ACD's Correspondence with The Belgravia
ACD's Correspondence with The Belgravia is an article written by Christopher Roden and Matthew Demakos published in the A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society (Vol. 9, june 1999).
The article presents and analyzes a collection of letters sent by Arthur Conan Doyle to the editor of the magazine Belgravia between 1882 and 1892. These letters document Conan Doyle's early efforts to publish stories, his negotiations with editors and publishers, and the development of several works.
ACD's Correspondence with The Belgravia
More months ago than it is reasonable to remember (though he has reminded me on frequent occasions since), Matthew Demakos visited The Pierpont Morgan Library, 29 East 36th Street, New York on an Introduction from The Arthur Conan Doyle Society. The main purpose of his visit was to view the manuscript of his own favourite Conan Doyle novel, Sir Nigel, but the occasion also presented him with an opportunity to view other Conan Doyle holdings in The Pierpont Morgan's collection. It is a portion of these holdings on which this article will concentrate: further articles will appear in due course.
Matthew's visit revealed that The Pierpont Morgan Library holds a series of twenty-six letters from Conan Doyle to the editor of the Belgravia. He describes the collection as follows: 26 letters to the editor of the Belgravia from 1882 to 1892. Most of the letters are short and written on one side of a note card. Some are folded note cards and written on two or three sides. They have various letterheads and sizes. Also included is one typed letter to Doyle.' The Pierpont Morgan Library describes the holding as 'Arthur Conan Doyle's letters to the editor of Belgravia and Chatto and Windus (accession number MA4500)': the letters to Chatto and Windus begin at #16 below. Chatto and Windus was begun in 1855 by John Camden Hotten and occupied premises at 151 Piccadilly, London. Following Hotten's death in 1873, the firm was sold to a junior partner, Andrew Chatto, for £25,000. Chatto's partner was minor poet W. E. Windus. Chatto expanded the business in the 1870s and purchased the magazine Belgravia (founded 1866) from John Maxwell in 1876, at the same time acquiring a large number of fiction copyrights for reissue in the 'Piccadilly Library'.
I had hoped to inspect the collection myself when Barbara and I visited New York in January 1999. Unfortunately, a number of the items had been withdrawn in preparation for an exhibition, and it was not possible to do so. However, I feel it unreasonable to delay publication of this article for any further length of time, and therefore the quotations used in this article rely on Matthew Demakos's transcription of the letters in question. With luck, all of the material will be available for inspection on our next visit to New York.
C.R.
- Letter #1
- 1 Dumford Street
- Plymouth [undated] (1)
- Dear Sir,
- I am sending a little sketch entitled 'Reminiscences of the Crimea' (2) which will, I hope be suited to your periodical — I think as the denouement is rather startling it might do for the Midsummer Number. Though this is the first piece which I have contributed to 'Belgravia' I am the author of many stories which have been very successful — among others 'The Sassassa [sic per transcript] Valley' (3) and 'Captain Wilkie' (4) in Chambers's Journal. 'A Night among Nihilists' (5) 'That Little Square Box' (6) 'Bones' (7) 'The Gully of Bluemansdyke' (8) and many others (9) to 'London Society'.
- Would you mind returning it in case it should not suit.
- Believe me,
- Yours Sincerely.
- A. Conan Doyle. M B (10)
1 Seemingly, either May or June 1882. Rodin ('A Plymouth Adventure: Arthur Conan Doyle and George Turnavine Budd'. Baker Street Miscellanea, 57, p. 10) notes that 'He practiced there only in 1882, for only six weeks'. This is consistent with Carr's note (The Life of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. London: John Murray, 1949; p. 47, that 'Budd.... waited, brooding, until June...'), and with Stavert (A Study in Southsea. Portsmouth: Milestone Publications, 1987; p. 9), that ACD had left Plymouth by the end of June. An undated letter in the Berg Collection of New York Public Library (written to Dr Reginald Ratcliff Hoare] is addressed 6 Elliott Terrace, The Hoe, Plymouth. In it, ACD writes, 'This place [Elliott Terrace] is his [Budd's] private residence now and all the business is done at Durnford Street. In any event, the letter had to have been written prior to 2 July 1882, when Conan Doyle was already settled at 1 Bush Villas, Elm Grove, Southsea (see Letter #3).
