The Manifold Faces of Roy

In working to produce the first facsimile edition of the original manuscript of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 'The Adventure of the Creeping Man' a range of differences between Doyle's handwritten version and what contemporary readers recognise as the 'agreed' text became apparent. One particularly fruitful area of difference is the author's rewriting of the Gothic elements of the narrative, including the depiction of the dog 'Roy' who plays a fundamental role in the evolving of events. This article examines the nature of Doyle's rewriting, and considers his motivations as he worked to refine his story.