Review:The Sherlock Holmes Encyclopaedia/Christopher Roden
This review of the book "The Sherlock Holmes Encyclopaedia", by Matthew E. Bunson was written by Christopher Roden and published in the The Parish Magazine (No. 12, april 1995).
This review finds Bunson's encyclopaedia broad in scope, especially for its inclusion of adaptations and pastiche, but questions many of its editorial choices and judgments. Although it covers material beyond Jack Tracy's classic reference work, the reviewer remains largely unconvinced of its value and points to several questionable entries and omissions.
Review
- The Sherlock Holmes Encyclopaedia
- by Matthew E. Bunson
- Pavilion Books, 1995; xxii+ 326pp; £17.99
Reviewed by Christopher Roden
For some reason, this book was published in America as The Encyclopaedia Sherlockiana, inviting an immediate comparison with Jack Tracy's book of the same name or perhaps hoping to confuse the unsuspecting purchaser into snapping up a long-sought volume. It is a pity, therefore, that in re-naming the book, the British publishers did not trouble Mr Bunson to clarify the reference in his Introduction to 'the brilliant work of the same name by Jack Tracy'.
There will inevitably be comparisons with The Encyclopaedia Sherlockiana proper, though it is fair to say that this book attempts to cover topics which Jack Tracy's work did not. For example, film, stage, and radio adaptations receive coverage here-perhaps too much coverage and there are entries for many of the leading portrayers of Holmes. Inexplicably, while Nigel Bruce warrants a column of his own, Edward Hardwicke, by far and away the best Watson of all time, does not even merit his own entry. Come, come, Mr Bunson!
Pastiche of Holmes also finds its way into these pages, though why synopses of non-Doylean Sherlock Holmes justify consideration in what purports to be a serious Sherlockian textbook will remain a mystery to me. Even Mark Frost's The List of 7 is given half a column, presumably because Mr Bunson feels that Jack Sparks, the detective in that tale, has similarities to Holmes. 'As the story progresses,' writes Bunson, 'in fact, it assumes increasingly the feel of a Holmesian pastiche, with Doyle fulfilling the Watson role to the eccentric and secretly tormented Holmes in Sparks.' My, my! Freudian sub-plots in pseudo-Holmes pastiche. I really must have missed something!
For the rest, it told me nothing I could not find in Tracy — except that The Arthur Conan Doyle Society is an 'Active Sherlockian Society (other)'. I probably don't need to remark that that particular piece of information is, for want of another word, duff!
- Article courtesy Christopher Roden, founder of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society (1989-2003).
