What a gorgeous, gorgeous story! The lush language of Watson's inner monologue--smooth, warm, continuous, repetitive, returning to the same themes over and over. The image of military Watson, "when the good doctor and the ever loyal friend have failed." The almost stifling sense of intimacy while out walking in Hyde Park, being close and not close all at once, being familiar and not-familiar with passers by, standing next to a person in public but being in complete possession of that person in one's mind.
I loved all the details of Victorian London--the buzzing parts of the city, the noise and the smell, the theaters, the baths, the "bit of scarlet." (I remember that films from back in the 1990s, back when Granada still counted as queer tv.) All the little allusions to queer books and films.
I loved Holmes' jealousy (ugly, though understandable enough), Watson's inner struggle, and (on a much lighter note) the story of Cherry the dog, which I'd never heard before, despite being a huge fan of Hyde Park and its history.
In a word, this is perfect. Thank you so much, mystery author. I'm only sorry it's taken me so long--too long--to say so. My apologies for that. Maggie
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Date: 2018-06-28 12:54 am (UTC)I loved all the details of Victorian London--the buzzing parts of the city, the noise and the smell, the theaters, the baths, the "bit of scarlet." (I remember that films from back in the 1990s, back when Granada still counted as queer tv.) All the little allusions to queer books and films.
I loved Holmes' jealousy (ugly, though understandable enough), Watson's inner struggle, and (on a much lighter note) the story of Cherry the dog, which I'd never heard before, despite being a huge fan of Hyde Park and its history.
In a word, this is perfect. Thank you so much, mystery author. I'm only sorry it's taken me so long--too long--to say so. My apologies for that. Maggie