I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere

The Real-Life Inspiration Behind Sherlock Holmes

<h4>
"this insignificant-looking man inspired me" [GREE]</h4>
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[<i>Editor's note: we're pleased to welcome another contributor to our site. "Athenae" shares her own insights and opinions on Sherlock Holmes at <a href="http://findingsherlock.tumblr.com/">Finding Sherlock</a>. If you would like a chance to be considered as a contributor, please see our <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/p/aboutcontribute.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Who We Are</a> page above.</i>]<br />
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Sherlock Holmes is a myth, a demi-god; a fictitious, heartless, blindly  intelligent, insightful and confident Übermensch. Everything we want and need to be  in a rapidly changing technologically-driven world. He could never be real.<br />
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Or  could he?<br />
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When Conan Doyle was attending the University of  Edinburgh as a medical student he attended a class with Dr. Joseph Bell.  According to Doyle’s 1892 Interview with <i>The Bookman</i>:<br />
<blockquote>
[Bell]  would sit in the patients’ waiting-room with a face like a Red Indian  and diagnose the people as they came in, before even they had opened  their mouths. He would tell them their symptoms, he would give them  details of their lives and he would hardly ever make a mistake…His great  faculty of deduction was at times highly dramatic. ‘Ah!’ he would say  to another man, ‘you are a soldier, a non-commissioned officer, and you  have served in Bermuda. Now how did I know that, gentlemen? He came into  the room without taking his hat off, as he would go into an orderly  room. He was a soldier. A slight authoritative air, combined with his  age, shows that we was an N.C.O. A slight rash on the forehead tells me  he was in Bermuda, and subject to a certain rash known only there.’ So  I got the idea for Sherlock Holmes.</blockquote>
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Bell was well known for more than just being the original Sherlock Holmes.  He was also considered to be an expert witness, who often took the stand at some of the more sensational murder trials during the latter half of the century.<br />
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<i>For more information on the Bookman and the origins of Holmes, see our recommended reading below. - Ed.</i><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEd8HsRZo44vv7B0yeDXiF4utXJyTp614fnFT6Zqq-Y_xA7WUPBSCXJFAg83l7255717N4Lr_uyGu19TSPd-zfzqCnUmT-cpMar70y_18qwoW4uVOsZKLMpr67XWuZS10_UED6LDkNw0dJ/s1600/bookman350.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEd8HsRZo44vv7B0yeDXiF4utXJyTp614fnFT6Zqq-Y_xA7WUPBSCXJFAg83l7255717N4Lr_uyGu19TSPd-zfzqCnUmT-cpMar70y_18qwoW4uVOsZKLMpr67XWuZS10_UED6LDkNw0dJ/s1600/bookman350.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Available from<br />
<a href="http://wessexpress.com/html/bookman.html">Wessex Press</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>

The Real-Life Inspiration Behind Sherlock Holmes

"this insignificant-looking man inspired me" [GREE] [ Editor's note: we're pleased to welcome another contributor to ...

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by Scott Monty

"Really, Watson, You Excel Yourself" [HOUN]

<div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.someecards.com/flirting-cards/ibm-computer-watson-jeopardy-ken-jennings-brad-rutter-funny-ecard"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFV-2uUN9gFHioic69GrIuwyJXungACT3JEMcvrOztkDGs0tc5r6f66oAjoW5QNMrrX7UtC6wyNUM9SqxE_Yzx-7wqERHvzavu5ucxbGTM1tK7PvhTD4YIBbZeskYP3czBD3a_0_vxBuZO/s320/Watson.png" width="320" /></a></div>Earlier this week, an IBM computer named Watson <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/17/science/17jeopardy-watson.html">beat two humans in a showdown on Jeopardy!</a> amid a wave of publicity.<br /><br />This was a huge step in the field of artificial intelligence (A.I.) and the ability for a computer to understand conversational language. The bonus is that it shared the same name as Sherlock Holmes's Boswell. In reality, it was named for T.J. Watson, the founder of of IBM, but it had more of the quality of Holmes, of whom Stamford said in <i>A Study in Scarlet</i>: "You seem to be a walking calendar of crime."<br /><br />The future of this technology, appropriately enough, seems to lie partly in the field of medicine, as <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/17/science/17jeopardy-watson.html">IBM said</a> it will "collaborate with Columbia University and the University of Maryland to create a physician’s assistant service that will allow doctors to query a cybernetic assistant."<br /><br />We wonder how Watson would have fared at the Battle of Maiwand, had his orderly Murray been an electronic assistant...<br /><br /><i>Please consider visiting our sponsors (in the right column and footer of the site) from time to time. It helps defray the costs associated with running this site.</i> <br />--

