July's Interesting Interview is with Ray Betzner, BSI. I got to meet Ray this year at the Holmes, Doyle and Friends conference and wrote about what a great guy he is in that post, so I won't overflow too much with compliments here. I will say that he is a very knowledgeable, witty and friendly guy and definitely someone we should all be lucky enough to spend time with.
(Side note, as I am typing this intro, Ray has been commenting on my vacation photos on Facebook. So, he's not just a friendly guy when it comes to Sherlockiana!)
Ray runs the great blog, Studies in Starrett, which, for any Sherlockian interested in the founding fathers of our hobby, is a must read. In perfect timing, I invited Ray to do this interview on the same week that his blog is going on a summer hiatus, so make sure to go back and read some of his earlier work while waiting for his return in the fall!
How do you define the
word “Sherlockian”?
I once knew how to define a
Sherlockian, but the field has become so diverse in recent years that it’s not
easy. It’s certainly an expanded universe today, and that is for the best.
How did you become a
Sherlockian?
I first read parts of the Canon as a
child. When I was 16 and could drive, one of the first places I went was the
local library, which had two Holmes books: THE COMPLETE SHERLOCK HOLMES with
the Christopher Morley introduction, and THE PRIVATE LIFE OF SHERLOCK HOLMES by
Vincent Starrett. Reading the entire Canon was a revelation: so many mysteries
to be solved.
Starrett’s book talked about Holmes as if he was a living human
being. He also recorded the activities of a group of Holmes addicts known as
the Baker Street Irregulars. For a kid from working class roots, the group
seemed like fantastic characters who lived in a mythical world mere mortals
could not enter.
I kept up my interest through college
and found great mentors: Andrew Fusco, John Bennett Shaw, Ely Liebow, Chuck and
Peggy Henry among many others. Meeting others who shared my passion was (and
remains) a great pleasure.
Fifteen years after reading Starrett’s
book for the first time, I was invested as a member of the Baker Street
Irregulars. Rather than be the end of a journey, it was really just the start
of a new chapter and I’ve been engaged with what I think of as “the Sherlockian
movement” ever since.
What is your favorite
canonical story?
That’s a tough one, and the answer has
changed over the decades. “The Speckled
Band” and “The Red-Headed League” were favorites for years.
But as time has gone on, I’ve found my
tastes changing. For example, I was never a big fan of “The Adventure of the
Dancing Men,” but after spending months editing DANCING TO DEATH, one of the
BSI manuscript books, I have become a convert. The story is far more complex
than it appears at first and I’ve become intrigued with trying to explain why
Holmes failed to prevent his client’s death.
What subset of
Sherlockiana really interests you?
I owe Vincent Starrett a huge debt for
introducing me to the BSI through THE PRIVATE LIFE OF SHERLOCK HOLMES. So I
took an interest in his other Sherlockian writings, and then his other work,
which is considerable and highly varied. Four years ago I started a blog,
STUDIES IN STARRETT (www.vincentstarrett.com), and a companion Facebook page. Introducing new folks to
the broad range of his work has been a delight. I’ve gotten tremendous positive
feedback over the years.
When you think about it, we’ve paid
back Morley and Starrett in the best possible way. Holmes was just a small bit
of both men’s literary output, but for the most part, it is the Sherlockians
who have kept their reputations alive.
What things do you like
to research related to Sherlock Holmes?
I largely do research to support my
writing and I’ve written everything but pastiches over the decades. I wrote
mock radio play parodies about Holmes for several years as entertainment for The Cremona Fiddlers of Williamsburg, a scion I helped start back in the 1980s.
Only one of the parodies holds up today, and I would love to see it revived.
I’ve done a handful of traditional
trifling monographs, and one well-received talk about how Dr. Watson coped with
the deaths of Holmes and Mary. I still think there is much more to be written
about Mary and her impact on Holmes and Watson. She has been ignored too long.
It’s probably no surprise that
Starrettian studies are my favorite. Editing a new edition of THE PRIVATE LIFE
OF SHERLOCK HOLMES for Wessex Press was a true labor of love. And the blog is
fun because I get to show off my book collection while bringing Starrett’s work
to life.
What are some of the
most interesting things you've come across in your time doing Studies in
Starrett?
