#a case of identity

[teaspoonnebula]

Please enjoy these very scientific reconstructions of how Sherlock Holmes may have stuck his feet up on the mantlepiece in 'A Case of Identity'

#letters from watson #sherlock holmes #a case of identity #if someone draws Jeremy Brett in any of these poses #I will melt into a puddle

[sssrha]

Can’t stop thinking about the time Sherlock Holmes threatened to whip a man for essentially catfishing his own stepdaughter.

Icon behavior.

#sherlock holmes #sherlock #acd holmes #acd canon #a case of identity

[blueintime]

I'm going to make the rather bold assumption Holmes sat down before sticking his feet up, rather than something more like below. ID in alt.

#sherlock holmes #acd holmes #my art #a case of identity #letters from watson

[johnlockifconvenient]

GET HIS ASS

#the fact that he thinks of beating the shit out of this guy as a lil treat #hot and sexy behavior right here #Holmes hates this guy and it shows and I love him for that #letters from watson #a case of identity #this is actually one of my faves I reread it a few months ago #acd Holmes

[the-ultimate-junkyard]

I'm seeing a pattern here...

#acd holmes #all three of these stories are equally interesting #i like the copper beeches best mainly because i'm in love with violet hunter #but the best outcome of this pattern that's happened is the speckled band #in that story the father dies #a case of identity on the other hand... #i feel bad for mary sutherland really #i wonder how she reacted when john published her story a few years later #(as you can see i'm catching up on letters on watson #and doing researching for my modern college au) #sherlock holmes #john watson #a case of identity #the speckled band #the copper beeches

[pop-goes-the-weasel]

Adorable. Baby. Just look at him sleep after identifying bisulphate of baryta.

The case has been solved. The chemical interests indulged. Now it is just waititing for Windibank

(Link along with image)

#letters from watson #sherlock holmes #sidney paget #a case of identity #Book illustration

[jabbage]

#sherlock holmes #letters from watson #a case of identity #i'm interested to know what people think!

[ineffabletwaddle13]

Holmes and Watson doing a chemical analysis together

Holmes in the books by Arthur Conan Doyle does a lot of chemistry experiments:

The Adventure of the Copper Beeches: “Holmes was settling down to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came down to breakfast in the morning.”

The Sign of the Four: “He would hardly reply to my questions, and busied himself all evening in an abstruse chemical analysis which involved much heating of retorts and distilling of vapours, ending at last in a smell which fairly drove me out of the apartment. Up to the small hours of the morning I could hear the clinking of his test-tubes which told me that he was still engaged in his malodorous experiment.”

A Case of Identity: “A formidable array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the chemical work which was so dear to him.”

The Resident Patient: “while he was deep in some of those abstruse chemical investigations which absorbed him utterly as long as he was engaged upon them.”

The Adventure of the Dancing Men: “Holmes had been seated for some hours in silence with his long, thin back curved over a chemical vessel in which he was brewing a particularly malodorous product”

The Naval Treaty: “A large curved retort was boiling furiously in the bluish flame of a Bunsen burner, and the distilled drops were condensing into a two litre measure. My friend hardly glanced up as I entered, and I, seeing that his investigation must be of importance, seated myself in an arm-chair and waited.”

I like that this Holmes and Watson do the analysis together :) I think it makes sense that Watson could help when it is a time-sensitive situation because he should know some chemistry from his medical studies, although most of the time Holmes does the experiments himself because it is his hobby

#noticing how many times Watson complains about the smells in the books #1954 sherlock holmes #sherlock holmes #ronald howard #ronald howard holmes #doctor watson #holmes and watson #the case of the reluctant carpenter #the adventure of the copper beeches #the sign of the four #a case of identity #the resident patient #the adventure of the dancing men #the naval treaty #1954 sherlock holmes/ACD books #arthur conan doyle

