DOYLE, Arthur Conan (1859-1930). Autograph manuscript of the novel Uncle Bernac (written with the provisional title: “Boulogne. A Memory of the Empire”), Egypt, London, and elsewhere, n.d. [summer 1896].
Approximately 50,000 words on 125 leaves, most folio (343 x 216 mm), including 10 half-sheets (184 x 203 mm, 133 x 203 mm), a few other leaves cut down to a smaller size, one half-sheet attached to p. 93 and not included in pagination, white lined paper, rectos only, original pagination throughout, numerous holograph corrections, cancellations, and alterations, light marginal soiling, occasional stain, some edgewear; folding cloth chemise and slipcase; together presented in a custom felt-lined folding wooden box with brass plaque and latches.
THE COMPLETE MANUSCRIPT AS PUBLISHED IN THE ORIGINAL SERIALIZATION. The opening of chapter I includes the earlier proposed title for the book: “Boulogne. A Memory of the Empire”. Few of the chapter titles (see below) differ slightly from the published novel (Smith, Elder, & Co., 14 May 1897) and two chapters were later rewritten for the novel: Chapter V was published with the title “The Law”, here it is titled “Bloodhounds”; Chapter XII was published with the title “The Man of Action”, here it is untitled; Chapter XIII was published with the title “The Man of My Dreams” and Chapter XIV “Josephine”; both were rewritten, here they are untitled and with differing text. Uncle Bernac, a historical novel, is the ninth story in the Gerard Saga following brigadier Etienne Gerard and one of only a few works Doyle wrote under commission. The proprietor of the Queen, Horace Cox, asked the author for a novel which was given the provisional title “Boulogne”. After its serial publication in the Queen and in the Manchester Weekly Times, the book underwent some revision. In the introductory note to the novel, Doyle states that the book has been rewritten and lengthened by one-third since its appearance in serial form, but more notably the original Chapter XII was extended into four chapter with the insertion of a description of Napoleon that Doyle had written before the book itself. Doyle began preparation of the manuscript while in Egypt and finished in the summer of 1896 with some difficulty, perhaps due to a case of writer’s block or a sincere lack of interest: “I am labouring heavily over that wretched little Napoleonic book. It has cost me more than any big book. I never seem to be quite key, but I must slog through it somehow”. Doyle dismissed the book as a failure while suggesting that it was redeemed with the extension of Chapter XII describing Napoleon: “Twenty books are compressed into those two chapters”.
I. “The Coast of France”. 12 ff.
II. “The Salt-marsh”. 10 ff. (p. 19 pagination repeated).
III. “The ruined cottage”. 5 ff.
IV. “Men of the night”. 11 ff.
V. “Bloodhounds”. 10 ff (p. 45 pagination repeated).
VI. “The Secret Passage”. 8 ff.
VII. “The Owner of Grosbois”. 7 ff.
VIII. “Cousin Sibylle”. 9 ff.
IX. “The Camp of Boulogne”. 9 ff.
X. “The Anti room”. 10 ff.
XI. “The Secretary”. 7 ff.
XII. [Untitled]. 12 ff.
XIII. [Untitled]. 13 ff.
XIV. [Untitled]. 2 ff.
[With:] the complete American serialization of “Uncle Bernac” in The Cosmopolitan (3 volumes in original wrappers, January-March, 1897) and a copy of the first English edition (Green and Gibson A21a).