Super-sleuth of fiction still receives huge fan-mail

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33065, 4 November 1972, Page 11

Super-sleuth of fiction still receives huge fan-mail

(By

BRIAN BANCROFT)

Every morning, a postman arrives at an address in London’s West End with a bundle of mail for a man who never replies.

But this doesn’t make any difference. All correspondence is read, and receives a personal answer from a secretary who spends a large part of her working day making up excuses for a “boss” who is inexplicably always out of the office. The reason for this is that he never existed. But for thousands of detective-story fans, Sherlock Holmes is a real person and continues to get letters and pleas for help from those who want to use his super-human powers of detection. At the offices of the company in Baker Street, which is the nearest the Post Office can get to Holmes’s fictitious address, a secretary who has virtually become Sherlock Holmes, types out letters declining lecture-tours, regretting that Holmes can’t give evidence in murder trials, and turning down offers of everything from magazine subscriptions to body-building courses. The extraordinary thing is that ever since Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created Holmes and his acolyte, Dr Watson, nearly a century ago, there have been thousands of people willing and eager to believe the super-detective really exists. Flesh and blood Holmes, the super-sleuth who gripped the imagination of Victorian England, has grown into a world-wide cult

which has survived to the present day. When Sherlock Holmes first appeared in a story called “A Study In Scarlet,” he soon became the most incredible literary success of Victorian times, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle found himself the world’s highestselling author. Since then, more than 100 million of his books have been sold and published in 47 countries. More than 126 films have been made about Holmes, and 4000 radio scripts written. Inevitably, Conan Doyle’s fame became overtaken by his creation and, for many of his readers, Holmes was as much flesh and blood as Conan Doyle. They were—and still are —ready to believe in both his exploits and his super powers to detect crime. “There are many who believe Holmes is more factual than Jesus Christ,” the author once said. Arch-enemy Conan Doyle gave his sleuth an imaginary home at 2218 Baker Street—now one of the world’s most famous addresses. In fact, 2218 never existed, and Conan Doyle once admitted he had never even been in Baker Street But that doesn’t deter the fans. They still flock to Baker Street like pilgrims, and the thoroughfare has become almost as well known in Russia and America as it is to Londoners. When Conan Doyle killed off Holmes in a fight to the death with the villainous Dr Moriarty, his arch-enemy, in 1893, “Keep Holmes Alive” societies immediately sprang

up, and letters imploring Conan Doyle to ressurrect Holmes poured into the Post Office. But where to send them? The Post Office decided the nearest thing to 2218 was No. 215. And as that is now the headquarters of the Abbey National Building Society, that is where the letters are delivered. It is at this financial giant that hundreds of letters arrive every month, most addressed simply: “Sherlock Holmes, Baker Street,” and bearing stamps from all over the world. Simple faith For many years now the Abbey National has gently played along with the game. It has never cruelly shattered the illusions of the fans as less patient people might have done. And there is even a special secretary—for many years the personal assistant to the managing - director — to answer all the Sherlock Holmes mail. Many of the letters are touching in their simple faith that Holmes is alive and able to solve their problems. Recently, a woman from Warsaw, Poland, wrote to say her husband had been imprisoned for a crime he had not committed. The police were unable to help. Would Holmes bend his superior mind to the task of proving his innocence? Another recent letter came from Damascus. The writer reported: “I was in Freddy’s bar recently and a Dr Moriarty came in. I didn’t recognise him from Dr Watson’s description. But I am wondering if

he had a brother and whether they could be the same family. “Can you give me a description of your enemy Moriarty?” Other letters arrive offering Holmes subscriptions to magazines or invitations to go on lecture tours. One even asked him to take a bodybuilding course. One tragic letter came from a woman in Memphis, Tennessee, addressed to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It said: “My husband has been charged with murder. I know he’s innocent.” Then followed a recital of the facts of the case, and the plea: “Would you ask Mr Holmes what he advises so that my husband can be set free?” Busy man Nearly 2000 • of these letters arrive at the Abbey National every year, and each receives a typewritten reply. It is never suggested that Holmes no longer lives at the address; only that it is impossible for him to take on the case. “Unfortunately Mr Holmes is away in Iceland on another case at the moment, and so is unable to accept your case,” a typical reply might read. Dr Watson gets fan mail too. One recent letter contained a touching inquiry after Sherlock Holmes’s health. It read: “I am writing to you as I don’t wish to trouble Mr Holmes, who is such a busy man. But do tell him. Doctor, to lay off that cocaine. It’s no good for him!”