Just some scrambled thoughts on diseases in literature.
Did you know that you can diagnose what kind of book someone is reading based on the disease mentioned in it? I like to call it a reverse diagnosis. A friend mentioned that there was an outbreak of cholera in the book she was reading. I guessed (correctly), it was set Out West. From the little she told me, I instantly thought: Western romance novel set in the mid-1800s.
It seems to me that certain diseases or health issues are more commonly mentioned in books either written in or set in different eras. Some of these maladies we don't even hear of today, while others are still running rampant. I've noticed that consumption (now known as TB) was pretty popular in the Victorian era. In the Regency period, you've got ladies with nervous complaints, delicate health, and hysterics. If you get back into the Middle Ages, then you encounter plague and physical handicaps. In the Icelandic Sagas, there is little talk of disease, most people seemed to meet violent ends. (This is just a comment on general trends based on a small selection of literature, not based on any conclusive studies.)
Brain Fever - Among many literary works it appears in The Master of Ballantrae, by Robert Louis Stevenson, several Sherlock Holmes adventures: The Adventures of the Copper Beeches, and The Naval Treaty, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and The Brothers Karamozov, by Fyodor Dostoevsky. In The Master of Ballantrae, it was brought on by excessive shock after months of frustrating circumstances. The sufferer was ill in bed, delirious and feverish for a long time. After he recovered physically, his brain was slightly addled. In The Adventure of the Copper Beeches, a girl developed brain fever after months of stress, she, too, was ill in bed for quite some time before recovering. In The Naval Treaty, a young man was taken ill with brain fever on learning that some important papers in his possession had been stolen which meant the ruination of his career. He was in bed for nine weeks unable to attend to his affairs. In The Brothers Karamazov, Dmitri reports that he was on the edge of brain fever. He was in a frenzied state of fear and jealousy over a woman, on the verge of reckless behaviour and murder. So, what is brain fever and why do we never hear of it today? Do people still get it? Various online sources equate it with meningitis and encephalitis (infections of the tissues surrounding the brain). But that doesn't exactly add up. It doesn't account for the sudden and utter prostration incurred by bad news.
Bad-breath - while sometimes this is just because someone ate garlic that day, it can also be caused by a number of factors such as poor dental hygiene or other health problems (WebMD). Halitosis traverses many eras. In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, we hear of the crowds having bad breath. (I felt like puking when I read it.) Additionally he penned this line in Sonnet 130, "And in some perfumes is there more delight / Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks." In Don Quixote, by Miguel de Cervantes, we are told of a handsome young woman who had bad-breath and was mocked for it. In Gigi, by Colette, Gigi's aunt evaluates her. Freshness of breath was one point of of her analysis. It seems that having decent breath was a criterion for beauty although probably not as important as other traits, bad-breath was considered an unfortunate flaw, like freckles, or an ill-shaped nose.
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Inscrutable: Women and Sherlock Holmes
What did Sherlock Holmes think of women? There are a number of what appear to be incongruous reports in the canon, yet they're not entirely irreconcilable. On some occasions he expressed approval of women, while Watson reported that he had an "aversion to women." Here's a look at what I was able to untangle:
Holmes really did respect women's intuition. On one occasion he remarked, "I value a woman's instinct in such matters" (The Adventure of the Lion's Mane, 1088) On another, he praised Mary Morstan for retaining a piece of paper because she had an inkling that it might be important later, "You are certainly a model client. You have the correct
intuition" (The Sign of Four). The most astounding, and strongest statement of his belief in a woman's intuition/instinct is found in these words he said to Mrs. Neville St. Clair, "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical reasoner" (The Man with the Twisted Lip).
While Holmes values a woman's instinct and intuition, he has no intention of letting romance and marriage enter his life because he doesn't see emotion and reason as being compatible: "But love is an emotional thing, and whatever is emotional is opposed to that true cold reason which I place above all things. I should never marry myself, lest I bias my judgment" (The Sign of Four).
Holmes said of Mary, "I think she is one of the most charming young ladies I ever met and might have been most useful in such work as we have been doing. She had a decided genius that way, witness the way in which she preserved that Agra plan from all the other papers of her father" (The Sign of Four). The key word is "might have." She and Watson were in love, and therefore their reasoning was impaired according to Holmes, and she could no longer be of much use.
