Review:ACD: Eine Illustrierte Bibliographie/Christopher Roden
This review of the book "Arthur Conan Doyle: Eine Illustrierte Bibliographie", by Gerhard Lindenstruth was written by Christopher Roden and published in the The Parish Magazine (No. 10, march 1994).
This review presents Gerhard Lindenstruth's book as the first full bibliography of German-language Conan Doyle editions, especially valuable for collectors and serious scholars. Though mainly useful to those interested in foreign editions, it is praised as painstakingly compiled, well illustrated, and an attractive production.
Review
- ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE: EINE ILLUSTRIERTE BIBLIOGRAPHIE
- by Gerhard Lindenstruth
- Verlag Munniksma, Giessen, 1994; 236pp; DM49 (£23; US$35); (Prices include postage; available from Verlag Munniksma, Lindengasse 5, D-35390, Giessen, Germany)
Reviewed by Christopher Roden
'Die einsame Radfahrer' and Die verlorene Welt may be less familiar titles than 'The Solitary Cyclist' and The Lost World to readers of English language editions of Conan Doyle's works, but German readers would have no difficulty in recognising them. Those, and the many hundreds of versions of other works by ACD, are fully detailed in this new bibliography from Gerhard Lindenstruth.
It has to be admitted that the book will be of use chiefly to those whose collections extend to foreign language editions, but for them the volume will be indispensable. Lindenstruth's work is the first complete bibliography of German language editions of ACD's works, and has been painstakingly compiled. It raises the question, however, that if the world needs a bibliography of German editions, why has no move been made to reprint the indispensable Green and Gibson A Bibliography of A. Conan Doyle, which is actively sought by the many who have come to study ACD in depth in recent years?
This volume shows that some eleven versions of 'Danger!' appeared between 1915-16, following the story's appearance in The Strand in July 1914. It was indeed a popular work in Germany, which led to the German Secretary of the Navy bestowing warm praise on ACD in 1917. One feels that such praise would not have been well received by Conan Doyle, whose patriotism was beyond question, and whose perception of the German threat had been well known since 1911 when he took part in the Prince Henry Motor Tour.
The bibliography is well illustrated, showing some attractive dust wrappers for The Lost World, The Mystery of Cloomber and Danger! It also includes a brief chronology of ACD's life and a short Introduction by Robert N. Bloch. A pleasing production.
C.R.
- Article courtesy Christopher Roden, founder of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society (1989-2003).