"Really, Watson, You Excel Yourself" [HOUN]

Earlier this week, an IBM computer named Watson beat two humans in a showdown on Jeopardy! amid a wave of publicity. This was a huge step i...

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by Scott Monty

New From Frogwares — The Testament of Sherlock Holmes

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"with my hands on the Testament" [IDEN]</h4>
For those interested in the intersection of the worlds of <a href="http://www.bakerstreetblog.com/search/label/games">gaming and Sherlock Holmes</a>, the latest news is bound to be welcome.<br />
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Frogwares Game Development Studio just announced the release of a new game for <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/PlayStation-3-160-GB/dp/B003VUO6H4?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Playstation</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003VUO6H4" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b> and <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-360-250GB-Console-Kinect/dp/B003O6JLZ2?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">XBox</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003O6JLZ2" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b>: <b><i>The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: The Testament of Sherlock</i></b>, to be released in the fall of 2011. The announcement on the <a href="http://www.frogwares.com/">Frogwares site outlines the plot</a>:<br />
<blockquote>
A mainstay genre of computer games, this new Holmes game is playable with a gamepad in a third person view, with revamped controls that suit the console. <i>The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes</i> will immerse gamers in 1898 London as they conduct an incredible investigation. All the evidence suggests our hero is the main suspect in a case involving theft, fraud and double-crossings. Unable to prove his own innocence, Holmes is rapidly losing London's trust as doubt spreads through the city like wildfire. Even Doctor Watson's faith in his friend begins to waver, as the famous detective flees Scotland Yard and raises further suspicion; prowling around at night, destruction of evidence... would Holmes go so far as to commit murder?</blockquote>
Sounds intriguing to us! Below are some early screenshots of the game.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9Z1i67VHgs7XdOoVGsYyUhOEPDvDaD0MWux9fqBzCtn3MBtDq2FotOeLH2xCVBfPPxyiFHH25uqxBuilOfx2_JeokbDhVlsM85L9zL9vhX3wou0phS8_238clNPNNj91Jes2RmCyaSTm/s1600/171459_10150093118256247_180258201246_6453798_5909248_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9Z1i67VHgs7XdOoVGsYyUhOEPDvDaD0MWux9fqBzCtn3MBtDq2FotOeLH2xCVBfPPxyiFHH25uqxBuilOfx2_JeokbDhVlsM85L9zL9vhX3wou0phS8_238clNPNNj91Jes2RmCyaSTm/s200/171459_10150093118256247_180258201246_6453798_5909248_o.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVh0nAc5MgVrnDNBZxy4wgTeIQzWoQ22p0a7mvWvngALjoVCULEAFYu-0hmyNvKM3uGRmTSKuoFQRzUryAl0a7EORXWgSP08dSQizQ5kPkjG4ndGM3eiGIv2DiUxgksJRhEzSjem1OGjWO/s1600/175147_10150093118171247_180258201246_6453797_5417759_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVh0nAc5MgVrnDNBZxy4wgTeIQzWoQ22p0a7mvWvngALjoVCULEAFYu-0hmyNvKM3uGRmTSKuoFQRzUryAl0a7EORXWgSP08dSQizQ5kPkjG4ndGM3eiGIv2DiUxgksJRhEzSjem1OGjWO/s200/175147_10150093118171247_180258201246_6453797_5417759_o.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNBd75rbnAE5Tv_5YExfl0f5OSsnqP_6Ay_xXEKVbyVTGDlVzpxTUZlFdkKrAiz9A9A6Cm6UOa2dKXh8DjOYbNl9_e_CvassWsBwoQdmk80K-RSQRLdPTp_hyGB8u4ruN0Bc1_0KQQQjKX/s1600/185635_10150093118106247_180258201246_6453796_1098293_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNBd75rbnAE5Tv_5YExfl0f5OSsnqP_6Ay_xXEKVbyVTGDlVzpxTUZlFdkKrAiz9A9A6Cm6UOa2dKXh8DjOYbNl9_e_CvassWsBwoQdmk80K-RSQRLdPTp_hyGB8u4ruN0Bc1_0KQQQjKX/s200/185635_10150093118106247_180258201246_6453796_1098293_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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We'll be interested to see how the game turns out when it's finally released to the public. Are you a Sherlockian who also happens to be a gamer? Let us know if you'd be interested in becoming a game reviewer for our site by <a href="http://www.bakerstreetblog.com/p/about-me.html">filling out the form on the About page</a>.<br />
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New From Frogwares — The Testament of Sherlock Holmes