Yet, while this phrase communicates his disapproval of their marriage, it also expresses an appreciation for her faculties and that he thinks she possessed potential for being of assistance in crime solving. It is hard to reconcile this with Watson's report that Holmes had an "aversion to women" (The Greek Interpreter). In this situation it seems he is not averse to Mary, just to averse to her marriage to Watson since it will cloud their reasoning. So perhaps, his "aversion to women" was in a general sense: womankind as a whole, or specifically in regards to romance: he decided not to marry and so pulled back from women generally. It seems that while he was able to appreciate a woman's merits he never pursued a friendship with one beyond what was needed to solve a case.
Additionally, "Holmes had, when he liked, a peculiarly ingratiating way with women, and...he very readily established terms of confidence with them" (The Adventure of the Golden Pince-nez). Holmes could easily befriend women when he found it expedient, yet I don't recall any mention of his having a close or prolonged friendship with a woman in the canon and he certainly had no intention of falling in love.
Perhaps part of his "aversion to women" stems from the fact that he finds the reasoning behind their actions hard to predict, "And you must have observed, Watson, how she manouvered to have the light at her back. She did not wish us to read her expression...And yet the motives of women are inscrutable. You remember the woman at Margate whom I suspected for the same reason. No powder on her nose--that proved to be the correct solution. How can you build on such quicksand? Their most trivial action may mean volumes, or their most extraordinary conduct may depend upon a hairpin or a curling tongs" (The Adventure of the Second Stain). This sentiment renders Holmes quite human and quite a man! He expresses the age old man vs. woman struggle for comprehension of the other, although based on his decision not to marry, his interest in this subject is entirely a professional one. --And, once again, he's an "automaton" as Watson called him in The Sign of Four.
Many people like to toy with the idea of a romance between Holmes and Irene Adler. Holmes was not in love with Irene Adler. "It was not that he felt any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler" (A Scandal in Bohemia).
It's interesting to note that many of the women Holmes encountered throughout his adventures were brave, spirited, independent, emotional, and loyal. Most of them weren't silly, although sometimes over-run by passions.
Therefore, from the canon, it seems that while he is decidedly against romantic attachments, he is generally kind to women and values woman's instincts.
Note:
The Sherlock Holmes stories were written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. There are many different editions and publications of these stories, and they are sometimes presented in part or as an entirety.
The first image is from Karen's Whimsy. Her website features collections of nicely sorted public domain images for free use.
The second is from Wikipedia. Due to its date, the image is no longer under copyright.
 |
| A Victorian Woman |
While Holmes values a woman's instinct and intuition, he has no intention of letting romance and marriage enter his life because he doesn't see emotion and reason as being compatible: "But love is an emotional thing, and whatever is emotional is opposed to that true cold reason which I place above all things. I should never marry myself, lest I bias my judgment" (The Sign of Four).
Holmes said of Mary, "I think she is one of the most charming young ladies I ever met and might have been most useful in such work as we have been doing. She had a decided genius that way, witness the way in which she preserved that Agra plan from all the other papers of her father" (The Sign of Four). The key word is "might have." She and Watson were in love, and therefore their reasoning was impaired according to Holmes, and she could no longer be of much use.
Yet, while this phrase communicates his disapproval of their marriage, it also expresses an appreciation for her faculties and that he thinks she possessed potential for being of assistance in crime solving. It is hard to reconcile this with Watson's report that Holmes had an "aversion to women" (The Greek Interpreter). In this situation it seems he is not averse to Mary, just to averse to her marriage to Watson since it will cloud their reasoning. So perhaps, his "aversion to women" was in a general sense: womankind as a whole, or specifically in regards to romance: he decided not to marry and so pulled back from women generally. It seems that while he was able to appreciate a woman's merits he never pursued a friendship with one beyond what was needed to solve a case.
Additionally, "Holmes had, when he liked, a peculiarly ingratiating way with women, and...he very readily established terms of confidence with them" (The Adventure of the Golden Pince-nez). Holmes could easily befriend women when he found it expedient, yet I don't recall any mention of his having a close or prolonged friendship with a woman in the canon and he certainly had no intention of falling in love.
 |
| From Harper's Bazaar, May 14, 1898 |
Many people like to toy with the idea of a romance between Holmes and Irene Adler. Holmes was not in love with Irene Adler. "It was not that he felt any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler" (A Scandal in Bohemia).
It's interesting to note that many of the women Holmes encountered throughout his adventures were brave, spirited, independent, emotional, and loyal. Most of them weren't silly, although sometimes over-run by passions.