2 There seems little doubt that the story referred to was that eventually published as 'That Veteran' in All the Year Round, 2 September 1882. See Letter #3 where ACD requests its return should it be considered unsuitable.
3 'The Mystery of Sasassa Valley'. Chambers's Journal, 6 September 1879.
4 'The Recollections of Captain Wilkie'. Herein lies something of a problem. ACD's letter to Belgravia suggests that the story has already been published by Chambers's Journal. However, Green & Gibson records the first publication of the story as being in the issues dated 19/26 January 1895. Further, the 1895 publication in Chambers's Journal was prefaced with a note that this was an early story [private conversation with Richard Lancelyn Green]. It is interesting to note that McClure's Magazine in the U.S. published the story in April 1895. Did, one wonders, the sale of the U.S. rights prompt the author to recall that the story had not previously been published by Chambers's Journal, leading him to prompt that Journal for publication, or did Chambers's Journal actually publish the story in an earlier, so far untraced, form, and decide to revive it at the same time as the U.S. publication?
5 Published as 'A Night among the Nihilists'. London Society, April 1881.
6 'That Little Square Box'. London Society, Xmas 1881.
7 Published as 'Bones, The April Fool of Harvey's Sluice'. London Society, April 1882.
8 'The Gully of Bluemansdyke'. London Society, Xmas 1881.
9 'And Many Others' would seem to be something of an exaggeration. The only other so-far traced stories which appeared in London Society prior to the [probable] date of ACD's letter are 'The American's Tale' (London Society, Xmas 1880), and 'Our Derby Sweepstakes' (May 1882). He would eventually have a further five stories published by the magazine: 'The Parson of Jackman's Gulch' (Xmas 1885), 'My Friend the Murderer' (Xmas 1882), 'The Silver Hatchet' (Xmas 1883). 'The Man from Archangel' (January 1885), and 'Selecting a Ghost' (December 1883), but none of these can form part of the equation currently under consideration.
10 A normal signature for the time. ACD was not awarded his M.D. from Edinburgh until 1885.
- Letter #2
- 7 Finborough Road London S.W. [undated] (11)
- Dear Sir,
- I am sending a short sketch entitled the 'End of a Joke' (12) which may be deemed worthy of a place in your Journal. I may mention that I have been for some time a pretty constant contributor both to Chambers Journal and 'London Society'. The 'Gully of Bluemansdyke' (13) and 'the Little Square Box' (14) in the xmas number of the latter were both from my pen.
- Trusting that this little story may be as successful as its predecessors have uniformally been.
- I remain
- Sincerely yours
- A. Conan Doyle M.B.
11 The address is that of Richard (Dicky) Doyle's studio in London. Does this letter answer the question posed by Catherine Cooke and Alvin E. Rodin? (Arthur Conan Doyle in London. Part I: In Baker Street and Beyond'. Baker Street Miscellanea 73, p. 21): ... he made a brief visit to his relatives in 1882 to discuss his future and his rejection of Roman Catholicism, a visit that seems to have ended in a rift between them forever. Carr, Higham and Nordon all put the visit at Cambridge Terrace. It cannot have been, but we cannot now say with any certainty whether it was Clifton Gardens or Finborough Road.'
12 I believe that the story referred to here is 'Gentlemanly Joe', published in All the Year Round, 31 March 1883, under what, it has to be said, was a much better title than the one ACD first mooted.
13 London Society, Xmas 1881.
14 London Society, Xmas 1881.
- Letter #3
- 1 Bush Villas
- Elm Grove
- Southsea
- Dear Sir,
- I had the honour to send you a short time (15) ago a sketch entitled 'Reminiscences of a Veteran' (16). Should it be judged unsuitable for your periodical would you do me the kindness to return it to the above, which is now my permanent address. I enclose stamps and remain
- Faithfully yours
- A Conan Doyle. M.B.
- Editor 'Belgravia'
- July 2nd /82 (17)
15 Here we have an indication of the impatience of the blossoming author. Less than two months after submitting his story to a major magazine of the times, ACD was enquiring as to its fate. It would appear that he received his package more or less by return. Certainly in time to submit it elsewhere: All the Year Round must have accepted the story immediately, for it published 'That Veteran' on 2 September 1882.
16 Another indication of ACD's lack of consistency. In his earlier letter, he called the story 'Reminiscences of the Crimea'.
