Meeting Minutes - His Last Bow (1917)
Max Magee
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qqGei53qGgnZ1u6EC8vrF6TQ9YVJai8CSjE60XagCmo/edit?tab=t.0
Meeting Minutes
Notorious Canary-Trainers
Announcements
Meetings transitioning to Memorial UCC
Johanna is going to London
Max Shared 221b items, BSI packet, and BSI ‘26 license plates
Attendees:
Johanna (for 15 minutes)
Diane
Dave
Max
Kent
John H.
Sophie & Tyler (from UW - Oshkosh)
Mary Hendricks & Kevin “Giant Rat of Sumatra”
Vicki & Jim
Glen
Story Discussion:
Dave - I liked it. It was a “spy story” without a lot of Sherlock Holmes. A lot of elements and references back to SH stories. Was Martha Mrs. Hudson? It’s not much like any other Sherlock Holmes story? Who wrote this!?
Diane - There’s a lot of “there isn’t really any Sherlock” and a spy story without a lot of spy stuff happening. From the chloroform, I love it to pieces. Awww. This is the last time we get to see Holmes and Watson together!
John H. - I’ve said several times, these stories are more adventures than mystery stories. I get the feeling the government said “can you write us something inspiring?” The About 60 was written by our own (some of you may remember) Tom Drucker! It’s one of the better-written ones—he makes his point, he bolsters it, and it’s over. (Dave: “Yay, short!”)
Sophia - I really liked ; What is your interpretation of the last paragraph and what it means?
Tyler - I didn't like it as much as the other ones. It doesn't feel quite the same, there’s no mystery, and 3rd person kind of threw me for a loop—was there a reason he did that?
Kevin - Dave said a lot of what I was going to say, or could’ve said. The 3rd person makes it feel jarringly different. Over-the-top Irish-American accent and speaking. A lot of tell vs. show, particularly for this story, which is a weakness. My question is “Why did Doyle stop writing these?” Isn't he igknighted? Ignobled? Enabled?
Mary - I enjoyed it, partially because I haven't read it in a long time. Wasn't as familiar as it. There’s a lot of intriguing Irish-American intrigue but a lot of that happened off off-stage.
Vicki - Well, I did like the story, partially because it is different. Maybe because it is different…other than the American parts. I don't find it amusing, I just find it clunky. I liked the story overall. I picked out a phrase or two that I especially liked.
Jim - Started reading Holmes stories probably in Junior high. Several comments were “this seems different,” and it certainly does. It didn't seem like a Sherlock Holmes story. I have come to like it as one of my favorites. I thought he captured the moment quite well, where he talked about one of the most terrible Augusts in history. I thought Doyle did characterize the British people in an interesting way- that they’ll tolerate
I can try to answer the question: Was Martha Mrs. Hudson? We can say anything we want—we can say she was Mickey Mouse if we want.
Kent - Despite having marked it having read it a couple of times in this group, I didn’t recognize it! I said to myself, “this is a spy story, it’s not Sherlock Holmes, it’s a spy story.” This was one of the more literary works—maybe Vicki will highlight those, like in the first paragraph. I was actually surprised that Altamont was Sherlock Holmes! My question was what happens to the villains? Does it even matter?
Max - 3rd person, Adventure, Spy, Mystery, Police procedurals/stake-outs. Other spy stories?
Second Stain, Bruce Partington Plans, Naval Treaty, His Last Bow
Glen - Maybe I was late because I didn't like this one. It’s a good read, it’s a good story, but was it a good Sherlock Holmes story? My typical rating system: No Mrs. Hudson, no Mycroft, you don't see the Baker Street Irregulars, you don't see a mystery, you don't even see Toby! There was no mystery. And there’s not even a Reichenbach Falls this time!
Discussion
Dave notes the similarity between this story and the Final Problem—maybe none of those elements were present because both of these stories were trying to do the same thing.
Jim’s question was “Which were the last stories?” Some discussion of the 1916 authorship to the 1914 timeline. Lion’s Mane came out, supposedly 1907.
Going back to the last paragraph from Sophie’s question—Sophie did a dramatic reading. It’s going to be painful, but England is going to be better after the war.
Max mentioned that the BBC Audiodrama adaptation plays with this paragraph and makes Watson in on the joke, with Holmes accusing Watson of dumbing down his own contribution.
Vicki’s passages—the first paragraph, tied to the last paragraph. Because they both are connected via weather. Kent mentioned the last paragraph.
Was Martha Mrs. Hudson? Vote: 2, 7ish against
Is Mrs. Hudson’s first name Marth, 6 yea, 3 opposed - her name should be more Scottish. McHudson?
She’d be very old. Why would she be there?
John - Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse
Why had Watson not seen Holmes for decades?
English Ford, Zeppelin
Is there a Dangling Prussian Pub?
What happened to these people? Von Bork is captured. Van Herling escaped. The British Gov. may try to trade/ransom Von Bork, it is implied.
Max showed off and gave a plug for Regina Stinson’s fine sculpting work (his Hound pin, similar to this bookmark)—pins, necklaces, bracelets, earrings:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtfulPippinLLC
Carrots were WWII propaganda!
Why is a secret until 2086 what happened to Crazy King Ludwig?
Next month’s story: The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone (1921)
Next month's discussion leader: Who knows!?
Yeoman Purser of the Barque of the Lone Star & Cap'n Basil's Mignonettes
Max Magee
5705 Lacy Rd, Fitchburg, WI 53711