Description
In 1891, the public was horrified to learn that Sherlock Holmes had perished in a deadly struggle with the archcriminal Professor Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls. Then, to their amazement, he reappeared two years later, informing the stunned Watson: 'I travelled for two years in Tibet, therefore, and amused myself by visiting Lhasa' Nothing has been known of those two missing years until Jamyang Norbu's discovery, in a rusting tin dispatch box in Darjeeling, of a flat packet carefully wrapped in waxed paper and neatly tied with stout twine. When opened the packet revealed Hurree Chunder Mookerjee's own account of his travels with Sherlock Holmes. Now, for the first time, we learn of Sherlock Holmes's brush with the Great Game, with Colonel Creighton, Lurgan Sahib and the world of Kim. We follow him north across the hot and dusty plains of India to Simla, summer capital of the British Raj, and over the high passes to the vast emptiness of the Tibetan plateau. In the medieval splendour that is Lhasa, intrigue and black treachery stalk the shadows, and in the remote and icy fastnesses of the Trans-Himalayas good and evil battle for ascendancy. As Patrick French has written, 'Read th… (more)
Genres
Collection
Publication
Bloomsbury USA (2003), 280 pages
User reviews
LibraryThing member nuwanda
The premise of "The Mandala of Sherlock Holmes" lies in what is known among the many fans of Sherlockiana as the Great Hiatus — a period between 1891, when Arthur Conan Doyle decided to kill off his intrepid detective along with his arch-nemesis Professor Moriarty in The Adventure of the Final
"The Mandala of Sherlock Holmes" is actually a homage to two writers — Arthur Conan Doyle and Rudyard Kipling (with some additional traces of H. Rider Haggard). The book is a treasure trove of references to and direct quotes from both authors — literally dozens of them — and I am no expert on either, so there must be plenty that I missed.
Norbu’s story of Sherlock Holmes is told by words of Huree Chunder Mookerjee, a Bengali spy out of a well-regarded novel Kim by Rudyard Kipling. It is Kipling’s character that assumes the place of Watson for the rest of the story — and this turns out it is an ingenious move, as it also alters the perspective. "The Mandala" that begins as a skillful and honest homage to Sherlock Holmes slowly turns into something else. Despite of both of his sources being victorian and colonial, Norbu’s novel manages to put a very interesting twist to them. The Empire that in Concan Doyle and Kipling is either an exotic backdrop or source of a threatening menace acquires a voice of its own as our access to the narrative and the point of association is provided through a babu of Indian origin rather than a British doctor. This has some far-reaching ramifications, all of which might not be to the best liking to the fans of original Sherlock Holmes — but this is not simply a story of what Mr. Holmes did in Tibet during his “missing years”. It is a case of the Empire writing back and appropriating the two most famous and well-loved colonial writers to serve the ends of the colonized, and as such it is truly well executed.
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Problem to 1894, when the author finally caved in to the persistent requests by his readers as well as publishers and brought Sherlock Holmes back in The Adventure of the Empty House. Upon his return from what turned out a faked death and while explaining the ever baffled Dr. Watson what had happened, Sherlock Holmes gave a brief mention of having '… travelled for two years in Tibet, therefore, and amused myself by visiting Lhassa , and spending some days with head Lama. You may have read of the remarkable exploration of a Norwegian named Sigerson, but I am sure it never occurred to you that you were receiving news from your friend.'"The Mandala of Sherlock Holmes" is actually a homage to two writers — Arthur Conan Doyle and Rudyard Kipling (with some additional traces of H. Rider Haggard). The book is a treasure trove of references to and direct quotes from both authors — literally dozens of them — and I am no expert on either, so there must be plenty that I missed.
