re: Does it bother anybody else? (Sherlock Holmes)

quote:

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Maybe. But that was mostly Watson hyperbole when it came to talking about Holmes.

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The incident of the steel pipe was actually a steel fire poker, and occurred in the Case of the Speckled Band. It's a quick two sentences. A man bends the poker in a show of strength and leaves. Holmes laughs, straightens the poker, and makes a comment.

That's it. I think the misconception stems from ACD's style of story telling. The fights were never given a detailed description. It was just,"Holmes quickly subdued the suspect." Or "Holmes overcame his four attackers."

The focus was never on Holmes fighting ability but on numerous occasions it is mentioned in passing that Holmes is an expert boxer, martial artist, swordsman, and stick fighter.

He was the 19th century equivalent of an action hero.