The Cerebral Tentacle No. 1859
The Cerebral Tentacle No. 1859 is the first issue of the magazine of The Arthur Conan Doyle Study Group, published in december 1996 by Mark Chadderton.
The cover is illustrated with the article from The Temple Magazine (june 1897) titled The Queen's Reign: Its Most Striking Characteristic and Most Beneficent Achievement where Arthur Conan Doyle mentioned that Chloroform was the most beneficent invention of Her Majesty's Reign.
The Cerebral Tentacle No. 1859
Introduction
Welcome to the Arthur Conan Doyle Study Group, the latest Branch Office of the FMHC, by writing to this study group, you have been enrolled as a member.
As indicated in NBSPB#28, an increasing appreciation of matters Doylean has led to our formation, this leaflet will put forward ideas for study activities, but the direction that this particular Branch Office takes is entirely down to you, the members. Once you have read this issue, please write in immediately with any ideas, criticism, approval or further suggestions that you may have. (Return postage is appreciated)
Focusing our Study of ACD
Because of the vast output of ACD's writings, as well as his many and varied activities during his lifetime, it has been suggested that the group should initially narrow down our area of study. This would enable both the newcomer to ACD's non-Holmes works, as well as the more knowledgable Doylean's to participate on an equal level. Therefore it is hereby put forward that an ideal course would be to concentrate initial studies on one book, the logical choice seeming to be that excellent collection of 76 ACD short stories.
"The Conan Doyle Stories"
Originally published in 6 separate volumes under different titles, "The Conan Doyle Stories" was brought out by JOHN MURRAY in 1929, gathering these 6 volumes into 1 handy tome. It was reprinted many times by John Murray, and more recently was reprinted at an inexpensive price by BLITZ EDITIONS in 1990. Therefore, if group members have not yet got a copy, it shouldn't be too difficult to pick up one. As an initial focus of study, it will provide us with plenty of scope for scrutiny and appreciation of ACD's interests, imagination and writing skill. Basically the book is a wonderful alternative canon to the Sherlock Holmes tales. However, adopting this book for initial study, should not be taken to mean that other stories, including the novels, will not be studied either now or later.
Study Method
Of course, some group members will be re-reading "The Conan Doyle Stories" book, so instead of reading from start to finish, it is suggested that a more educational idea would be to read the 76 tales in the chronological sequence that ACD wrote them, thus everyone will gain a Further understanding of ACD's developing and varied interests. To help new and old scholars alike, we will he producing a convenient plastic laminated bookmark similar in size to the one recently issued by our fellow branch office GERARD'S HUSSARS (approx. 20x13 cm). Our 'Conan Doyle Stories' bookmark would chronologically list each individual tale's original date of publication and magazine appearance, it will also provide an easy reference guide for comparative research which could be carried out, concerning these stories. Please write in now if you would he interested in obtaining what would be an invaluable study and research aid. The price would he kept to a minimum, but we do need to gauge interest now. Whether group members would be willing to undertake some basic listings for these stories, such as character and place names, is something for the membership to decide, so please have your say. Certainly, an easy reference listing or guide could be easily established over a period of time, which would be invaluable to the scholar.
Additional Bookmarks?
Another idea which has been proposed is for a set of research aid style bookmarks which would indicate what each ACD biography has to say on a particular piece of writing by ACD, however this would require volunteers to read a specific biography in order to check the accuracy of the index, before we could start even planning the finished items... if you are interested in volunteering for what would be a long term project, then write in for further information now.
An Index Conversion?
The ACD autobiography "Memories & Adventures", first published by Hodder and Stoughton in 1924, and more recently reprinted as an Oxford University Press paperback in 1989, is perhaps marred by not having an index. If you are lucky enough to own a copy of the John Murray second edition which was revised and updated when issued in 1930, you will know that that edition has an index, however those study group members who only maybe have a copy of the OUP 1989 book, may be interested in the possibility of this group producing an index conversion for their edition, this would be an excellent research tool and could be issued in the OUP 1989 book-size, as a matching pamphlet. Members will be interested to know that the rather laborious task of converting the index of the 1930 edition to the 1924/1989 edition has already been completed, but currently lies in hand-written manuscript form, therefore, we need to guage a response as to how many would be interested in aquiring this item. The price charged would be, again, kept to a non-profit making figure. If you are interested, then write in now.
THE ACD ABC
In the true spirit of ACD, it has been noted that as a study group we should all try and help each other's research as much as we can. Basic research requires each member obtaining as many ACD books as possible, but building up a complete ACD library is now virtually a pipe-dream (sorry!) for most scholars, especially when faced with the ever-esculating specialist book-dealers' extortionate prices! Therefore as a group we will be looking to help each other out, and a scheme is currently being devised to incorporate this aim, which will be known as the ACD ABC. (The abbreviation standing for the Arthur Conan Doyle ALTRUISTIC BOOK CLUB.)
If you write in to enquire about participation in this scheme you are requested to supply a list of up to 10 ACD books that you need for your collection, and we will inform you how the idea is going to be set in motion.
Visits to ACD Sites & Study Group Meetings?
At the present moment, we have no fixed dates for meetings or visits to Doylean sites due to the need to organize our basic study structure and discover the direction that members wish to see this 'study group' go? However, visiting any Doylean location is always educational and enlightening, so various plans are afoot in which we hope to be fully supporting the tradition established by the FMHC for exploring sites associated with ACD... your support or idess will be welcome regarding our future meetings. We have already had one such offer of help from Brian Pugh, who is the Assistant Curator of THE CONAN DOYLE (CROWBOROUGH) ESTABLISHMENT, and this would involve arranging a visit to Groombridge Place, where the CD(C)E's ACD room is. As stated above, this will be one for the near future, once we are "up and running".
Further Newsletters?
Depending on this group flourishing, there is always the possibility that members would welcome additional newsletters such as this, whereby we could further air views and exchange ideas or maybe provide snippets of information for fellow Doyleans... this could even perhaps run to personal requests for photocopies of articles on ACD or extracts from some of his smaller and hard to obtain works. The more we can do for each other the better this 'ACD study group' can function.
Naturally, if you would like to see more of what has so far been suggested and set out in this initial(?) newsletter then please get involved Further by replying now. Any continuance of "THE CEREBRAL TENTACLE", would provide a complement to the already established "Lifework Carriage Company" section of the NBSPB.
The Cerebral Tentacle — issue : 1859 ??
Those new to ACD's works other than the S.H. adventures, may be unaware why this newsletter has been named thus; it could be said that for an ACD study group affiliated to the FMHC it is entirely apt, if you don't know what it refers to then please write in and ask, along with all your other comments reqarding this introductory newsletter — after all, it is our exchange of ideas and sharing of Doylean knowlegde that will enable this FMHC Branch Office to thrive. As to the issue number '1859', that of course is ACD's year of birth... the next 'Cerebral Tentacle' would therefore be issue : 1860!!!
Conclusions
As stated throughout, we are relying on your ideas, encouragement and further interest in what has been initiated and put forward in this newsletter, in other words you need to write in now, indicating exactly what you feel needs to be done or revised, so as to help in (y)our Doylean studies. Even if you have only read the S.H. stories, and nothing else by ACD, don't be afraid to join in — it is your opinions that count — after all, being a Holmesian is the soundest basic requirement to being a Doylean, as you already know a good deal of ACD through reading about Holmes & Watson.
TO CONCLUDE—
- WHATEVER YOUR VIEWS?
- PLEASE WRITE BACK NOW.
- WHATEVER YOUR VIEWS?
YOURS CONANICALLY,
Mark Chadderton — Branch Office Manager.