Norbu’s story of Sherlock Holmes is told by words of Huree Chunder Mookerjee, a Bengali spy out of a well-regarded novel Kim by Rudyard Kipling. It is Kipling’s character that assumes the place of Watson for the rest of the story — and this turns out it is an ingenious move, as it also alters the perspective. "The Mandala" that begins as a skillful and honest homage to Sherlock Holmes slowly turns into something else. Despite of both of his sources being victorian and colonial, Norbu’s novel manages to put a very interesting twist to them. The Empire that in Concan Doyle and Kipling is either an exotic backdrop or source of a threatening menace acquires a voice of its own as our access to the narrative and the point of association is provided through a babu of Indian origin rather than a British doctor. This has some far-reaching ramifications, all of which might not be to the best liking to the fans of original Sherlock Holmes — but this is not simply a story of what Mr. Holmes did in Tibet during his “missing years”. It is a case of the Empire writing back and appropriating the two most famous and well-loved colonial writers to serve the ends of the colonized, and as such it is truly well executed.
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LibraryThing member xieouyang
Although I am not a fan of mystery novels, like most people I've read several Shelock Holmes stories over the years. I found them generally entertaining but would not call myself a person who would look forward to reading another Sherlock Holmes story.
This one, received as a gift, intrigued me
Both of them follow clues that leads them to Simla, in Northern India and then to Tibet where they meet with the Grand Lama. They help save the Lama and defeat and kill Moriarty through a series of events, some of them rather fantastical.
The story is well written and the author, a Tibetan political activist living in Dharamsala, successfully carries on the Conan Doyle's writing style and portrays Holme's character and personality very well.
It's an enjoyable read that brings to light some of the aspects of Tibet's historical struggles against China and the latter's continuous attempts to integrate Tibet into China- which was successfully done in 1950 under the current Communist regime.
This one, received as a gift, intrigued me
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because of the mysteriousness of the title and the setting. The story starts in the great city of Bombay (now called Mumbai) with Hurree Chunder Mookerjee assigned the task of picking up a Norwegian visitor arriving on a ship. The story follows Hurree and the Norwegian, who turns out to be none other than Sherlock himself, in many encounters with criminal elements that are working for Sherlock's nemesis, Moriarty Both of them follow clues that leads them to Simla, in Northern India and then to Tibet where they meet with the Grand Lama. They help save the Lama and defeat and kill Moriarty through a series of events, some of them rather fantastical.
The story is well written and the author, a Tibetan political activist living in Dharamsala, successfully carries on the Conan Doyle's writing style and portrays Holme's character and personality very well.
It's an enjoyable read that brings to light some of the aspects of Tibet's historical struggles against China and the latter's continuous attempts to integrate Tibet into China- which was successfully done in 1950 under the current Communist regime.
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LibraryThing member FionaRobynIngram
Sherlock Holmes aficionados refer to the period from 1891 to 1894--the time between Holmes's disappearance and presumed death in The Adventure of the Final Problem (at the hands of Moriarity at Reichenbach Falls) and his reappearance in The Adventure of the Empty House--as "the Great Hiatus."
So,
Holmes tells Dr. Watson in laconic fashion: "I travelled for two years in Tibet, therefore, and amused myself by visiting Lhasa and spending some days with the head Lama."
Two years is a long time. There must have been more to it than that, but without Dr. Watson as the faithful scribe, how could anyone know the truth?
Author Jamyang Norbu offers an explanation in The Mandala of Sherlock Holmes, a non-canonical Sherlock Holmes pastiche novel.
After surviving the incident at the Reichenbach Falls, Holmes travels east to escape Moriarty's henchmen. One wonders, if Holmes survived, what happened to Moriarty? His agents are still active, it seems. In India, Holmes meets a Bengali spy, Huree Chunder Mookherjee, assigned to accompany and protect Holmes during his mission to Tibet, for mission it was. Holmes has adopted the disguise of a Norwegian explorer called Sigerson so that he is able to protect the young 13th Dalai Lama from assassination by a Chinese-backed evil sorcerer, whose secret identity will come as no surprise when revealed. Holmes, ever pragmatic, finds himself at the mercy of mystical elements that almost (but not quite) overpower him as his expedition leads him into the fabled Shambala and events beyond common understanding. Mookherjee admirably takes on the role of narrator, with a quaint turn of phrase and shocked exclamations as things become considerably more dangerous with every passing day. A helpful glossary at the back of the book assists readers with unfamiliar words and phrases.
