I am a literary giant in Russia

Chapter 250 The Poor Englishman and the Female Detective (6k)

"...The esteemed Vasily Zhukovsky would very much like to meet you in person, but his health is deteriorating. He is suffering from an eye ailment and is now almost blind, yet he still insists on reading, writing letters, and translating. Therefore, he hopes that you may visit Baden in the German Confederation when you have the time, and he would like to receive you personally..."

Bakunin also wants to meet you, but he's currently busy in Paris searching for a poet who wrote "A Worker's Questions on History," a poem that's been spreading increasingly far and wide by Parisian workers' organizations and is said to have reached other countries. I'll share my thoughts on the poem with you when we meet later…”

Germany?
It's definitely worth taking a short trip.

Mikhail nodded slightly, and after writing about this rather somber matter, Turgenev's tone became lighter: "Your *Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea* is generating new reactions in Paris every day. Newspapers often discuss Captain Nemo's true identity and his pursuit and yearning for freedom. The dissatisfaction and criticism of the colonies have also sparked considerable controversy."
Extremely egregious, pirated copies of "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" reappeared in Paris, featuring numerous alterations. For instance, they depicted Captain Nemo aboard his magical submarine, plundering the world for riches and experiencing many wonderful encounters; some even claimed that Captain Nemo, through his charm and strength, captured and tamed several mermaids.

Mikhail: “?”

Are there things outside of human beings?

To be honest, when it comes to the French business of prostitution, Mikhail is just a greenhorn compared to them; he can't even come close to the French in this regard.

"However, the situation of piracy is much better than that of your previous book, 'Around the World in Eighty Days,' because your article published in London not long ago, which stated that piracy is rampant in Britain and that France is ten times better than Britain, has already caused a great stir in France. Many newspapers in Paris have reported on this matter, praising the fair words you spoke in the article and calling you a friend of the French people."

Mr. Balzac took this opportunity to reiterate his call to combat piracy, emphasizing that it must not be allowed to continue to harm the rights of writers and damage France's image.

Unfortunately, piracy of Mr. Balzac's works remains rampant, while piracy of your works has been somewhat curbed due to the public's short-term enthusiasm.

Professor Balzac was so angry he was jumping up and down.
While finding it amusing, Mikhail also finished reading the rest of the content:
"May God bless you to move forward. Please write to me about yourself, your health, and what you're experiencing in London. I and many others are interested in your story. To prevent your affairs and thoughts from being misinterpreted, let me clarify things for you."

Loyal to your friends
Iv. Turgenev

Mikhail: “.”

Although Turgenev's ideas are somewhat easily misinterpreted, ultimately, entrusting such matters to him is certainly more reliable than to others.

After reading Turgenev's letter, Mikhail opened another letter, this one from the Brontë sisters expressing their gratitude:
"...The wind tonight blows from the wasteland, sweeping over the stone walls and grassy slopes, carrying a touch of coolness, and also bringing our gratitude."

That little collection of poems was originally just some whispers from our hearts. When we wrote it, we never imagined it would leave this silent land. However, thanks to your help, those words that should have been submerged are now resonating.

We still can't believe that London would listen to three unfamiliar names. Your generosity makes our efforts no longer lonely. Without you, all of this would probably have been buried in an unknown corner long ago. Please accept our sincerest gratitude.

……

If you ever visit Yorkshire, please remember this place. The doors of Haworth may be old, but they will always be open for you. We will prepare a cup of tea for you by the fire, and we will talk about poetry and this wondrous fate, with God always with you.

While expressing their gratitude, they also told Mikhail a "secret":
"Please forgive us for hiding our true identities all this time. This collection of poems was actually completed by the three of us sisters. The reason we used three men's names is simply because the current literary market is prejudiced against women."

I once wrote to the esteemed Mr. Southey, who replied sincerely to me, an ordinary man, but he also advised me: literature cannot, and should not, be a woman's profession; the more she devotes herself to fulfilling her calling, the less time she will have for literary creation…

Mikhail pondered this somewhat bitter "secret" for a moment, then quickly began to write:
"The brilliance of literature knows no gender; the world of literature has always been far broader than traditional prejudices suggest."

Strictly speaking, such a view obviously goes against the mainstream thinking at present, but for Mikhail, it is obviously a topic that does not need to be considered too much.