17 Would that ACD had dated all of his letters so clearly!
- Letter #4
- 1 Bush Villas
- Elm Grove
- Southsea
- Dear Sir,
- I venture to try my fortune once again with 'My Lecture on Guncotton' (18) which I send by this post. I think it might prove acceptable for the Xmas number (19). I have written a good many Xmas stories for different magazines, and this seems to me to be incomparably the best of them.
- Believe me
- Yours Sincerely
- A. Conan Doyle. MD.
- Sept 20th /82
18 There is no doubt that this is the story eventually published as 'An Exciting Christmas Eve, or, My Lecture on Dynamite'.
19 Belgravia obviously thought otherwise. The story saw first publication in Boy's Own Paper, Christmas 1883.
- Letter #5
- 1 Bush Villas
- Elm Grove Southsea
- Dear Sir,
- In sending you a story entitled 'My Lecture on Guncotton' recently I am afraid that I forgot to enclose stamps. I now send them hoping that you will have the kindness to return it if not acceptable.
- Yours sincerely,
- A. Conan Doyle
- M. B.
- Oct 11th /82 (20)
20 There is a note of urgency in ACD's letter-almost as if he has 'planned a strategy' with Belgravia. His follow-up letter is dated less than three weeks after his submission-surely optimistic by anyone's standards!
- Letter #6
- 1 Bush Villas
- Elm Grove
- Southsea
- Dear Sir,
- Should you find no use for my MS of My lecture on Guncotton' perhaps you will do me the kindness to send it to the above address. I have, I think, enclosed stamps in a former letter for that purpose.
- Faithfully yours,
- A Conan Doyle. MB.
- Nov. 13th /82 (21)
21 A month has gone by, and ACD decides the time is right for another reminder to bring himself to the editor's notice. It obviously did not work. As noted in (19) above, the story was eventually published in Boy's Own Paper, which can only lead us to the conclusion that Belgravia sent the manuscript back to ACD following this letter.
- Letter #7
- Bush Villas Southsea
- Dear Sir,
- I am sending by this post an M.S. entitled 'A story of Uffa' (22) which I hope may be found worthy of a place in 'Belgravia'.
- I have contributed at different times to 'Cornhill' (23) 'Temple Bar' (24) 'London Society' (25) and I think nearly every other good magazine with the exception of your own. Trusting that this may break fresh ground
- I am,
- Sincerely yours
- A. Conan Doyle. MB
- Oct 19th /83
22 It seems certain that the story in question is 'Our Midnight Visitor'. Belgravia, once again, seems not to have taken a shine to ACD, and it appears that his story was eventually returned. Whether or not ACD tried other magazines prior to Temple Bar is not known. However, we can be certain that 'Our Midnight Visitor' 'went the rounds' before it was eventually accepted for publication in Temple Bar, finally appearing in February 1891, some seven years after its original composition.
23 ACD's remark regarding Cornhill may have been justified in the light of a recent acceptance. However, his first story published in that magazine, 'J. Habakuk Jephson's Statement', did not appear in print until January 1884. Perhaps we should read his 'I have contributed' as meaning 'I have recently submitted'.
24 Temple Bar had published 'The Captain of the Pole-Star' in January 1883. and would publish a further story, 'The Heiress of Glenmahowley' in January 1884.
25 ACD's contributions to London Society are noted in (9).
- Letter #8
- Bush Villas
- Southsea (undated] (26)
- Dear Sir,
- I am sending up by this post a tale called 'The Great Keinplatz Experiment' which I hope may be suitable for Belgravia. I have written for Cornhill, Temple Bar and London Society but I have never yet succeeded in contributing to your magazine. Hoping this venture may be more successful. (27)
- I am
- Faithfully yours
- A. Conan Doyle MB
26 But written prior to 5 January 1884, the date on which ACD sent a reminder to Belgravia (see letter #9).
27 It was. But the magazine held the story for some time. The Great Keinplatz Experiment' did not appear in Belgravia until July 1885.
- Letter #9
- 1 Bush Villas
- Southsea
- Dear Sir,
- You have a M.S. of mine entitled 'The Great Kein-platz experiment'. Should it not suit you I should be very much obliged if you would send it back to me
- Yours sincerely
- A Conan Doyle
- Jan 5th /84
- Letter #10
- Bush Villas
- Southsea
- Dear Sir,
- I send by this post a story entitled 'John Barrington Cowles' which may be deemed worthy of a place in Belgravia.
