…and so I became a “brettish” Sherlockian…

Soooooo… I have hesitated some time to start this department of my blog. One reason might be that I have decided to do it in English (which obviously is NOT my mother language). The other, that it is a topic quite personal, and I am not yet used to publish personal stuff about me…

But here we go…

I will start the way I introduced myself in the Sherlock-Holmes-Jeremy-Brett-Community at Youtube. I got across those nice guys rather accidentally, finding some awesome fanvids. I got stuck with them… and have recently even started to publish my own fanvids. There would be quite a lot to say/write on that topic, but as this is only an introduction…

Well, about me… I am from Germany and live near Düsseldorf and Cologne.

For me, Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is one of the most fascinating fictional characters in literature.

[THOUGH I feel inclined to STATE CLEARLY that I absolutely DISAPPROVE of his abuse of "artificial stimulants". Or to put it this way: SHERLOCK? YES!!!! DRUGS? NOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

I am an early fan of the Sherlock Holmes Granada Series, especially when it comes to the unique Jeremy Brett, the perfect embodiment of the master detective. As an actor I have been admiring him for decades.

Quite late I learned more about the “man behind the actor”, and thus came to admire him even more. In his struggle against his mental disorder and his care and encouragement for others he has become my constant inspiration. Though I’ve never had the chance to meet and thank him, I kind of miss him. When he died, the world lost a great guy.

But there are many people who are keeping his memory alive, so he will never be entirely gone. I have the pleasure to have gotten acquainted with some of them on youtube, and I am still amazed what a kind, friendly, welcoming, creative, generous and often funny bunch they are…

NO, GUYS, I AM DEFINITELY NOT TRYING TO FLATTER YOU!!! )

And I know that some of us are feeling indebted to JB in a very special way – for some of us know more or less from own experiences, what the man had to go through with his illness. To those, though years after his death, he is still rendering mental support, hope and encouragement, and watching the recordings of his performances has often proved to be a soothing treat.

So: THANK YOU, JEREMY!

Okay, seems I am getting a bit emotional today…

So, a few further facts about me…

I have studied English literature at Düsseldorf’s Heinrich-Heine-University, so I am used to approaching the Holmes issue on both a scientific and an enthusiast’s level. I am just researching to actually write a paper on that matter and am even dabbling on some pastiche, too.

Sherlock Holmes has been accompanying myself since my childhood, I do not even know when it started. Of course, in those days, I did not know much about his complex “darker sides”, this is something I got acquainted with later.  Thus, my way of being “sherlockian”  is nowadays not a question of idolisation but rather some kind of fascination, mixed with a little reasonable scepticism.

Anyway, the whole matter is important enough for me to start writing about it. So, if you want to accompany me (as readers or as fellow and maybe corresponding sherlockians)… feel free to comment!

Best regards!

Susa