For writers and thinkers of this era, ideas such as women's liberation, opposition to slavery, and opposition to war and colonization have been emerging one after another, and they appeared quite early. However, in many cases, those beautiful things still require people to keep stumbling and moving forward before they can be achieved.

Even though the process is always accompanied by hardships and tribulations, we must still keep moving forward.

While expressing his feelings, Mikhail quickly wrote a sincere reply.

For the rest of the day, Mikhail continued reading and also began planning his short trip to the German Confederation.

As mentioned before, many people in Germany wanted to meet him, but the ultimate goal was to meet and talk with Zhukovsky.

Although Zhukovsky settled in Baden for a long time due to health reasons, he always paid attention to the situation in Russia and maintained contact with the Russian literary world and even the Russian royal family.

However, before officially going, Mikhail had one very important thing to do.

While Mikhail continued working on this matter for the next two days, the magazine's owner, Sanders, took the time to visit Mikhail again.

Normally, as the owner of a magazine, Sanders wouldn't need to constantly fawn over a particular author, but in this regard, Sanders can only say that he's different.
First of all, Mikhail himself is the owner of a very successful magazine, and sometimes a few words he says unintentionally can be very helpful to Sanders, who has been in the publishing industry for half his life.

Secondly, he does encounter some new things with Mikhail that he has never seen before.

In this case, with the latest issue of "A Study in Scarlet" about to be serialized, Sanders, in addition to confirming some things with Mikhail, also showed Mikhail some pirated or altered versions of "A Study in Scarlet" on the market with a wry smile.

Despite his wry smile, Sanders remained relatively calm overall.

Even though the UK has some copyright protection, piracy is still rampant. There are always people who take risks for profit. Moreover, the cost of litigation in the UK is notoriously high, and the judicial process is quite lengthy and complicated.

As a native London publisher, Sanders was used to this. It would certainly have an impact on the magazine, but it wouldn't be a fatal blow. It also depended on whether Mikhail was willing to go through the trouble of protecting his rights.

So today, Sanders handed Mikhail the pirated pamphlet and its altered contents.

Having encountered this kind of thing many times, Mikhail was already used to it and instead looked at the altered content with great interest.

However, as he looked at it, Mikhail couldn't help but shake his head.

Why do the British always seem to have such a penchant for using their creativity in such low-brow ways?
While pornography may be the primary source of productivity, this content is far too dry.
"These inferior articles only seek momentary stimulation and attention, and are nowhere near as good as what you write."

Seeing Mikhail shake his head, Sanders quickly spoke up.

"Exciting? Eye-catching?"

Mikhail gave Sanders a strange look, then casually said, "These things are written too mediocrely. They might as well write it like this: A beggar suddenly receives God's favor one day. Every time he accomplishes something, God strengthens his physique and even gives him some incredible abilities."

With these skills, he gained favor with aristocratic ladies, became famous in the slums, and even one day, when someone tried to assassinate him, he easily caught a bullet with just two fingers.

At this point, Mikhail, realizing what was happening, immediately fell silent. After all, what followed might truly lead to accusations of blasphemy against the monarchy and God.
Even so, publisher Sanders was stunned, muttering to himself, "My God, how could such a story exist?"

Strictly speaking, "feel-good" stories exist in every era. There are many similar stories in medieval European chivalric literature. However, due to ideological constraints and different understandings of many things, Mikhail can only say that the British are pitiful. Do they even know what the purest form of enjoyment is?
Of course, some things are indeed easy to get into jail if you write them down.

Mikhail fell silent, but Sanders, realizing what was happening, had a sudden flash of inspiration and quickly said, "Mr. Mikhail, although this story is very dangerous, it is undoubtedly a very bold and brilliant idea. Do you have any similar ideas? If so, let's just apply it to Sherlock Holmes and then take over the piracy market!"

Mikhail: “?”

I'm writing my own pirated version?

You're a real talent!
"Nothing."

Mikhail decisively waved his hand in refusal, saying, "I was just joking with you."

If others, including future generations, were to find out about this, Mikhail would be utterly humiliated.

However, to be fair, Balzac did this when he first started writing. Because he didn't achieve the success he wanted at the beginning, coupled with financial pressure, he started writing a lot of erotic novels for others for a period of time to earn more income.

