Oh, yes, these are so insightful, particularly the one about Holmes. I wonder how much Holmesians of our generation differ from those who came before in our perception of Holmes? Because after I read this, I went, "That's Jeremy's Holmes all over," and my Holmes too. I think one thing Mr. Brett did unbelievably well is expose Holmes' vulnerablilty without ever for a moment betraying the character as written. I wonder if earlier generations were less likely to focus on that side of him than you are or I am?

Thank you for talking about Mary! Good grief, but that woman gives me headaches. I like her more and understand her less every day. But this...

my impression is that she understood only too well that her husband was far more interested in running off with Mr. Holmes than he was with settling down and having an average family life with her. I don't think she particularly minded, either. She seemed a woman with a strong enough self-image that she would have been perfectly happy with her independence.

...was tremendously reassuring to me, because I've been worried that I'm writing her as too much of a modern woman, and it's wonderful to hear that you see the same traits I'm playing with.

[And now I'm going to stop the nonstop babbling at you for the night, I promise :) Though it's entirely your own fault, you know, for writing such wonderful things...]