- Though I have never contributed for your journal yet 'Habakuk Jephson' in January Cornhill and 'The Heiress of Glenmahowley' in January Temple Bar were both from my pen.
- Perhaps if unsuitable you will have the goodness to return it. Yours Sincerely
- A. Conan Doyle
- Feb 27th /84 (28)
28 Rejection must have been immediate. Certainly ACD must have very quickly submitted the story to Cassell's Saturday Journal, which magazine published the story in its issues for 12/19 April 1884.
- Letter #11
- 1 Bush Villas
- Southsea
- Dear Sir,
- I am sending you up another story The Man with the Mattock (29) which I am afraid is also open to the charge of being horrible. (30) It has no preternatural element in it however, and may perhaps suit you.
- Faithfully yours
- A. Conan Doyle
- March 11th /84
29 This reference is sufficient to send excitement coursing through the blood, for there is no story of Conan Doyle's, published during this period, whose plot and details readily fit the title ACD quotes in this letter. The previously unrecorded 'The Blood-Stone Tragedy' may have been a possible contender, but that appeared in Cassell's Saturday Journal, some weeks prior to ACD's letter, on 16 February 1884. One is tempted to think, therefore, that we may be reading of another unknown, uncredited story. However, it seems likely that ACD was being fairly loose with his definition of 'mattock', and what he intended to convey was, in fact, an axe of some kind. This enables us to be more positive in our search, and point to the story 'Uncle Jeremy's Household' as being the likely candidate. If this is the case, it appears that the story sat in Belgravia's files for some months before either (a) the magazine returned it of its own accord, or (b) ACD sent another one of his follow-up letters asking for its return. Certainly, Conan Doyle appears to have done nothing more with the story for more than a year, Green and Gibson noting (Bibliography, p. 401) that it was submitted to Blackwood's Magazine in late July or early August 1885 (and returned on 10 August 1885). Following that, we hear nothing more of either 'The Man with the Mattock' or 'Uncle Jeremy's Household' until the story was published in Boy's Own Paper on 8 January 1887. It has to be said that, if this is the chain of events, and if the story in question is, indeed, 'Uncle Jeremy's Household', the final title was much better than that under which ACD originally intended it to appear.
30 It appears from this remark that the editor of Belgravia had previously given ACD reasons for rejecting his earlier submissions.
- Letter #12
- Bush Villas
- Southsea
- Dear Sir,
- I am sending by this post a story entitled 'The man from Archangel' (31) which may, I hope, be found worthy of a place in 'Belgravia'
- Yours sincerely
- A. Conan Doyle
- June 24th/84
31 ACD was nothing if not persistent in his efforts to achieve publication in Belgravia. One wonders what the attraction of the magazine was to him, since he was obviously having difficulty supplying material that suited the editor's tastes. 'The Man from Archangel' was to be another rejection, and eventually saw publication in London Society, January 1885.
- Letter #13
- Bush Villas Southsea
- Dear Sir,
- I am somewhat anxious about the fate of a story called 'The Great Keinplatz Experiment' which I sent to you some months ago. I enclose stamps for its return should it be unsuitable to your pages.
- Yours sincerely
- A Conan Doyle. MB
- Feb/85 (32)
32 A year has passed since ACD last contacted the magazine about this story (see Letter #9). This time he may have been successful in prompting further action, and this letter could well have been answered with a letter of acceptance. Whether or not that was the case, the story was to appear in Belgravia five months later, in July 1885.
- Letter #14
- Dear Sir
- I append a receipt for £3..17..6. (33) I am bound to say that it is somewhat less than a third of what I have been in the habit during the past six years of receiving for stories of the same length. (34)
- Yours sincerely
- A Conan Doyle
- Jul 11. 85
33 Presumably this is payment for 'The Great Keinplatz Experiment', whose word count is 6,250. Belgravia's rate of £1 per 1.600 words seems somewhat less than generous.
34 This would seem to indicate that ACD had no idea, in advance of publication, of the payment he would be receiving for a particular story. Perhaps in his desire to gain a foothold with Belgravia he had omitted to ask, and it seems that any acceptance letter he may have received from Belgravia omitted to note the magazine's payment rates.
