https://www.arthur-conan-doyle.com/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Notecard_about_James_PaynNotecard about James Payn - Revision history2026-06-04T08:20:13ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.44.2https://www.arthur-conan-doyle.com/index.php?title=Notecard_about_James_Payn&diff=94217&oldid=prevTCDE-Team at 09:06, 28 February 20202020-02-28T09:06:58Z<p></p>
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This notecard was written by [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] on 12 november [1926] from Bignell Wood, Minstead, Lyndhurst, Hants, to an unknown recipient.<br />
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[[James Payn]] was his friend and editor of [[Chambers's Journal]] and [[The Cornhill Magazine]]. In the letter, Conan Doyle is referring to the final six [[Sherlock Holmes]] stories he would write, published in [[The Strand Magazine]] from october 1926 and april 1927, concluding with [[The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place]].<br />
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== Letter ==<br />
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I remember old James Payn when I was his pupil giving me the standing rule "Never argue with a critic". I have kept it fairly well (save in psychic matters) and I do not feel galled by criticism for I always feel that if one does the very best one can Time will sort it out and what is worthy will remain & what dies should die. Therefore I hardly know why I wrote to you save that it is an interesting point to argue how far a falling off is real or apparent & how far the fresh mind reacts as it used to do. I was conscious at one time that Holmes was strained & for some years I only wrote one story a year. I can truly say I have never written to order or allowed the money side of it to influence me at all. But I have not felt him strained in this last series of six. Five of these are done, and I will not do the sixth if I have any reason to think there is a real declension. I have my ear on the ground. In any case thank you for your frank criticism & courteous letter. I should be a fool indeed if I resented what is honestly said. By all means make any reference you like.<br />
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: Yours sincerely<br />
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:: A. Conan Doyle<br />
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Nov 12 [1926]<br />
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* [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle:Letters|Back to Conan Doyle's letters]]<br />
* [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle|Back to Conan Doyle]]</div>TCDE-Team