The author draws heavily on books and descriptions of the era, notably Kipling's Kim and Charles Allen's Plain Tales from the Raj. I loved this book, although the plot veers into a kind of mysticism, which Conan Doyle is more famous for, than his creation. However, the Great Game is wonderfully evident. Holmesian aficionados will not be disappointed although some Baker Street purists might disapprove. The author has perfectly captured Holmes' dry wit and abrasive, often mercurial personality. Added to this is Holmes' particular manner of speech and deduction.
There are several extremely amusing references in this helter-skelter tale of darkness and derring-do. Note: readers who wondered about the Giant Red Leech, hinted at by Watson, will have their questions answered here. I thought the book admirably echoed the tradition of Watson and Holmes' many adventures.
A sad, one could say tragic element of the story is the author's concern with China's occupation of Tibet. He weaves in a pertinent political message, but in a subtle way that never interferes with the story.
So,
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what really happened during these lost years?Holmes tells Dr. Watson in laconic fashion: "I travelled for two years in Tibet, therefore, and amused myself by visiting Lhasa and spending some days with the head Lama."
Two years is a long time. There must have been more to it than that, but without Dr. Watson as the faithful scribe, how could anyone know the truth?
Author Jamyang Norbu offers an explanation in The Mandala of Sherlock Holmes, a non-canonical Sherlock Holmes pastiche novel.
After surviving the incident at the Reichenbach Falls, Holmes travels east to escape Moriarty's henchmen. One wonders, if Holmes survived, what happened to Moriarty? His agents are still active, it seems. In India, Holmes meets a Bengali spy, Huree Chunder Mookherjee, assigned to accompany and protect Holmes during his mission to Tibet, for mission it was. Holmes has adopted the disguise of a Norwegian explorer called Sigerson so that he is able to protect the young 13th Dalai Lama from assassination by a Chinese-backed evil sorcerer, whose secret identity will come as no surprise when revealed. Holmes, ever pragmatic, finds himself at the mercy of mystical elements that almost (but not quite) overpower him as his expedition leads him into the fabled Shambala and events beyond common understanding. Mookherjee admirably takes on the role of narrator, with a quaint turn of phrase and shocked exclamations as things become considerably more dangerous with every passing day. A helpful glossary at the back of the book assists readers with unfamiliar words and phrases.
The author draws heavily on books and descriptions of the era, notably Kipling's Kim and Charles Allen's Plain Tales from the Raj. I loved this book, although the plot veers into a kind of mysticism, which Conan Doyle is more famous for, than his creation. However, the Great Game is wonderfully evident. Holmesian aficionados will not be disappointed although some Baker Street purists might disapprove. The author has perfectly captured Holmes' dry wit and abrasive, often mercurial personality. Added to this is Holmes' particular manner of speech and deduction.
There are several extremely amusing references in this helter-skelter tale of darkness and derring-do. Note: readers who wondered about the Giant Red Leech, hinted at by Watson, will have their questions answered here. I thought the book admirably echoed the tradition of Watson and Holmes' many adventures.
A sad, one could say tragic element of the story is the author's concern with China's occupation of Tibet. He weaves in a pertinent political message, but in a subtle way that never interferes with the story.
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LibraryThing member EmpressReece
This was one of the better patische's Ive read. If you like Sherlock Holmes, then its a must-read!
LibraryThing member antiquary
A modern Tibetan scholar (ad freedom activist) takes up the story hinted at in The Empty House that Sherlock Holmes spent some of his "missing years" in Tibet after his struggle with Moriarty The narrator is Hurree Chunder Mookerji, from Kipling's Kim, and Holmes is drawn into what Kipling named
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The Great Game. Show Less
Subjects
Awards
Crossword Book Award (Winner — English Fiction — 2000)
Original language
English
Original publication date
1999