Letter to Herbert Greenhough Smith (8 february 1897)

From The Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia

This letter was written by Arthur Conan Doyle on 8 february 1897 to Herbert Greenhough Smith, The Strand Magazine editor, about his novel The Tragedy of the Korosko serialized from may to december 1897.

Conan Doyle asked Smith to have Sidney Paget as the illustrator, which was accepted as Paget drew 46 illustrations for this novel.


Letter

Moorlands
Hindhead
Feb. 8/97

My dear Smith

I thought it only right to let you have a few particulars about the serial. It is called "The Tragedy of the Korosko." It will run from 35000 to 40,000 words — possibly a little over. It will, I think, make ideal the kind of thing you want. I have it nearly finished but I want to deliver it 'exbloc' as that gives me a chance of comparing the beginning and tightening it all up. I should like Paget for my artist, if it is feasible. Dealing as it does with the Egyptian Question of the Dervishes it ought to do at present. I hope it will make the man in the bus realise what a Dervish means, as he never did before.

Yours,

A. C. Doyle.