[Orontes]

Obviously, Edward VII ... (obviously?)

[Shangas]

It must've been quite an honour for Mr. Sherlock Holmes to be of such service to his majesty, King Edward VII, in the matter of his indiscrecetion.

I do think it quite a pity that Holmes declined a knighthood.

Sir Sherlock Holmes...whoooooh...**Feels all warm and fuzzy!!**

[Orontes]

It must've been quite an honour for Mr. Sherlock Holmes to be of such service to his majesty, King Edward VII, in the matter of his indiscrecetion.

I do think it quite a pity that Holmes declined a knighthood.

Sir Sherlock Holmes...whoooooh...**Feels all warm and fuzzy!!**

I still don't understand why he declined the knighthood. After all he already had the public's attention, at some point in the books..

[Psmith]

I still don't understand why he declined the knighthood. Afterall he already had the public's attenction, at some point in the books..

Maybe because it would have made him part of 'the system'? That's my own view of it. By accpeting a knighthood, he basically puts himself at the king's command (or at any rate, the king has some kind of moral claim on him) and Holmes would no longer be entirely free to do whatever he wished.

[Professor Challenger]

It's worth remembering that ACD almost turned down his Knighthood. He did not want people to think that he had written his defence of the British Army in South Africa simply in order to get an honour. His family convinced him that to refuse it would be to insult the King. Interesting that he has Holmes turn down his Knighthood near the same period that he accepted his.

[A_Match_and_a_Cigarette]

And, of course, Holmes accepted the Légion d'honneur...

[Orontes]

And, of course, Holmes accepted the Légion d'honneur...

Of course.


I quote:
"'Murderous attack on Sherlock Holmes'. It was at this point that first episode ended and readers of the Strand had to wait another month to find out further details".

The Horror!!!





("And the best avatar prize winner is... Match! " )

[A_Match_and_a_Cigarette]

I quote:
"'Murderous attack on Sherlock Holmes'. It was at this point that first episode ended and readers of the Strand had to wait another month to find out further details".

The Horror!!!

The Horror indeed! Seriously, that sent chills down my own spine when I read it the first time (and that with the following part all nice and handy on the very next page... ).

("And the best avatar prize winner is... Match! " )

Ah, ta! I think the base I used is actually an 1880s/90s contemporary illustration (though I can't recall which particular campaign offhand. My indexing system is disgracefully disordered at the moment).

[BakerStreetBabe]

Sir Sherlock Holmes...whoooooh...**Feels all warm and fuzzy!!**

*feels all warm and fuzzy with Shangas....*

[Orontes]

The Horror indeed! Seriously, that sent chills down my own spine when I read it the first time (and that with the following part all nice and handy on the very next page... ).

me too! ...even if the image of the "one-legged news-vender" ruined a little bit the seriousness of the moment, for me,
I don't know why...

Ah, ta! I think the base I used is actually an 1880s/90s contemporary illustration (though I can't recall which particular campaign offhand. My indexing system is disgracefully disordered at the moment).

well done.. for a moment I thought it was a Spacefall's drawing...

[Captain Basil]

I have often wondered why Holmes refused a knighthood.

Could it be that to accept would have brought him more publicity than he wanted at that point in his career? There were many times that he turned down the opportunity to have his name made known. Perhaps too much fame would make him less effective in his investigations.

He might've felt he was not in need of 'booming.'

[Shangas]

By the turn of the century, Holmes's exploits, thanks to his chronicler, Watson, would have been pretty well-known to the British (and dare I say, continental and even global) public. He'd already established a name for himself as a master detective.

I think he turned down the knighthood because he didn't want to be put up on a pedestal and worshipped. He was happy with where he was and he didn't want to recieve any extra recognition for it.

[lymelight]

A knighthood would have put a barrier between Holmes and the humbler client who sought out his services, the perception would have been that being Sir Sherlock Holmes he would only be interested in clients of a more noble nature. For Holmes's door to remain open to all he would have to remain Sherlock Holmes.

[Limited-Fantasy]

I always believed it to be the Edward VII.

Anyways...

The explanations about Holmes not accepting a knighthood works...but, they don't explain why he accepted the Légion d'honneur.

[Shangas]

Does the Legion d'honneur give the recipient the right to a rank and title?

If not, then that's probably why Holmes accepted it. To have a rank and title in front or after his name would, as Lymelight says, make it appear that Holmes was no longer interested or inaccessible to the common man who desired his services.

[Orontes]

Does the Legion d'honneur give the recipient the right to a rank and title?

If not, then that's probably why Holmes accepted it. To have a rank and title in front or after his name would, as Lymelight says, make it appear that Holmes was no longer interested or inaccessible to the common man who desired his services.

In the end this is the best explanation.

In addition he seems to think that what he does is never 'special', just a mere excercise of logic skills;
like there shouldn't be an 'award' for his job.

...But I would have accepted it

AND shouldn't Watson be honoured, too? Sometimes?..
I hope they gave him the battle of Maiwand medal ... because he never has a chance to go to Buckingham Palace!

[BakerStreetBabe]

A knighthood would have put a barrier between Holmes and the humbler client who sought out his services, the perception would have been that being Sir Sherlock Holmes he would only be interested in clients of a more noble nature. For Holmes's door to remain open to all he would have to remain Sherlock Holmes.

I totally agree with you!

[Captain Basil]

Does the Legion d'honneur give the recipient the right to a rank and title?

Even if it did in France, wouldn't it be possible to live quietly in England without being known to the public as Chevalier Holmes, or whatever?

[John Clayton]

Maybe because it would have made him part of 'the system'? That's my own view of it. By accpeting a knighthood, he basically puts himself at the king's command (or at any rate, the king has some kind of moral claim on him) and Holmes would no longer be entirely free to do whatever he wished.

GREAT OBSERVATION! If anyone needs to stand outside the system it is Sherlock Holmes!

[John Clayton]

A knighthood would have put a barrier between Holmes and the humbler client who sought out his services, the perception would have been that being Sir Sherlock Holmes he would only be interested in clients of a more noble nature. For Holmes's door to remain open to all he would have to remain Sherlock Holmes.

INDEED! Well said! It would have also destroyed the egalitarian appeal of the character so essential to making Sherlock Holmes a worldwide icon!