H&W Timeline
Sep. 24th, 2008 10:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
elabyI'm so industrious! While other people were crocheting tonight, I wrote up a timeline of dates significant to Holmes and Watson's relationship.
Holmes was born around 1854 (date extrapolated from canon)
Watson was born in 1852 (extra-canonical date). He got his degree in 1878, at the age of 26, and joined the army.
A Study in Scarlet - 1881. Holmes and Watson meet and share rooms at Baker Street. Holmes is 27 and Watson is 29.
The Speckled Band - 1883. I include this one for several reasons: No one seems perturbed that Holmes hangs out in Watson's bedroom while he's sleeping; there is concern for Watson's welfare; there is wrist-grabbing and whispering. Also, I love this story. Holmes is 29 and Watson is 31.
The Sign of the Four - 1888. Watson gets engaged and married to Mary Morstan and moves out of Baker Street. Holmes, um, abuses cocaine in response. Holmes is 34, Watson is 36.
The Hound of the Baskervilles - Supposedly 1889. Dating this is weird, though, because in the story, it says 1884 is five years ago, but Watson's living with Holmes. Personally, considering the H&W interaction and the fact that Watson's publications are mentioned (The Sign of the Four, the second one, was published in 1980), I'd place it sometime soon after Holmes's return (1894-5ish).
The Dying Detective - 1890. Holmes fakes deathly ill for a case; Watson nearly expires with worry. Holmes reassures him once all his revealed. Holmes is 36, Watson is 38.
The Final Problem - 1891. Holmes goes over Reichenbach Falls, leaving Watson with "a void in [his] life which the lapse of two years has done little to fill." Holmes is 37, Watson is 39.
The Empty House - 1894. Holmes makes his triumphant return. Watson is living on his own after the apparent death of his wife sometime in between. Holmes is 40, Watson is 42.
The Norwood Builder - 1894. During the "some months" between The Empty House and now, Holmes convinces Watson to sell his practice (at a high price to a distant relative of Holmes' who he puts up to the sale) so Watson can move back in at Baker Street. Aw.
The Bruce Partington Plans - 1895. Holmes trusts Watson enough by now to tell him about Mycroft's true profession, and Holmes is much less reserved in this story than in many others. There is also the line "I knew you would not shrink at the last," said he, and for a moment I saw something in his eyes which was nearer to tenderness than I had ever seen. Holmes is 41, Watson is 43.
The Devil's Foot - 1897. I love this story. It's so bizarre. Holmes and Watson nearly die as an result of an experiment Holmes performs, and this results:
"Upon my word, Watson!" said Holmes at last with an unsteady voice, "I owe you both my thanks and an apology. It was an unjustifiable experiment even for one's self, and doubly so for a friend. I am really very sorry."
"You know," I answered with some emotion, for I had never seen so much of Holmes's heart before, "that it is my greatest joy and privilege to help you."
Holmes also uses the phrase "my Watson," which is delightful. Holmes is 43, Watson is 45.
Charles Augustus Milverton - Nobody knows! Apparently this is highly contested in Teh Scholarship. One of them dates it 1899. Some date it as early as 1882 or as late as 1903. I have to yet to come up with my own theory. It's in this list because there is much hand-holding and Watson being protective. If it's 1899, Holmes is 45 and Watson is 47.
The Three Garridebs - June, 1902. You all know why this one is here. Watson gets shot, Holmes goes *panic!*, Watson is immensely touched, loyalty and love, "If you had killed Watson, you would not have got out of this room alive," etc. Cue squee and wibble. Holmes is 48, Watson is 50.
The Illustrious Client - September 1902. Now it's Holmes's turn to get injured and Watson's to worry. This one presents problems, though, because Watson claims he's living in his own rooms on Queen Anne's Street and not at Baker Street. He was clearly living at Baker Street three months before, and afterward things get really wonky with Holmes claiming Watson got married again in The Blanched Soldier, which is dated in January of 1903. So either Watson moved out and got married around this time, without any mention of this new wife, or they're all on crack. My personal opinion tends toward the crack, mostly because the narrative demands in The Illustrious Client make it necessary for Watson to be living away from Baker Street. After all, how is he supposed to see in the newspaper that there was a "murderous attempt" on Holmes, freak out, and run in a panic to Holmes's bedside if he's living with him? Much less drama that way. Anyway, there is adorable interaction between them in this story, weirdness involving Watson's living situation notwithstanding.
