Why I don't buy into Sherlock Holmes/Irene Adler

[rj_anderson]

I found this old essay today -- had almost forgotten I'd ever written it. For the fellow Sherlockians among you, here it is:

In Defense of Mr. Godfrey Norton, Esq.

Also, has anybody out there read Carole Nelson Douglas's Irene books up to and including Chapel Noir? If so, what did you think of the latter? Because I have a pretty strong opinion on it and I'd be interested to find out if I'm not alone...

Comments

[cesario.livejournal.com]

Right well. Just now toddling over to your LJ. Silly of me; should have been reading for awhile now...especially since you seem to know all the Holmesians on LJ whereas I seem to be stranded in a Holmes-less wasteland in the middle of fandom.

I liked your essay and I agree with everything you said.

Really.

That said? I read the CND for the parts where Holmes shows up.

I don't think a man--a person--like Sherlock Holmes is ever, ever going to "fall in love" as the traditional Hallmark card version of the sentiment is generally understood. I apply this to Irene Adler, Mary Russell, and even Watson. (Yes, I'm active in all three 'ships.)

I think Holmes' attachment to Russell--and the basis of his possible attachment to Irene--is based on the fact that their minds mesh. They see the world from a perspective uninhabited by more than half a dozen people of his aquaintance, and they are probably the only two women of that number.

Granted, Holmes tells Russell, re the kiss, "I've wanted to do that since I first laid eyes on you." My interpretation? Holmes is a man. A sexual being, probably capable of tremendous sexual energy, who has for most of his life starved this appetite just as he so often starved himself of food in order to serve a higher purpose. He had an immediate physical attraction to Russell, but thanks to his maturity and wisdom and personal sense of honor he never dreamed of broaching the topic until she was quite old enough to reciprocate. The physical attraction, plus the fact that they *fit* (which feeling is to my mind the most profound sort of love possible) served as the basis of their union.

By the same token, Holmes and Irene also fit. In a different way, and certainly not as closely as with Holmes and Russell, but they still shared the bond of being extraordinary. We know that he finds her beautiful. Again, physical attraction + similar minds = basis for a union. A brief one, perhaps, but union nonetheless.

And where, as you say, was Godfrey? Well, there are any number of possibilities. Off on business for the Rothschilds? I believe he need only be absent for a time. Not dead, ill, or a cad--just absent for a bit. I don't for a minute believe either Holmes or Irene above an affair. Certainly, CND's Irene would never "betray" Godfrey, but I consider her and Doyle's Irene to be two different creatures. I believe that Irene and Holmes could very well have had the affair W. S. B-G assigns to them, without winding up together forever or wrecking the Norton's marriage. Granted, if I were Irene I wouldn't *tell* Godfrey about it, but still.

Honestly, Godfrey is the only character in CND's books that I unreservedly *like* which, I consider, is rather ironic. And I think it's cheap to just get rid of him for Holmes' sake. But I believe Holmes and Irene each were too sensible of the rarity and worth of the other to believe that, had they an opportunity to be lovers, even briefly, they would not have passed it up.

bran
aka "Say the word 'martyr' please.'

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

That said? I read the CND for the parts where Holmes shows up.

Oh, so do I. Just because I don't believe Irene and Holmes would ever have an affair while Godfrey Norton was alive doesn't mean they don't have chemistry. Hey, maybe that was another reason I disliked Chapel Noir so much... not enough Holmes (was Holmes even in the thing at all?).

[cesario.livejournal.com]

oh sure he was there. he was there long enough to tell irene to keep her dainty paws off his case, thank you very much. and then at the end he tried to rouse her from catatonia when godfrey and nell turned up missing. and then threatened to have Pink arrested.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

See, I totally forgot all that. Just goes to show how little the book impressed me.

Have you read the sequel? I was debating with myself whether it'd be worth reading it just to find out what happens, or whether I'd just end up ticking myself off even more.