Therefore, from the canon, it seems that while he is decidedly against romantic attachments, he is generally kind to women and values woman's instincts.
Note:
The Sherlock Holmes stories were written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. There are many different editions and publications of these stories, and they are sometimes presented in part or as an entirety.
The first image is from Karen's Whimsy. Her website features collections of nicely sorted public domain images for free use.
The second is from Wikipedia. Due to its date, the image is no longer under copyright.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Ten Things You Didn't Think You'd Learn from Reading Sherlock Holmes
 |
| Photo: Edana A. |
1. Brandy is the proper restorative for someone who has fainted.
2. "Bunny rabbit" was a term that was in use during the early 1900s.
3. A hansom was a common mode of travel.
4. Brain fever is the result of great mental stress.
5. The English adorned their homes with busts of Napoleon, (even though he was an enemy of Britain.)
6. "Grotesque" does not mean "horrible." See my post: The Meaning of Grotesque
7. Army pensions were in existence pre-WWI
8. Trains can be awkward. "Yes, sir, I fear that I am a little late; but the trains were awkward" (The Adventure of the Six Napoleons).
9. Men's boots had laces. (They still do.)
10. A Scotch bonnet was not considered dignified for elderly non-Scots. (Doesn't say if The British thought it was dignified on Scots or not.)
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Dr. Watson Quotes
~A compilation of my favorite quotes by or about Dr. Watson.~
One of my favorite moments from the Sherlock Holmes canon is when Watson carries his point of accompanying Holmes despite the danger he ran. In The Final Problem, Holmes advises Watson to return to England while he endeavors to elude Professor Moriarty, who now seeks his life, alone.
Watson wrote, "It was hardly an appeal to be successful with one who was an old campaigner as well as an old friend. We sat in the Strasburg salle-à-manger arguing the question for half an hour, but the same night we had resumed out journey and were well on our way to Geneva." (The Final Problem, page 734)
This quote not only shows Watson's tenacious loyalty and bravery, but also his strong will, for he won the argument and they continued the journey together.
When Watson recognizes Holmes after he thought Holmes was dead for some years: "I rose to my feet, stared at him for some seconds in utter amazement, and then it appears that I must have fainted for the first and last time in my life." (The Adventure of the Empty House, 789)
Watson's quip: "I don't admit that a fresh illustration is an explanation." He had requested Holmes to explain how he came a conclusion and Holmes began to explain by starting with an example. Holmes replied to Watson's quip, "Bravo Watson! A very dignified and logical remonstrance." (The Disappearance of Lady Carfax, 1363)
Some of my favorite quotes about or to Watson, spoken by Holmes:
"There is no prospect of danger, or I should not dream of stirring without you." (The Adventure of the Norwood Builder, 843)
"And a singularly consistent investigation you have made, my dear Watson....I cannot at the moment recall any possible blunder which you have omitted." (The Disappearance of Lady Carfax, 1371). Oh, poor Watson, it seems a bit undeserved too.
"The ideas of my friend Watson, though limited are exceedingly pertinacious." (The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier, page 1483)
"I am getting into your involved habit of telling a story backward." (The Problem of Thor Bridge, page 1605)
'"Cut out the poetry, Watson," said Holmes severely. "I note that it was a high brick wall."' After Watson gives a soulful description of a wall. (The Adventure of the Retired Colourman, 1734)
"Good Old Watson! You are the one fixed point in a changing age." (His Last Bow, 1433)
Source:
The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes, vol. 1 & 2, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Edited by Leslie S. Klinger. W. W. Norton & Company. New York: 2005.
One of my favorite moments from the Sherlock Holmes canon is when Watson carries his point of accompanying Holmes despite the danger he ran. In The Final Problem, Holmes advises Watson to return to England while he endeavors to elude Professor Moriarty, who now seeks his life, alone.
Watson wrote, "It was hardly an appeal to be successful with one who was an old campaigner as well as an old friend. We sat in the Strasburg salle-à-manger arguing the question for half an hour, but the same night we had resumed out journey and were well on our way to Geneva." (The Final Problem, page 734)
This quote not only shows Watson's tenacious loyalty and bravery, but also his strong will, for he won the argument and they continued the journey together.