Aaaand that's as far as I feel like going, since the timeline gets pretty confusing after that and I haven't read those stories the whole way through yet.
Holmes was born around 1854 (date extrapolated from canon)
Watson was born in 1852 (extra-canonical date). He got his degree in 1878, at the age of 26, and joined the army.
A Study in Scarlet - 1881. Holmes and Watson meet and share rooms at Baker Street. Holmes is 27 and Watson is 29.
The Speckled Band - 1883. I include this one for several reasons: No one seems perturbed that Holmes hangs out in Watson's bedroom while he's sleeping; there is concern for Watson's welfare; there is wrist-grabbing and whispering. Also, I love this story. Holmes is 29 and Watson is 31.
The Sign of the Four - 1888. Watson gets engaged and married to Mary Morstan and moves out of Baker Street. Holmes, um, abuses cocaine in response. Holmes is 34, Watson is 36.
The Hound of the Baskervilles - Supposedly 1889. Dating this is weird, though, because in the story, it says 1884 is five years ago, but Watson's living with Holmes. Personally, considering the H&W interaction and the fact that Watson's publications are mentioned (The Sign of the Four, the second one, was published in 1980), I'd place it sometime soon after Holmes's return (1894-5ish).
The Dying Detective - 1890. Holmes fakes deathly ill for a case; Watson nearly expires with worry. Holmes reassures him once all his revealed. Holmes is 36, Watson is 38.
The Final Problem - 1891. Holmes goes over Reichenbach Falls, leaving Watson with "a void in [his] life which the lapse of two years has done little to fill." Holmes is 37, Watson is 39.
The Empty House - 1894. Holmes makes his triumphant return. Watson is living on his own after the apparent death of his wife sometime in between. Holmes is 40, Watson is 42.
The Norwood Builder - 1894. During the "some months" between The Empty House and now, Holmes convinces Watson to sell his practice (at a high price to a distant relative of Holmes' who he puts up to the sale) so Watson can move back in at Baker Street. Aw.
The Bruce Partington Plans - 1895. Holmes trusts Watson enough by now to tell him about Mycroft's true profession, and Holmes is much less reserved in this story than in many others. There is also the line "I knew you would not shrink at the last," said he, and for a moment I saw something in his eyes which was nearer to tenderness than I had ever seen. Holmes is 41, Watson is 43.
The Devil's Foot - 1897. I love this story. It's so bizarre. Holmes and Watson nearly die as an result of an experiment Holmes performs, and this results:
"Upon my word, Watson!" said Holmes at last with an unsteady voice, "I owe you both my thanks and an apology. It was an unjustifiable experiment even for one's self, and doubly so for a friend. I am really very sorry."
"You know," I answered with some emotion, for I had never seen so much of Holmes's heart before, "that it is my greatest joy and privilege to help you."
Holmes also uses the phrase "my Watson," which is delightful. Holmes is 43, Watson is 45.
Charles Augustus Milverton - Nobody knows! Apparently this is highly contested in Teh Scholarship. One of them dates it 1899. Some date it as early as 1882 or as late as 1903. I have to yet to come up with my own theory. It's in this list because there is much hand-holding and Watson being protective. If it's 1899, Holmes is 45 and Watson is 47.
The Three Garridebs - June, 1902. You all know why this one is here. Watson gets shot, Holmes goes *panic!*, Watson is immensely touched, loyalty and love, "If you had killed Watson, you would not have got out of this room alive," etc. Cue squee and wibble. Holmes is 48, Watson is 50.
The Illustrious Client - September 1902. Now it's Holmes's turn to get injured and Watson's to worry. This one presents problems, though, because Watson claims he's living in his own rooms on Queen Anne's Street and not at Baker Street. He was clearly living at Baker Street three months before, and afterward things get really wonky with Holmes claiming Watson got married again in The Blanched Soldier, which is dated in January of 1903. So either Watson moved out and got married around this time, without any mention of this new wife, or they're all on crack. My personal opinion tends toward the crack, mostly because the narrative demands in The Illustrious Client make it necessary for Watson to be living away from Baker Street. After all, how is he supposed to see in the newspaper that there was a "murderous attempt" on Holmes, freak out, and run in a panic to Holmes's bedside if he's living with him? Much less drama that way. Anyway, there is adorable interaction between them in this story, weirdness involving Watson's living situation notwithstanding.
