The Inner Room: Editorial (ACD Journal vol. 2 No. 2)
The Inner Room: Editorial [Vol. 2 No. 2] is an article written by Christopher Roden published in the A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society (Vol. 2 No. 2, autumn 1991).
This editorial praises Owen Dudley Edwards's scholarship and argues that his article on The Mystery of Cloomber marks a major advance in the study of a neglected Conan Doyle novel. It presents that study as important both for understanding Conan Doyle's wider work and for reconsidering his sources, including assumptions about The Sign of Four.
Editorial
REVIEWING Owen Dudley Edwards' The Quest for Sherlock Holmes in Jon Lellenberg's compilation The Quest for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Christopher Redmond commented:
- '... it tells the reader a good deal about a scholar's approach to a new subject which is of course not the approach of an enthusiast already familiar with it — and might well give useful guidance to the next scholar to take up the work.'
It is, I think, fair to point out that Mr Edwards, besides being a scholar of the first order, is also very much an enthusiast of Conan Doyle; one familiar with the writings of ACD and his contemporaries since childhood; and it is his remarkable penchant for researching his subject, coupled with his genuine regard for that subject, which enables him to surprise us with new ideas, angles and theories on writings which are familiar to us all. Such is the contribution which the scholar makes: a contribution which is vitally important in helping the Society to grow and to achieve its aim of gaining due recognition for ACD's over-neglected works.
Little did I expect, when I asked Owen if he would contribute an article on The Mystery of Cloomber, that the result would provide such a significant leap forward in the study of that particular text it is, after all, a novel which is rarely read; one which ACD himself kept out of The Author's Edition of his works; one which, we could be excused for thinking, was of little relevance.
The Mystery of The Mystery of Cloomber is a highly important article, not only for those interested in furthering their acquaintance with Conan Doyle's works in general, but also for those who wish to look a little deeper into ACD's sources and later writings. Indeed, it will, I think, raise a few Sherlockian eyebrows and change some long-standing views on ACD's reliance on The Moonstone as a source for The Sign of Four.
I will say no more, except to recommend your reading The Mystery of The Mystery of Cloomber without further delay.
Christopher Roden
November 1991
- Article courtesy Christopher Roden, founder of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society (1989-2003).