Although Balzac vehemently denied the existence of these works after he became famous, later scholars confirmed the existence of these works because manuscripts, publishing contracts, and pseudonym records have been preserved. However, this confirmation is not comprehensive, and many more such works have disappeared into history.

Mikhail could only say that he was considering whether to take some time to ask his teacher Balzac in person, and then offer his own critique.
Of course, Mikhail did not want to follow in the footsteps of his teacher Balzac.

Sanders noticed Mikhail's concerns and immediately advised, "You can just provide an idea, and I'll find someone to complete it." "Impossible."

Mikhail glanced at Sanders, somewhat speechless: "I don't need that little bit of money."

Sanders: "?"

Then why don't you just give me your talent?

Sanders gritted his teeth inwardly, but ultimately abandoned the idea, so he talked to Mikhail about something else:

"Given the enormous success of your self-proclaimed detective novels, as far as I know, there are already people preparing to write new detective novels based on your 'A Study in Scarlet'! Among them are some writers who are already somewhat well-known in London."

When Sanders said those words, he expected the young man in front of him to be angry about being imitated, or even feel a great deal of crisis.

But Mikhail simply brushed off a speck of dust that had somehow gotten on his clothes and casually remarked, "Good luck to them. It's a good thing that more people are contributing new works to this genre; it will bring fresh experiences to more readers."

Sanders: "!"

Is this the so-called "vision" that Mr. Mikhail mentioned earlier?
As Sanders was struck by a jolt, Mikhail recalled some interesting anecdotes about detective novels. Back in 1863, the British writer Iris published "The Secret Agent," and the protagonist, Ruth Turrell, became the first female detective in the history of detective literature.

Then, an author named Layton created the first Black female detective, Gemma, in his novel "Detective Gemma." Mikhail can only say that no one could have predicted this far ahead.
Interestingly, it wasn't until 1915 that two women joined the Grantham Police Station in England; and it wasn't until 1918 that the Metropolitan Police officially accepted 110 female patrol officers.

Female detectives can be said to be a product of pure literary imagination, and early female detectives can be roughly divided into four types: female adventurers, honorary men, ladies detectives who had no choice but to act, and new female detectives.

This is why Conan Doyle didn't cause much of a stir in Britain when he first started out. After all, British detective novels appeared quite early and have a rich body of works. For British readers who had already seen all sorts of detective novels, was there anything particularly special about "A Study in Scarlet" at first glance? Did he really think he could become popular overnight just by relying on a deductive method?

It's almost impossible; it still needs time to develop and mature.

However, for Mikhail, it was basically his debut that marked his peak.

And so, Mikhail spoke briefly with Sanders, then packed his things and went out to continue doing something.

Sanders watched Mikhail leave with a hint of reluctance, while Mikhail, walking ahead, inexplicably felt a chill run down his spine.
Not long after that day, on an ordinary morning, as the sun slowly rose and the morning mist gradually dissipated, just as the whole of London was slowly waking up, a group of newsboys carrying the "Fiction Weekly" were already running through the streets and alleys of London.

Some people delivered the magazine to subscribers' homes, while others started selling it on the streets.

Wherever they went, their cries for their wares didn't use the name "Fiction Weekly," but rather a more eye-catching name to immediately grab everyone's attention:
"The latest issue of *A Study in Scarlet*! A work by Mr. Mikhail!"

"The latest detective story! Sherlock Holmes begins his hunt for criminals!"

"A must-see! Come and watch 'A Study in Scarlet'!"

When their voices rang out, men in many London homes were jolted awake, shoved their wives aside, and rushed to grab the magazines without even changing out of their formal attire.

Some people didn't seem so eager or enthusiastic, but once they got their hands on the magazine and flipped through it, they were immediately immersed in the story.

Meanwhile, in clubs, restaurants, cafes, on the streets, and in slums, countless people began reading this detective novel, which was becoming increasingly popular in London.

As many people couldn't resist watching, a gentleman, witnessing this spectacle, finally couldn't resist any longer and, dressed in a comfortable and respectable outfit, stepped out of his house.
Among them, Ralph, an ordinary police officer at Scotland Yard, was reading the latest issue of "A Study in Scarlet" again. Unlike the others, he had a small notebook on his right side that he used to take notes.

In the latest episode, after Holmes sketched out a portrait of the murderer based on his deductions, he first used a gold ring found at the crime scene as bait to place a lost and found advertisement in the newspaper, hoping to lure the murderer to come forward. However, the person who came to claim the item was an old woman.

