Sherlock Holmes isn't going on a Roman holiday
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle would celebrate his birthday on May 22, and it won't be right to recall Sherlock Holmes once more. He penned countless stories and several novels about the detective's cases. In fact, Holmes brought him fame. But he was ambivalent about the success of his tales and novels (on Holmes). The native of Edinburgh was a learned man, with a great deal of interest in the past. "The Last of the Legions and Other Tales of Long Ago" might have surprised some of his fans. It was far from what they were accustomed to. This would prompt them to judge this collection of short stories without reading it. They would miss something if they did.
The short stories were set during the Roman era, if not they were linked to the Roman Empire. How so? Perhaps the Scotsman saw similarities between the Roman Empire and the British Empire. (Both have strong seafaring history.) It could also be possible that Doyle liked this particular era. And don't be surprised if he injected British humor into his tales. (There could be such a thing back then.) Here's a sample:
The Contest. This would be the antiquated version of "The Voice", where Emperor Nero turned out to be a huge fan of Greek culture. He traveled to Greece, with his entourage of senators and knights, and tried to belt out a tune in an amphitheater. Alas, he had a monstrous voice. Policles, a goatherd, accidentally stumbled into his performance and was aghast at what he saw (and heard). Greeks had a fine taste, and they could be their own worst critic. But he neither seen nor heard Nero. Doyle penned an amusing scenario, where paganism would put sense into these characters. It wouldn't be remote from current events.
The Last of the Legions. Some would see it as a satire on the history of Britain, of what became of the isles during the Middle Age. It was the so-called dark period, when the Arthurian romance became popular. It would reveal the attitude of most Brits, which hardly changed through the centuries. Great Britain is separated from Europe, and most Britons wouldn't exchange it for anything else. Perceptive readers would sense the outcome of this tale, reminding them of the European Union (EU). There were signs of disintegration, but Great Britain would remain standing. Or so they thought.
The Coming of the Huns. It would be a coincidence that Doyle read or heard "Ben Hur", as this tale was about a former soldier who tried to live like a disciple of Christ. Lew Wallace may not like the wry humor behind it, but Doyle might not have been able to think of a better way. And it turned out to be the best one.
Through the Veil. Doyle became interested in spiritualism after the death of some members of his family. It was about a couple who visited Roman ruins, which were too familiar to them. It reminded them of their past life. They were important figures, and they were about to witness a tragic event. It would shift the course of history. It seemed preposterous, but Doyle might have tried to get a feeling of Roman structures (during his visit). And it could have reminded him of something.