[thegoatsongs]

something about cubs and delusions, don't worry about it

designs of Sherlock, Irene and Godfrey by @lxgentlefolkcomic

#sherlock holmes #irene adler #irene norton #godfrey norton #a case of identity #'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger cub and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman' #you can't see it but irene is shaking him in maximum force with her mind

[dathen]

God the ending of A Case for Identity is SO disappointing, a hundred times more so than any other case so far. Forget dues ex shipwreck, forget “this would have solved itself, Holmes didn’t need to be involved,” forget cases where the villains get away and the victims aren’t saved. Holmes had the answer right in his hand, but then didn’t even TRY to help. He just threw in a sexist “well you can’t convince women of anything!” and just left Mary Sutherland to stay with her horrible manipulative abusive parents forever. He caught Windibank, but then lets him WIN and lets him continue to extort his stepdaughter for no reason other than “well she wouldn’t listen to me anyway.”

I hate to admit that I can see where some of the shittier adaptions get their idea of a Holmes who’s just in it for intellectual stimulation rather than caring for people in this case. It so different than how Holmes treats abuse victims in The Speckled Band or the supposed lesson he learned about ~women’s behavior~ in Scandal in Bohemia, or just the urgency he feels to help and protect his clients in the cases across the board. This is not the character I have loved since I could read 😔

#letters from watson #a case of identity

[intj-greenwords]

Two disappointments with A Case of Identity:

I had the crook and the method pegged right from the start which makes me as smart as Sherlock and a lot smarter than Watson. Which seems wrong.

Sherlock was unforgivably rude to Miss Sutherland (and women generally) both in keeping her in the dark, and in his reasons for doing so.

"If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "

#letters from watson #a case of identity #lx reads sherlock holmes

[monocordum]

Sherlock Holmes to Watson, taken out of context: "Let's fly out of that window *hand in hand* and *peep* in at the *queer* things which are going on!"

Out of context indeed

(It is. It's the opening scene of A Case of Identity, from the September 1891 issue of The Strand.)

#arthur conan doyle #sherlock holmes #john watson #A Case of Identity #absolutely not johnlock #what was i saying

[rekishiteki]

#letters from watson #a case of identity #it's an honor to have my first poll go to this

[principiumindividuationis777]

#Sherlock Holmes #A Case of Identity #illustration #art #black and white #dark academia #Victorian #Sidney Paget #Arthur Conan Doyle #asleep #sleeping

[mariana-oconnor]

A Case of Identity pt 2

For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which compelled our respect.

Watson... you're kind of a judgy bitch sometimes, y'know? It's really coming through in this story. I don't know why all the modern adaptations choose to make Holmes the rude one when clearly Watson's the one you really need to watch out for.

"Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, is rather a trite one.

I know that Mary Sutherland is a fictional character, but in a Watsonian reading, she's going to have to live in a world where people read all these descriptions of her and her problem. I should try to avoid thinking of that.

I can never bring you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace.

Ah yes, thumbnails, the most suggestive of body parts. Be careful posting a picture of them on Tumblr, your post will be automatically flagged as mature content!

She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, easy-going way.

Seriously, Watson, you're publishing this. Stop being a dick about it. We get it, you don't think much of her appearance. My dude.

"'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and you have a quick eye for color."

Aw, Holmes is proud. Albeit in the same way of a parent of a toddler presented with a picture of an unidentifiable blob made of different colours. 'Oh, what lovely colours, Watson. It's lovely. You're really coming along well!'

The double line a little above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed to surprise her.

Ah yes, the explanation. Sherlock showing off. But I do enjoy these bits.

though the boots which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and the other a plain one

I have actually done this before. I want through an entire day of work with odd boots on and only realised when I looked down at my feet on the train on the way home. The heels were pretty much the same size, and they were both black and zipped up, in my defence, but it was still pretty bad. That was about where the similarities ended. Very embarrassing and I still have no idea how I did it. I don't even know if anyone noticed, though. Certainly no one at work mentioned it. But were they just being polite?