Just as Holmes was giving her the ring and following the old woman, intending to find her accomplice, Watson saw:
"As soon as he entered the room, I could tell from his expression that he had not succeeded. Whether he was happy or frustrated seemed to be battling within him. In an instant, happiness triumphed over frustration, and Holmes suddenly burst into laughter."

“I absolutely cannot let the Scotland Yard know about this,” Holmes said loudly, sitting down in his chair. “I’ve mocked them enough, and they won’t let this go this time. But even if they find out and ridicule me, I don’t care. I’ll get my revenge sooner or later.”

Scotland Yard again!

Could it be that this Russian has a grudge against Scotland Yard?

However, this Sherlock Holmes finally failed once, and he was still so concerned about saving face.

Just as Ralph was feeling both angry and amused, what happened next suddenly startled him:
"I exclaimed in astonishment, 'Are you saying that frail, unsteady old woman managed to sneak off the cart while it was moving, without your and the driver's notice?'"

Holmes said sternly, “What old woman? She’s an idiot! We’re the old women, and we’ve been treated like this. He must be a young man, and a shrewd and capable one at that. Not only that, he must be a great actor, and he’s played the role to an unparalleled degree.”

The young man was able to dress up as an old woman?
How did you do it?
Ralph, completely stunned, was about to see how Holmes would explain when Holmes simply said a few words, and then...
This chapter is gone!
Ralph: "?"

So short?! Why not explain such crucial information clearly?
Ralph hurriedly turned to the next page, only to find that the author didn't let Holmes finish speaking at all, but instead ended the night abruptly.

Ralph: "???"

Is it that they refuse to teach? Or is this just a cliffhanger?!

Ralph looked on with resentment at the story to come, only to see that the murder was already being reported in major newspapers. Holmes, upon seeing these reports, simply thought:

"At breakfast, Holmes and I read the reports together; they seemed to him to be very interested."

“I told you long ago that no matter what, the credit will always belong to Lestrade and Gretchen.”

"That depends on the outcome."

"Oh, my friend, that doesn't matter at all. If the murderer is caught, it's naturally due to their hard work; if the murderer escapes, they can say: although they went through many hardships, but... in any case, the good things are always theirs, and the bad things are always attributed to others."

No matter what they do, there will always be people praising them. There's a French proverb that goes, "Even a fool has a bigger fool cheering him on."

Absolutely right, absolutely right! That's exactly how it is among the gentlemen of Scotland Yard.
Is it possible that I could ask Mr. Mikhail to help me solve the case?
Just as Ralph was lost in thought, a scene from the next part of the novel made him quickly jot it down in his notebook:
“This is the Baker Street squad of the Detective Agency,” my partner said with an air of importance. Just then, six street urchins rushed in; I had never seen such dirty, ragged children before.

……

Holmes said, "These little guys do more work by themselves than a dozen official detectives. The moment officials show their faces, they shut up. But these little guys can go anywhere and find out everything. They are very clever, like the tip of a needle, they can get in anywhere. They just lack organization."

This method does seem to work?
Ralph muttered to himself as he read on, and just as Holmes continued his work, one of the detectives from Scotland Yard came to the door and claimed that he had found the murderer.

Holmes was initially a little anxious, but after hearing the detective's reasoning, he immediately showed an attitude of treating a fool.

Meanwhile, another detective who was tracking other suspects suddenly arrived at the door looking flustered and uneasy during the conversation between the two:

Finally, he said, "This is indeed a very bizarre case, an incredible strange thing."

"Ah, you think so too, Mr. Lestrade? I knew you'd come to that conclusion. Have you found that secretary, Mr. Stanjason?" said Grison smugly.

Lestrade said somberly, “The secretary, Mr. Stanjason, was assassinated at the Hotel Holliday around six o’clock this morning.”

Another person has died? Or is it very likely that this is the same person who committed the crime?
When Ralph reached this point, although he was somewhat prepared, he was still taken aback when he saw this line at the end of the article:
"(The End), Next Episode Preview: Holmes Sees Through the Mysterious Murderer's Identity at a Glance, Who Is He Actually?!"

Like many readers across London at this very moment, he couldn't help but shout in his heart or aloud, "NO!!"

It would have been better not to announce it at all!

(End of this chapter)