ALS signed “A. Conan Doyle,” seven pages two sets of adjoining sheets, 4.5 x 7, no date but circa 1880s. Humorous handwritten letter about an unfortunate lodger, written from "1 Bush Villas, Southsea," where he lived from 1882 to 1890. In part: "Being seedy and sorethroaty and generally down-in-the-mouthy it seems to me I can't do better than have half an hour's chat with you. The cause of all my woes sits before me as I write—I see her when I raise my eyes crooning over her newspaper—an old woman of seventy two—large nosed bigboned and corkscrew curled—oh she is a dreadful female! She…knew my grandfather (verily the sins of the parent descend upon the children). She found me out and came and kissed me and was dreadfully affectionate (I had never seen the old toad before)—Then she told me that her mission in life was to make me happy—in vain I assured her that I was as happy as a lord. She would come & live with me & pay £100 towards the expences. In a moment of weakness I consented. She went off to London & soon wrote to say she was coming with her furniture but could not pay more than 80. Again I consented. She appeared with a fat girl in her tow as a body servant. It was the first intimation I had had of this creature so that the terms now became practically £40 for each. 'Thank heaven I am not covetous of gold' but really this was too good. Then she tried to change all our domestic customs & little Bohemianisms, but there old Mrs. Smith and I stood shoulder to shoulder and inflicted a heavy repulse upon the enemy. Since then—she has been here 14 days—we live in a state of armed mentality. Occasionally there is a bit of a skirmish. Innes falls foul of the fat girl who retreats upon her mistress. Then the boy is driven back and Mrs. Smith and I act as a covering party—however we are sure to have a row royal soon…She is the most selfish, stingy, self-opinionated, dissatisfied creature that ever lived. Our house is not nearly so jolly as it used to be—but it can't last which is a balm to us in our despondency…
When the medicine gives out I have the more time for writing and my two strings have never failed me yet…Will you tell my fraction of a mother that I wrote a long letter to Jimmy Ryan about 3 weeks ago but have had no answer. Also give her my fondest love. I wish the two of you were coming down here. By the way I want Jack to find something out for me. It seems I have to pass moral philosophy (one of the preliminary subjects) before I can take my M.D. which I design to go in for next August. Can Jack find out for me when there is a preliminary examination between now and then. I should be very much obliged to him if he would." In fine condition, with a couple of names blacked out in the text.
During this period, Doyle was practicing medicine in Southsea and occasionally publishing fiction in magazines. He had received his M.B.C.M. degree (Bachelor of Medicine and Master of Surgery) in 1880, and would earn a full M.D. degree in 1885. Struggling in his work as a doctor, Doyle turned to fiction full-time. He would publish A Study in Scarlet, his first novel—and the first Sherlock Holmes story—in 1887. This interesting, early letter reveals Doyle's literary talent, offering the entertaining tale of an unwelcome housemate.
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