- Letter #15
- Bush Villas
- Southsea Nov 4 /85
- Dear Sir,
- Very many thanks for your kindness in allowing me to use the story. (35) The Source of it shall be duly acknowledged when published
- Yours sincerely
- A Conan Doyle. MD (36)
35 Since The Great Keinplatz Experiment' is the only recorded appearance of an ACD story in Belgravia, it has to be assumed that, following its publication in July 1885, ACD had been successful in selling the story for inclusion in an anthology. Whether or not the approach was made by ACD or by the publisher is not ascertainable. However, Belgravia seems, in this instance, to have assented to use of the story in Dreamland and Ghostland, the three volume collection of 'Tales and Warnings from the Borderland of Substance and Shadow', published by George Redway in October 1887. Conan Doyle's contributions appeared in the second volume ('J. Habakuk Jephson's Statement') and the third volume ('The Great Keinplatz Experiment', 'Selecting a Ghost', 'The Ghosts of Goresthorpe Grange', 'The Mystery of Sasassa Valley', 'The Captain of the 'Pole-Star', and 'John Barrington Cowles'. These were the first Conan Doyle stories to appear in book form in England.
36 For the first time in this series of correspondence, ACD is able to use the title MD, conferred by Edinburgh University in July 1885.
- Letter #16
- Bush Villa
- Southsea
- Oct 30th /89
- Dear Sir,
- I have a novel 'The Firm of Girdlestone' which is just beginning to come out in 'The People'. (37) I have not made any arrangements as to its ultimate publication. It has been so very largely advertised by 'The People' that I cannot help thinking that if it comes out in book form immediately it ceases to run in the paper, the publishers will reap the benefit of that advertising.
- My only other large book 'Micah Clarke' (38) has run rapidly through three editions, is on the eve of a fourth, and the sale, I learn, increases instead of going off. My two smaller books 'A Study in Scarlet' (39) and 'The Mystery of Cloomber' (40) have both been fairly successful.
- I think therefore that what with the 'People' connection, and what with the success of 'Micah Clarke' there is every prospect of a run for 'The Firm of Girdlestone'.
- I published 'Micah Clarke' with Longmans on a Royalty System which has paid me very well, and I hope will do so more. This book however I wish to sell outright as I propose moving to London (41) and the money is therefore needful to me. I send you the first 6 or 8 chapters as a sample + could send you the proofs of about half of it It is sensational + stirring and works steadily up to a climax. You are the first publisher to whom I have submitted it (42) since selling the serial rights. If you see your way to making me a fairly liberal offer I shall be happy to do business with you only reserving to myself the right of selling advance sheets to the United States, since I have had several applications for them from American houses. (43)
- Yours faithfully
- A. Conan Doyle. MD.
- 'Girdlestone' is rather smaller than 'Micah Clarke' about 350 closely printed pages.
37 The People serialised 'The Firm of Girdlestone' between 27 October 1889 and 13 April 1890.
38 Longmans, Green, and Co. published 1,000 copies of Micah Clarke on 25 February 1889. Green & Gibson note (A Bibliography of A. Conan Doyle, p. 19) that the book was written in 1887 and sent to James Payn, the editor of the Cornhill Magazine in 1888. Payn was disparaging, and Blackwoods also rejected it. Finally it was sent to Longmans where it was read by Andrew Lang. A contract was signed on 29 October 1888, with the author to receive a ten per cent royalty [see Conan Doyle's comment regarding this in the third paragraph of this letter]. Green & Gibson further note, 'A further two thousand copies were printed that year, and at the beginning of the following year the book was included in the Silver Library with an initial printing of two thousand copies.'
39 A Study in Scarlet, whose first English book edition was published by Ward, Lock & Co in early July 1888, had run to its second impression (March 1889) by the time ACD wrote this letter.
40 The Mystery of Cloomber was published by Ward and Downey in December 1888, having been written between April and July of that year.
41 ACD's mention of plans to move to London reinforce Rodin & Key's suggestion (Rodin, Alvin E. & Jack D. Key. Medical Casebook of Doctor Arthur Conan Doyle. Malabar, Fl.: Robert E. Krieger, 1984; p. 54-5) that his decision to move to London was not an abrupt one, and that it was not due to his chance meeting with Malcolm Morris in November 1890. even if that meeting may have precipitated the final break with Southsea. Despite his early plans, ACD was not to leave Southsea for a further year, at the end of 1890.