The most unexpected event came when I
found a copy of Starrett’s first book of poetry in Vancouver, with an
inscription from Starrett to his mother. I was thrilled to have the book, but
the story of how it came to be in Canada was bittersweet. Turns out Starrett’s
mother committed suicide by jumping from a ferry boat while in Vancouver with a
Christian group preaching to the native peoples. She must have taken the book
from Chicago to Vancouver on her last trip. The whole story is here: http://www.vincentstarrett.com/blog/2014/7/24/dear-mother-
I have also been lucky enough to
purchase a manuscript that includes a copy of Starrett’s immortal poem “221B,” straight
out of Starrett’s typewriter Holding that page still makes my hands shake. http://www.vincentstarrett.com/blog/2018/2/24/autolycus-in-limbo-the-manuscript
Along the way, I’ve also become
friends with Starrett’s distant relatives and some have been very kind to share
their photos and other family treasures. So I’ve been able to trace his work as
a war correspondent in Mexico, his adventures in London as a teen and the trip
he and his second wife, Rachel (Ray) took around the world. Those photos are at
the Facebook page and a few are here:
And here:
The amazing part to me is that there
is so much about Starrett, his life, his family and his work that I have yet to
dig into.
How different do you
think the world of Sherlockiana would be if Vincent Starrett hadn't contributed
to our hobby? Would there even be a
Sherlockian hobby today?
What a great question. That’s one I’ve
discussed with others over the years, including Baker Street Journal editor
Steven Rothman, the foremost authority on Christopher Morley. Morley would have certainly started the Baker
Street Irregulars without Starrett. That’s certain. But it took Edgar W. Smith
to pick up the group and keep it going when Morley wanted to kill it.
Now here’s where Starrett comes in: Smith
found Morley by writing to Starrett after reading THE PRIVATE LIFE OF SHERLOCK
HOLMES. It’s possible Smith would have met Morley otherwise (they were both in
New York), but the fact is that Starrett’s book and his bonhomie helped build
the foundation of Sherlock Holmes idolatry that continues through today.
Starrett played a vital role in
bringing people together to share their fascination for Holmes. That can’t be
disputed.
What Sherlockian things
do you like to read other than the Canon?
I read a lot of the Higher Criticism.
In fact, I have been going back and re-reading a lot of the criticism that I
first found as a teen and in my early 20s, now more than 40 years ago. Having
the perspective of time and additional experience brings a new richness to
older essays.
I’ve heard the view that more
contemporary criticism can’t stack up against that of the Golden Age. What
unmitigated bleat! There is a great deal of valuable commentary being written
today, which pairs nicely with the best work of Golden Age commentators. I have
been especially encouraged by the work from younger folks (which means anyone
who has not reached my three score plus) who bring new perspectives to the
Sherlock Holmes movement.
The Baker Street Journal continues to
be a foundational work. I’ve been a subscriber since my undergraduate years and
cannot imagine anyone who takes their Holmes-work seriously—or as seriously as
this silliness deserves—without being a subscriber.
If I can continue to do a little log
rolling, the books of the Baker Street Irregulars regularly meet the mark, as
do those published by Wessex Press. (Full disclosure: I’ve edited a volume for
both of those worthy organizations and have enjoyed friendships with the people
who dedicate many hours to this labor of love.)
I read very few pastiches and almost
no parodies. I’m quite content with 60 stories and besides, it leaves me more
shelf space for Starrettian work!
Where do you see
Sherlockiana in 5 or 10 years from now?
When you spend a lot of time in the
past as I do, you realize predicting the future is especially chancy. What I
can say for sure is that the Sherlock Holmes movement is quite elastic and
capable of taking in folks with divergent views. We’ve seen this recently with
the fuss over those who came to Holmes through BBC Sherlock or other modern
adaptations. Those who lacked the good manners to criticize new fans without
taking the time to know them have missed out on a lot of good fun. Their loss.
And that is the bottom line for me:
Sherlocking is supposed to be fun. It is not a religion with litmus tests or a
totalitarian state where strict rules must at all times be obeyed. It is also not a caste system with elites
snooting at those with different views. Holmes himself succeeded by throwing
out the rules followed by detectives of his time. He was a disruptor who
delighted in tweaking those who thoughtlessly followed the old worn paths.
The Sherlockian world will change, as
it must! Forcing time to stand still
produces hardening of the arteries and certain death. The 60 original stories
will always be here, regardless of contemporary interpretations. So long as the
playfulness remains and the joy in celebrating our joint passion is alive, I
feel confident that Sherlockian affection will continue for another 80 years at
least.
If I am wrong, dig me up in 80 years
and let me know.
Good interview. I see Sherlock Holmes continuing forward.
ReplyDeleteGood biography of Ray. I find his blog interesting and it is well written. Recommended.
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