The Stark Munro Letters (review 30 october 1895)
This article is a review of the Arthur Conan Doyle's novel The Stark Munro Letters written by O. O. published in The Sketch on 30 october 1895.
Review
"The Stark Munro Letters," by Dr. Conan Doyle (Longmans), is interesting in a way, and may be taken generally as reflecting some experiences of the author. It is not without good bits and sketches, and these one is tempted to overpraise in view of the general worthlessness of the book. But there can be no doubt the story is quite unworthy of Dr. Doyle's real talent. It has evidently been written with the utmost facility, and with an almost insolent confidence in the author's hold on the public — a confidence which is sure to be quietly and strongly resented. If Dr. Doyle is to make a place in English letters, he must work for it. Some great things he wants. He has no humour, no pathos, no genius, no distinction. But he has the gift of the story-teller in a high degree, and when be chooses he can fascinate his reader. In the "Stark Munro Letters" he figures to some extent as a philosopher and theologian. This is a mistake. We seem to be listening to a middle-aged Bob Sawyer.