42 One wonders why, with the growing success of Micah Clarke under his belt, ACD chose Chatto & Windus in preference to Longmans. Possibly he already had indications that Longmans would not be prepared to consider a contract other than on a royalty basis and, given his need for capital to assist his move to London, decided that he should approach a new publisher at the outset. However, it is clear that he was prepared to negotiate his terms [see Letter #17].
43 Green and Gibson note the first American publication in 1890, as No. 65 of Lovell's International Series. Paper 50 cents, cloth $1.50.
- Letter #17
- Bush Villa
- Southsea
- Nov 7th /89
- Dear Sir,
- I shall send on the complete slips of The Firm of Girdlestone' as soon as I receive them from the printers. I have about half of them now but thought it best to retain them until I had it all.
- I should be willing to sell the complete copyright in England Colonies for £500 down or I would take £250 down and retain a royalty of 15 per cent on the retail price to begin after the sale on 7000 copies.
- Yours faithfully
- A Conan Doyle. MD.
- Letter #18
- Bush Villa
- Southsea
- Nov 11th /89
- Dear Sir,
- I am sending up by this post slips of chapters 67 to 22 of 'The Firm of Girdlestone'. The first six I have already sent. The remainder I expect every day and shall instantly forward. Yours faithfully
- A Conan Doyle. MD
- Messrs. Chatto + Windus.
- Letter #19
- Bush Villa
- Southsea
- Jan 11th /90
- Dear Sir,
- I send you the slips of 'The firm of Girdlestone'
and Co.(44) The next lot will finish it. I should like your decision as soon as you can arrive at it, as I would like my publisher, whoever he may be (45), to have the advantage of the large sum which has been expended in advertising the serial both in London + in the Provinces. This can only be done by having the book out promptly when it ceases to run, which will be, I fancy. about the end of March. - I may say that 'Micah Clarke' has sold out another edition since I wrote last. Longman are bringing out a cheaper 3/6 edition (46) now, and are also bringing out a collection of stories 'The Captain of the Polestar' which will be out in March (47). I occupy Lippincott of next month too with a novel 'The sign of four' (48) — so I have hopes that all these ventures will react upon the sale of 'The Firm of Girdlestone'.
- I expect the remaining slips within a week or so shall send them on instantly.
- Yours faithfully
- A Conan Doyle. MD
44 ACD began to write 'Girdlestone and Co., the name of the firm as it appeared on the opening page of the novel: 'GIRDLESTONE AND CO., African Merchants.' ACD, apparently realising his error. deleted and Co. and squeezed the words 'The firm of' between the lines.
45 Although ACD has been in contact with Chatto & Windus regarding his novel for some three months, the publisher has obviously not yet signified acceptance, presumably wishing to wait until the complete text is in their hands.
46 The Silver Library edition.
47 The Captain of the Polestar and Other Tales was published by Longmans on 6 March 1890 in an edition of 750 copies. A further 750 copies were prepared during the same month. (Green and Gibson.)
48 The J.M. Stoddart-commissioned novel. It is interesting to note ACD's disregard of capitals for the title, and also that he has dropped 'the' from the title as originally published (The Sign of the Four). Even though Sherlock Holmes is in the making at this stage, ACD obviously does not regard his existence as being of sufficient importance to mention him to Chatto & Windus as a character in the novel.
- Letter #20
- Bush Villa
- Southsea
- [n.d., but card is postmarked 'Portsmouth JA17 90']
- Dear Sir,
- I send by this post the 70 slips of 'Girdlestone' which you have already seen and also an additional 10 slips. About 20 more will finish it.
- Yours faithfully
- A Conan Doyle.
- Letter #21
- Bush Villas Southsea
- [n.d.. but card is postmarked 'Portsmouth JA16 90]
- Dear Sir.
- Re. The Firm of Girdlestone
- Shall send on proofs. But should like to look over them first + make alterations to save trouble afterwards. I think, as I said before, that it would be well to push on the publication (49), so as to get the benefits of the 'People's' advertising
- A Conan Doyle. MD
49 Although there is nothing in the correspondence to suggest that Chatto & Windus have agreed terms, publication seems to be more or less settled at this stage.
- Letter #22
- Bush Villas Southsea
- Dear Sir,
- I have, as I think I mentioned in my original letter to you sold the American and Canadian rights (50) of 'Girdlestone'.
