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| Lilly Library (photo by "Vmenkov") |
While researching Victor L. Whitechurch, whose books I am currently reading, I came across a fascinating post at the website for Indiana University's Lilly Library which has one of the most remarkable collections of detective and crime fiction in the United States. Back in 1973 the library celebrated the 130th anniversary of the publication of "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" with an exhibit entitled "The First Hundred Years of Detective Fiction, 1841-1941."
Among the books are some other ephemera including the drawing reproduced below. I've long known of G. K. Chesterton's ability as a sketch artist and cartoonist but never knew that he was commissioned to illustrate an edition of Sherlock Holmes stories. Below is his rendering of the near fatal struggle on the cliffs of the Reichenbach Falls.
The note in the exhibit catalog accompanying this drawing says:
G. K. Chesterton
was once commissioned to illustrate the Doyle
stories (imagine Father Brown on Sherlock Holmes)! The volume was
never published, but Lilly has his sketches, among them the
Reichenbach scene, done in blue crayon.
The entire contents of the exhibit along with program notes are posted at the Lilly Library website
here. It's an excellent resource for any devotee of the history of detective fiction. I've already made note of three writers who until I read the catalog I had never heard of. Unfortunately, the exhibit's catalog notes for one of those writers ruined a book for me by revealing the ending.
Oh, thanks for this, John. I'm going to take a long slow look. By the way, I do love Chesterton's sketch.
ReplyDeleteThe info about Chesterton's sketch is fascinating. I'm also dying to hear what you make of Victor L Whitechurch
ReplyDeleteChesterton was a delightful artist. That wonderfully humourous spirit, so evident in his writing, manages to translate itself in his drawings.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I had no idea he had been commissioned to illustrate a Holmes collection! This was my first time seeing the drawing and I am delighted.
Great John! Thanks for this wonderful link!
ReplyDelete