Holmes would have a field day, I guess.

You observed that her right glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink.

And I thought you said he had a good eye for colour, Holmes? Were you lying? Were you just humouring him?

"My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it bears upon the case?"

I'm pretty sure Watson is the only one at this point who does not know what's going on.

The only drawback is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel.

And as far as I'm aware, there still isn't. Technically, as they didn't get married, no crime was enacted. Her promise isn't legally binding. It's definitely abuse, but I don't think there are technically any laws broken as the subterfuge was performed not to get money, but to prevent them from no longer getting her money.

a bland, insinuating manner

Just the wording of this makes my skin crawl a bit. I think it's the word insinuating, a very snake-like word.

It was quite against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily controlled when she has made up her mind on a point.

Classic moves: discredit the character of the abuse victim. Oh, she's so excitable, so impulsive. You don't want to listen to her, it's all a flight of fancy, Mr Holmes. Such a silly woman.

"We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes.

Laying the groundwork for reasonable doubt. This man is a piece of work. Also, Watson's judgy descriptions are working for me this time. So close to 'beady little eyes'.

Mr Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr Holmes," he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know when you have done it."

Mr Windibank, sir. You know the jig is up. Give up already!

"Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "What! Where?" shouted Mr Windibank, turning white to his lips and glancing about him like a rat in a trap.

One thing that can be said for Mr Windibank is that he really does commit to the bit. I have zero respect for him as a human being, and honestly, it's absolutely destroying his dignity, but he is committed. He is seeing this through? Hosmer Angel? He has never met the man. No idea what you're talking about.

But between ourselves, Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a petty way as ever came before me.

Yep. You can say that again.

Holmes stuck his feet up on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, than to us.

He stuck his feet on the mantelpiece? Sir. That is too high up. Sir... How is that comfortable? The mantelpiece? Seriously Sherlock?

With the connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself

Ah, there it is. Her mother did know too. I actually dislike her mother more. Doing that to your daughter is just... ugh. Like yes, yes, evil stepfather was the mastermind and main agent of the enterprise, but to assist in it. With your own daughter. Ugh ugh ugh. That's despicable. I hope Mary cuts her off forever.

"The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat myself to—"

This is very satisfying to read. Also grateful that Holmes agrees with me on this point. Although I think Mary should be allowed a whip... as a treat.

"That fellow will rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and ends on a gallows."

I like how certain Holmes is that Windibank isn't going to be a better person.

Then the fact that the two men were never together, but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was suggestive.

Just like thumbnails.

"And Miss Sutherland?"

"If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much knowledge of the world."

This is not satisfying. I remembered the solution to the problem, but I didn't remember that he just got away with it. Mary's just going to... do exactly what Windibank wanted? And keep living with her odious mother and her abusive stepfather? I do not vibe with this. I do not vibe with this at all. Not even a note from Watson to say that Windibank did indeed hang from the gallows for a future crime and Mary Sutherland got away?

I find myself longing for the equinoctial gales to drop a ship on his house (when Mary is elsewhere).

Horrible people committing horrible, immoral acts that cannot be stopped. This whole story is like a layer of scum on top of water, it's such insidious, cold-hearted petty evil. Mary Sutherland deserves better.

Honestly, I hope she (in universe) did read this story and gtfo.

#Letters from Watson #A Case of Identity #Sherlock Holmes #Mary Sutherland deserved better

[no-side-us]

As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable...

Miss Mary Sutherland, drawn by Sidney Paget, Josef Friedrich, Martin Van Maële, and Gastão Simões da Fonseca, respectively

Source

#letters from watson #a case of identity #mary sutherland #sherlock holmes #art #sidney paget #josef friedrich #martin van maële #gastão simões da fonseca #got curious and looked up some pictures #there are more if you look into the source #spoiler warning I suppose #its interesting looking at the different interpretations #from different artists