- Very truly yours
- A Conan Doyle
- Jan 30th /90
50 In fact, ACD had indicated that he wished to reserve the right of selling advance sheets to the United States. There was no mention of Canada. Green and Gibson note that the novel preceded the [U.S.] Copyright Act and there are therefore a great number of unauthorized American editions.
- Letter #23
- Bush Villas
- Southsea
- March 13th /90
- Dear Sir.
- The Serial of Girdlestone will expire about the end of the first week in April, after which of course we are at liberty to publish (51)
- Yours faithfully
- A Conan Doyle.
- Longman told me today that the first Edition of my tales 'Captain of Polestar' were sold on day of publication.
51 Serial publication in the People ended on 13 April 1890. Chatto & Windus published the first book edition on 15 April.
- Letter #24
- Bush Villas Southsea
- June 4th /90
- Dear Sir,
- May I ask what the 'Strange Secrets' (52) book is, to which my name is attached. I never heard of such a book until I saw it in your list. Perhaps you would kindly send me a copy.
- Re Girdlestone might I suggest that an extract from the very nice critique in the Daily Telegraph (53), such as 'The Novel is an excellent one + everyone will read it this summer' would tell more than the Scottish Leader extract which you now use—
- Yours very truly
- A Conan Doyle
52 Strange Secrets was published by Chatto & Windus in June 1889, and included ACD's 'The Secret of Goresthorpe Grange' (the alternative title of Selecting a Ghost. The Ghosts of Goresthorpe Grange, not to be confused with the unpublished 'The Haunted Grange of Goresthorpe' [held in the Blackwood's Archives, National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh]. For a brief description of the latter, see Roden, Christopher 'Supernatural Oddities from Arthur Conan Doyle' in All Hallows 19: The Journal of The Ghost Story Society Ashcroft, British Columbia: The Ghost Story Society, October 1998.
53 Green and Gibson note that The Firm of Girdlestone was included as one of the hundred best novels in the Daily Telegraph Library, the selection being made by the editor, with the assistance of Sir Edwin Arnold, H. D. Traill, and W. L. Courtney.
- Letter #25
- Feb 4 /92
- 12 Tennison Road
- South Norwood
- Dear Sir,
- I believe that my periodical agent Mr Watt has already made arrangement about the publication (54). I am sorry that your note came too late.
- I should be very much obliged if you would remove my name in your list from the book called 'Strange Secrets'.
on your listI have nothing to do with it, never named it, never saw it save by chance on a stall,+ have written nothing in it save one small tale which is in the middle of the volume. Several of my friends have been beguiled into buying it thus seeing my name on your list— (55) - Yours very Truly
- A Conan Doyle
54 There is nothing in the correspondence to indicate which publication ACD was referring to.
55 This seems to confirm that 'The Secret of Goresthorpe Grange' had been. used in Strange Secrets without authorisation, though one wonders whether ACD may have inadvertently disposed of his copyrights when he sold the story for George Redway's Dreamland and Ghostland in 1887.
- Letter #26
- Zermatt
- [Aug 24 [1892?]]
- HOTEL RYFFELALP
- Altitude 2227 metres
- Dear Sir,
- I should have written sooner, but your letter was following me about Europe.
- I should not consent under £100 coupled with the condition that he should state in publishing it that it is old work republished. (56)
- Yours very truly
- A Conan Doyle
- I shall be home by next Saturday
56 The content of Letter #25 leads me to speculate that Chatto & Windus sought to make amends for the unauthorised use of 'The Secret of Goresthorpe Grange' by offering a fee for the use of the story in the third impression of the book which was being prepared for publication in 1892. ACD's request for not less than £100 seems to be his response to their approach.
- Letter #27
- Editorial Department
- 'Answers'
- 108 Fleet Street, London
- 15th August 1893
- Gentlemen
- The publication of 'The firm of Girdlestone' in 'The People' destroys its value altogether as regards 'Answers'.
- I offer £30 (thirty pounds) for the right to reprint it in one of our other papers. (57)
- Yours faithfully
- H. Harmsworth
- Pr. G.A.S.
- Messrs. Chatto & Windus
57 There is no evidence that this offer was accepted, nor that there was a further serial publication of 'The Firm of Girdlestone'.
- Article courtesy Christopher Roden, founder of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society (1989-2003).
