Comments on: The World’s Greatest Detective http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2008/02/21/the-worlds-greatest-detective/ • • • Being a journal by artist and designer John Coulthart, cataloguing interests, obsessions and passing enthusiasms. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:18:07 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: John http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2008/02/21/the-worlds-greatest-detective/comment-page-1/#comment-58621 John Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:04:04 +0000 http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/?p=2859#comment-58621 Hi Troy. Different books serve different purposes and these would certainly be easier to carry around when travelling than a collected edition. I should also have mentioned that they're well presented otherwise, with textured card covers and good paper and printing inside. I think Sherlock Holmes can stand a degree of sensationalism after years of creeping reverence. These were popular tales, after all, not high-flying literary works. I've never considered doing anything with Holmes myself since there's been more than enough of that already. Unless you can think of a new approach--and have an outlet for it--it doesn't seem worthwhile. Regarding the hound here, it doesn't necessarily have to be seen as a depiction of the real beast in the story, it could easily be a depiction of the legendary apparition, in which case any exaggeration is fitting. Hi Troy. Different books serve different purposes and these would certainly be easier to carry around when travelling than a collected edition. I should also have mentioned that they’re well presented otherwise, with textured card covers and good paper and printing inside. I think Sherlock Holmes can stand a degree of sensationalism after years of creeping reverence. These were popular tales, after all, not high-flying literary works.

I’ve never considered doing anything with Holmes myself since there’s been more than enough of that already. Unless you can think of a new approach–and have an outlet for it–it doesn’t seem worthwhile. Regarding the hound here, it doesn’t necessarily have to be seen as a depiction of the real beast in the story, it could easily be a depiction of the legendary apparition, in which case any exaggeration is fitting.

]]> By: Troy http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2008/02/21/the-worlds-greatest-detective/comment-page-1/#comment-58566 Troy Wed, 30 Jul 2008 03:54:22 +0000 http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/?p=2859#comment-58566 Hmm, I must say I find these a little too... sensational and gaudy. And besides, Penguin will rape you on the price of each book, when it would be better just to get a single volume complete set. And yet again, another illustration of the Hound of the Baskervilles looking too wolfish, and highly inaccurate. Sorry if I'm being a bit persnickety, but incorrect illustrations (particularly of the hound- there are so many) are one of pet peeves. I'm quite happy that you didn't make these, so I can remain fully satisfied with every piece of John Coulthart art I've seen. I would find it quite interesting to see your artistic take on the eerie, dark Baskerville Hall and the mysterious Hound. Has the thought ever crossed your mind? Hmm, I must say I find these a little too… sensational and gaudy. And besides, Penguin will rape you on the price of each book, when it would be better just to get a single volume complete set. And yet again, another illustration of the Hound of the Baskervilles looking too wolfish, and highly inaccurate. Sorry if I’m being a bit persnickety, but incorrect illustrations (particularly of the hound- there are so many) are one of pet peeves.

I’m quite happy that you didn’t make these, so I can remain fully satisfied with every piece of John Coulthart art I’ve seen. I would find it quite interesting to see your artistic take on the eerie, dark Baskerville Hall and the mysterious Hound. Has the thought ever crossed your mind?

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