Aaaand that's as far as I feel like going, since the timeline gets pretty confusing after that and I haven't read those stories the whole way through yet.
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Date: 2008-09-25 03:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-26 12:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-25 08:50 am (UTC)yes, yes, I know I keep saying this. :-P
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Date: 2008-09-26 12:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-09 02:35 am (UTC)My personal opinion tends toward the crack
*snerk* Oh wife #whichever. You are SUCH a problem. But a problem for all Holmesians, and not just for slashers, so that's alright, then!
On HOUN: yeah, what is going on with HOUN? I've always mentally placed it in late summer of '90 or '91, though for no very cogent reason except that the tension between them says to me "during the marriage" and no sane man goes off to the country with his friend for a month or so during the first year of his marriage. I'm not even sure "late summer" is right, to be honest. This is the part where I confess in a whisper that, umm, I don't like HOUN very much. Or know it very well, for that matter. Those long stretches where the boys aren't together just kill me, because it's their dynamic-- no matter what mood they happen to be in-- that makes or breaks a story for me. And I get distracted by the side plots. I think if it were a short story, I would adore it, but I'm not sure about it as a novel. Then again, that's my reaction to ALL of the novels.
Do you have your own CHAS dating theory yet?
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Date: 2009-06-09 11:00 pm (UTC)I keep going back and forth with HOUN. I get a feeling of just-recently-after-EMPT, because Watson's feeling of betrayal is so raw and different from anything that came before. From Lestrade's adoration, too, it's makes me think it's at least somewhat later in their relationship. CARD screwed up my "Lestrade started respecting Holmes more after the Hiatus" theory, but I still think his part in HOUN sounds more like post-Hiatus. I really don't know, though, because then again I'll read something in it that seems very pre-Falls to me.
I love the atmosphere of HOUN, and that Watson is so capable, but you're right, the lack of interaction between them really takes away from it. It gives it such a different feel.
CHAS... let me consult aforementioned timeline XD The only clues I found helped me try to pinpoint pre- or post-Falls, nothing more specific than that. The fact that Holmes introduces Watson as "my friend and partner" might indicate post-Falls, since it isn't until the later stories that they refer to themselves as a detective team (as far as I remember, but I could be wrong). And Watson worries about Holmes's "honored career," which would mean that it would have to be after he got popular (post SIGN-publication, maybe?) But then again, Watson describes Holmes's Escott-self as "a rakish young workman," so what does that "young" signify? And Milverton had electricity in his house, so when would the rich have been able to afford that? I didn't come to any real conclusion, unfortunately!
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Date: 2009-06-10 04:04 am (UTC)I look forward to that day very much!
Oh, and I agree, HOUN definitely does have it's good sides, especially supercompetent!Watson. Also Dr. Mortimer, and the scene with the portraits, and the initial deductions, and the Holmes-dancing-about-on-the-Moor scene, and the reunion at the hut, and various and sundry other things.
On CHAS-dating: Watson gets the title of "intimate friend and associate" as early as SPEC, and "friend and colleague" by SCAN, so I'm not sure on that one. But I've always placed CHAS during the honeymoon period, in the years just after the return, because of the intense closeness, but it's just so frustratingly difficult to be sure of anything where CHAS-dating is concerned... The electricity is a good point, but sketchy, as he was very rich, and also had very effective ways of getting his hands on the latest technology. But the "young" point is a interesting one, which I hadn't considered before. I think one really must place it after GREE-- it's psychologically unbelievable to me for Holmes to go from housebreaking in one story to waiting around for warrants when a man's life is at stake in the next, whereas the opposite effect, Holmes' frustration with the legal system in GREE leading him to disregard it in CHAS, makes perfect sense. But Holmes being "young" may indeed have to relocate it pre-hiatus in my personal chronology...
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Date: 2009-06-10 11:14 pm (UTC)Oh dude, I didn't even think of that! That's brilliant, and like you said, makes perfect sense. And the "friend and partner" thing really doesn't place it anywhere, you're right. It's hard!