When Watson recognizes Holmes after he thought Holmes was dead for some years: "I rose to my feet, stared at him for some seconds in utter amazement, and then it appears that I must have fainted for the first and last time in my life." (The Adventure of the Empty House, 789)
 |
| By Sidney Paget |
Some of my favorite quotes about or to Watson, spoken by Holmes:
"There is no prospect of danger, or I should not dream of stirring without you." (The Adventure of the Norwood Builder, 843)
"And a singularly consistent investigation you have made, my dear Watson....I cannot at the moment recall any possible blunder which you have omitted." (The Disappearance of Lady Carfax, 1371). Oh, poor Watson, it seems a bit undeserved too.
"The ideas of my friend Watson, though limited are exceedingly pertinacious." (The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier, page 1483)
"I am getting into your involved habit of telling a story backward." (The Problem of Thor Bridge, page 1605)
'"Cut out the poetry, Watson," said Holmes severely. "I note that it was a high brick wall."' After Watson gives a soulful description of a wall. (The Adventure of the Retired Colourman, 1734)
"Good Old Watson! You are the one fixed point in a changing age." (His Last Bow, 1433)
Source:
The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes, vol. 1 & 2, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Edited by Leslie S. Klinger. W. W. Norton & Company. New York: 2005.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
A Visit to the Library
The fourth floor of the campus library. Silence is the law. The only sounds are the turning of a few pages.
Yet I could hear the books screaming at me. As I walked by they flashed their golden words, like official badges, like name cards, like the skirts of flamenco dancers, trying to cause me to pause, pick them up and take them home. Like dogs at the humane society, row upon row, yapping, barking, baying, whining, pawing for someone to stop and pay attention.
I had wandered there for some time, mingling with the books like one does at a social gathering.
This introduction was made to me, "If you have never met Sherlock Holmes, you have already wasted too much time. Take this slim volume away immediately to some sequestered safehouse and begin your involvement."* "Oh, fine!" I cried in a whisper, mentally throwing up my hands. I clapped the book onto my stack.
From rows away I heard the Icelandic literature calling me, while golden letters on a binding caught my eye as I marched to answer the call.
I mentioned that this was a campus library, and that is the beauty of it. Shelves of classics and books about the authors. Books in French, books on language, oh what a glorious colloquy of the ancients! For now that I have my degree, I actually have time to read these books.
Reference:
*The quote is from the Foreward in A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of Four, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Editor: Sandy Lesberg. Peebles Press International, New York:1975.
Yet I could hear the books screaming at me. As I walked by they flashed their golden words, like official badges, like name cards, like the skirts of flamenco dancers, trying to cause me to pause, pick them up and take them home. Like dogs at the humane society, row upon row, yapping, barking, baying, whining, pawing for someone to stop and pay attention.
I had wandered there for some time, mingling with the books like one does at a social gathering.
This introduction was made to me, "If you have never met Sherlock Holmes, you have already wasted too much time. Take this slim volume away immediately to some sequestered safehouse and begin your involvement."* "Oh, fine!" I cried in a whisper, mentally throwing up my hands. I clapped the book onto my stack.
From rows away I heard the Icelandic literature calling me, while golden letters on a binding caught my eye as I marched to answer the call.
I mentioned that this was a campus library, and that is the beauty of it. Shelves of classics and books about the authors. Books in French, books on language, oh what a glorious colloquy of the ancients! For now that I have my degree, I actually have time to read these books.
Reference:
*The quote is from the Foreward in A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of Four, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Editor: Sandy Lesberg. Peebles Press International, New York:1975.
Monday, July 15, 2013
Savor the Flavor...of Books!
Certain books strike me as having different flavors.
Books and food. It's not a bad analogy really. The reader ingests and then digests the material, retaining nourishment for the mind. To take the analogy further, sometimes a person doesn't digest the materiel very well and then just regurgitates it (typically this happens in school). With food, the eater ingests it and it is then digested in the body for nourishment. Sometimes it only makes it to the stomach; after summary digestion it is regurgitated. While some food is unhealthy "junk food," there are also unhealthy "junk books."
But, back to the flavors. Two of the first books that struck me as having a flavor were The Lord of the Rings and The Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow. After those realizations, I pondered a bit and made comparisions between other books and food.
Here is a list below of different books and their flavors:
The Lord of the Rings, by J. R. R. Tolkien - Ice cold lemon water. It's pure, refreshing, and wholesome. The flavor is magical yet with out an sugar added. I think I made this connection because the first time I had lemon water, it was at an outdoor dance. The atmosphere was almost magical. We were all dressed prettily in long elegant gowns we had sewn. We wore no shoes and felt the cool grass beneath our bare feet. Strands of lights illuminated the yard. Light, classy refreshments were served on a side table. And there in a clear dispenser was the ice cold lemon water, so rejuvenating on that summer night.
The Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow, by Allen French - Cold Icelandic spring water. When I'd first read it, I'd likened it to fresh spring water, but now that I've been to Iceland and drank the water there, I insist that it is Icelandic spring water, like what comes right out of the tap over there!
The Complete Richard Hannay, by John Buchan - Espresso. Rich earthy flavor, strong and warm. It also has the same effects on me as too much caffeine in my system! I get hyper. When talking about Richard Hannay, I start talking really fast and excitedly (like when I drink too much coffee). Similarly, I also want to do some sort of physical activity, like ride a bike and feel the wind in my face, exercise, fight, lift weights, run around, jump over things or dive under them! These books get my blood pumping!
Cyrano de Bergerac, by Edmond Rostand - This one I don't associate with a flavor, but rather a sound. Imagine the sound of a violin rising to the stars in a lonely crescendo in the night air under a full white moon. If I were to pick a flavor, I think it would be some sort of wine. Something that's not quite as sweet as rosé.
I asked my friends on facebook if they associate different books with flavors. Here is what they had to say:
A Song of Ice and Fire series, by George R. R. Martin - "The milk at the end of a bowl of Honeycomb."
The Little House on the Prairie, by Laura Ingalls Wilder - A bowl of stew. A second friend chimed in, agreeing with this description.
Sherlock Holmes series, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - A cup of steaming of black tea.
The Girl of the Limberlost, and The Harvester, both by Gene Stratton Porter- A thick mint milk shake. "Refreshing but something to let melt in your mouth a little."
Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen - An ice cream parfait in a fancy glass. She found the book to have different layers.
Books and food. It's not a bad analogy really. The reader ingests and then digests the material, retaining nourishment for the mind. To take the analogy further, sometimes a person doesn't digest the materiel very well and then just regurgitates it (typically this happens in school). With food, the eater ingests it and it is then digested in the body for nourishment. Sometimes it only makes it to the stomach; after summary digestion it is regurgitated. While some food is unhealthy "junk food," there are also unhealthy "junk books."
But, back to the flavors. Two of the first books that struck me as having a flavor were The Lord of the Rings and The Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow. After those realizations, I pondered a bit and made comparisions between other books and food.
Here is a list below of different books and their flavors:
The Lord of the Rings, by J. R. R. Tolkien - Ice cold lemon water. It's pure, refreshing, and wholesome. The flavor is magical yet with out an sugar added. I think I made this connection because the first time I had lemon water, it was at an outdoor dance. The atmosphere was almost magical. We were all dressed prettily in long elegant gowns we had sewn. We wore no shoes and felt the cool grass beneath our bare feet. Strands of lights illuminated the yard. Light, classy refreshments were served on a side table. And there in a clear dispenser was the ice cold lemon water, so rejuvenating on that summer night.
The Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow, by Allen French - Cold Icelandic spring water. When I'd first read it, I'd likened it to fresh spring water, but now that I've been to Iceland and drank the water there, I insist that it is Icelandic spring water, like what comes right out of the tap over there!
The Complete Richard Hannay, by John Buchan - Espresso. Rich earthy flavor, strong and warm. It also has the same effects on me as too much caffeine in my system! I get hyper. When talking about Richard Hannay, I start talking really fast and excitedly (like when I drink too much coffee). Similarly, I also want to do some sort of physical activity, like ride a bike and feel the wind in my face, exercise, fight, lift weights, run around, jump over things or dive under them! These books get my blood pumping!
Cyrano de Bergerac, by Edmond Rostand - This one I don't associate with a flavor, but rather a sound. Imagine the sound of a violin rising to the stars in a lonely crescendo in the night air under a full white moon. If I were to pick a flavor, I think it would be some sort of wine. Something that's not quite as sweet as rosé.
I asked my friends on facebook if they associate different books with flavors. Here is what they had to say:
A Song of Ice and Fire series, by George R. R. Martin - "The milk at the end of a bowl of Honeycomb."
The Little House on the Prairie, by Laura Ingalls Wilder - A bowl of stew. A second friend chimed in, agreeing with this description.
Sherlock Holmes series, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - A cup of steaming of black tea.
The Girl of the Limberlost, and The Harvester, both by Gene Stratton Porter- A thick mint milk shake. "Refreshing but something to let melt in your mouth a little."
Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen - An ice cream parfait in a fancy glass. She found the book to have different layers.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)