were written. The scrapbook includes the letters from [[Ward, Lock & Co.\|Ward, Lock and Company]] concerning [[A Study in Scarlet]], several letters relating to '[[The Firm of Girdlestone\|Girdlestone and Co.]]' (as [[The Firm of Girdlestone]] was originally known), and the letters of rejection for [[Micah Clarke]]. It also has the proofs of a story from [[All The Year Round\|All the Year Round]], a copy of an article from the [[The British Journal of Photography\|British Journal of Photography]], the slip which accompanied the payment by the [[The Cornhill Magazine\|Cornhill Magazine]] for '[[J. Habakuk Jephson's Statement]]', and much else besides.

	The first entry in the diary is on 1 January 1889: '"Mystery of Cloomber" came out.' Other sources however suggest this was not the date of publication. The English Catalogue (which lists new books) shows that it was available during the last two weeks of December 1888 and even Harold Locke who rarely gives information about publication dates makes a point in his Bibliography of its having been ~~issucd~~ in December. The most ~~lkely~~ explanation is that the publishers, Ward and Downey. intended to issue the book at the beginning of January (and therefore dated the title page 1889) but as copies were available in December decided to bring the publication forward to take advantage of the Christmas market. Doyle is known to have presented a copy to the Town Library in Portsmouth on the 16 January 1889 and he had by then had it bound in a uniform style to 4 Study in Scarlet (which he had presented the previous year), but as he would have received advance copies this does not in itself provide evidence of the earlier date. A review of the book in the Hampshire Telegraph on 5 January 1889 suggests the later date, but again it is not conclusive as the review was ~~probabh~~ written by a friend who may have received the copy and details of publication from the author himself. The only other reference to The Mystery of Cloomber comes at the very end of the year. On 31 December 1889, Doyle records: 'Ward & Downey sent £20. 0. 0 on Account for Cloomber. Sold 3866 Copies to date'. As the publishers' ledgers are not thought to have survived, this offers 2 clue to the size of the original edition. It was perhaps 5000 copies - which would have been normal for a book in paper covers retailing at a shilling.		The first entry in the diary is on 1 January 1889: '"[[The Mystery of Cloomber\|Mystery of Cloomber]]" came out.' Other sources however suggest this was not the date of publication. The English Catalogue (which lists new books) shows that it was available during the last two weeks of December 1888 and even Harold Locke who rarely gives information about publication dates makes a point in his Bibliography of its having been issued in December. The most likely explanation is that the publishers, [[Ward & Downey\|Ward and Downey]], intended to issue the book at the beginning of January (and therefore dated the title page 1889) but as copies were available in December decided to bring the publication forward to take advantage of the Christmas market. [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]] is known to have presented a copy to the Town Library in Portsmouth on the 16 January 1889 and he had by then had it bound in a uniform style to [[A Study in Scarlet]] (which he had presented the previous year), but as he would have received advance copies this does not in itself provide evidence of the earlier date. A review of the book in the [[Hampshire Telegraph and Sussex Chronicle\|Hampshire Telegraph]] on 5 January 1889 suggests the later date, but again it is not conclusive as the review was probably written by a friend who may have received the copy and details of publication from the author himself. The only other reference to [[The Mystery of Cloomber]] comes at the very end of the year. On 31 December 1889, [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]] records: <q>'Ward & Downey sent £20. 0. 0 on Account for Cloomber. Sold 3866 Copies to date'</q>. As the publishers' ledgers are not thought to have survived, this offers a clue to the size of the original edition. It was perhaps 5000 copies — which would have been normal for a book in paper covers retailing at a shilling.

	The ~~mext~~ entry occurs two weeks later on 14 January 1889: 'Sent "The Great Brown Pericord Motor" to Longman'. This story, which was not collected in book form until The Last Galley in 1911, is of a far earlier date than was once supposed. Harold Locke has recorded the reprint in the Pictorial Magazine for 7 January 1905 and in Green and Gibson there is the appearance in the ~~frst~~ issue of Ludgate Weekly Magazine on 5 ~~Marsch~~ 1892 (and in the Boston Yankee Blade two months later), but it seems that it had appeared before then. After being rejected by Longmans, Temple Bar (to whom it was sent on 22 January), and Tit-Bits (~~seat~~ on 14 February and returned on 11 March), the diary states that it was forwarded to Tillotson on 26 March 1888. This was Tillotson's 'Newspaper Literature Syndicate' or 'Fiction Bureau' which specialised in the syndication of novels and short stories by 'eminent novelists and other well-~~kaown~~ authors.' Doyle's letter survives. It was sent from Bush Villas in Southsea on 27 March 1889 (rather than the day before) and reads:		The next entry occurs two weeks later on 14 January 1889: <q>'Sent "The Great Brown Pericord Motor" to Longman'</q>. This story, which was not collected in book form until [[The Last Galley]] in 1911, is of a far earlier date than was once supposed. Harold Locke has recorded the reprint in the Pictorial Magazine for 7 January 1905 and in Green and Gibson there is the appearance in the first issue of [[The Ludgate Weekly Magazine\|Ludgate Weekly Magazine]] on 5 March 1892 (and in the Boston Yankee Blade two months later), but it seems that it had appeared before then. After being rejected by [[Longmans, Green & Co.\|Longmans]], [[Temple Bar]] (to whom it was sent on 22 January), and [[Tit-Bits]] (sent on 14 February and returned on 11 March), the diary states that it was forwarded to Tillotson on 26 March 1888. This was Tillotson's 'Newspaper Literature Syndicate' or 'Fiction Bureau' which specialised in the syndication of novels and short stories by 'eminent novelists and other well-known authors.' [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]]'s letter survives. It was sent from Bush Villas in Southsea on 27 March 1889 (rather than the day before) and reads:


	: ~~Deas~~ Sir		: <q>Dear Sir</q>
	: I have been informed that short ~~dories~~ find a ready market with you - I therefore send one "The Great Brown-Pericord Motor" which may perhaps suit you.		: <q>I have been informed that short stories find a ready market with you — I therefore send one "[[The Great Brown-Pericord Motor]]" which may perhaps suit you.</q>
	: I am the author of two shilling books "A Study in Scarlet" and "The Mystery of Cloomber" which have both had very good sales. I enclose press opinions of the former. Longman has just brought out a 6/- book of mine "Micah Clarke" which, judging from the press notices, is likely to be even more ~~succesdul~~ than the smaller ones.		: <q>I am the author of two shilling books "[[A Study in Scarlet]]" and "[[The Mystery of Cloomber]]" which have both had very good sales. I enclose press opinions of the former. Longman has just brought out a 6/- book of mine "[[Micah Clarke]]" which, judging from the press notices, is likely to be even more successful than the smaller ones.</q>
	: Yours faithfully, A. Conan Doyle, MD		: <q>Yours faithfully, A. Conan Doyle, MD</q>


	Tillotson must then have offered terms, for on 3 April 1889, Doyle ~~wote~~ back in characteristic style: 'Dear Sir, All right. Yours truly, Arthur Conan Doyle, MD'. The diary shows that it was formally accepted on 10 April and suggests that it was published twice during the year as he received two guineas (the cost of a single serial use) on 23 April and again on 13 December.		Tillotson must then have offered terms, for on 3 April 1889, [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Doyle]] wrote back in characteristic style: <q>'Dear Sir, All right. Yours truly, Arthur Conan Doyle, MD'</q>. The diary shows that it was formally accepted on 10 April and suggests that it was published twice during the year as he received two guineas (the cost of a single serial use) on 23 April and again on 13 December.

	With hindsight the most important event in 1889 was the writing of the second Sherlock Holmes story, but as far as Conan Doyle was concerned the year was made memorable by the publication of Micah Clarke and the start on The White Company. Micah Clarke had been completed early the previous year and was offered to Blackwood's a the begining of March 1888. Their reader found much that was good but comphined of certam imperfections. such as the tendency of the characters to behave as if they were from the nineteenth century rather than the seventeenth. In April 1888 the book was offered to Richard Bentley and Sons and was rejected dter a cursory examination on account of the lack of imterest. It was also rejected by James Payn. the editor of the Cornhill, and by the People who returned the manuscript at the end of August. It then went to Longmans, Green and Company and was accepted on 29 October 1888 (with the offer of a ten per cent royalty). Andrew Lang. the reader who recommended publication, was a close friend of Charles Longman and a regular contributor to Longman's Magazine		With hindsight the most important event in 1889 was the writing of the second Sherlock Holmes story, but as far as Conan Doyle was concerned the year was made memorable by the publication of Micah Clarke and the start on The White Company. Micah Clarke had been completed early the previous year and was offered to Blackwood's a the begining of March 1888. Their reader found much that was good but comphined of certam imperfections. such as the tendency of the characters to behave as if they were from the nineteenth century rather than the seventeenth. In April 1888 the book was offered to Richard Bentley and Sons and was rejected dter a cursory examination on account of the lack of imterest. It was also rejected by James Payn. the editor of the Cornhill, and by the People who returned the manuscript at the end of August. It then went to Longmans, Green and Company and was accepted on 29 October 1888 (with the offer of a ten per cent royalty). Andrew Lang. the reader who recommended publication, was a close friend of Charles Longman and a regular contributor to Longman's Magazine