"with my hands on the Testament" [IDEN] For those interested in the intersection of the worlds of gaming and Sherlock Holmes , t...

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by Scott Monty

A Clever Publicity Play for "The Creeping Man"

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"the wondrous strength-giving serum" [CREE]</h4>
<a href="http://www.nashvillescholars.net/jbshawbio.html" target="_blank">John Bennett Shaw, BSI</a> ("The Hans Sloan of My Age") once said that the only requirement for a Sherlockian society meeting is "two Sherlockians and a bottle. In a pinch, dispense with the other Sherlockian." As a result, One would think that all we Sherlock Holmes enthusiasts do is drink.<br />
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Well, yes. But that's not <i>all</i>. We certainly <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2006/05/is-meaning-of-it-watson-card_8.html#.VXn-GM9Viko" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">enjoy the company of the people</a> that Holmes brings together. And <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0823212718?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0823212718" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the food</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0823212718" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /></b> as well. When it all comes together - food, drink and the company of kinspirts - it makes for a wonderful experience, as <a href="http://www.sherlockpeoria.net/ViewFromSP/ViewSP2007/ViewSP102107.html" target="_blank">Brad Keefauver wrote about a few years back on Sherlock in Peoria</a>.<br />
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But when you delve into the<a href="http://www.bsiarchivalhistory.org/BSI_Archival_History/The_BSI.html" target="_blank"> history of the Baker Street Irregulars</a>, you'll find that the early leadership included such libation-inspired offices as the <a href="http://221bbakerstreetla.com/bs_tantalus.asp" target="_blank">Tantalus and the Gasogene</a> and that early meetings took place in a speakeasy. Not exactly what you'd call teetotalers. But probably inspired by a few mentions of adult beverages in the Canon:<br />
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"Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man." [ENGR]</blockquote>
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"...I found my collar-ends undone and the tingling aftertaste of brandy." [EMPT]</blockquote>
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"As long as I have my trousers I have a hip-pocket, and as long as I have a hip-pocket, I have something in it." [HOUN]</blockquote>
This recent bit of artwork provides a nice homage to some of the characters we've come to know in the stories, with cocktails concocted to represent their personalities (note: one or two may represent individuals active on the forum from which this graphic was posted).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitP1rCp0QNLq020u6ZvID-NNkdpyUqRIqM7r9bazQLlMcefm7cm9jbttuRCNpSQ6CFtQNf8IuS9FvbB43oJv9TpzxFam9R-gy1UKLuqFmL56YKm4xX_xzJX2dIY1QJ29TlPSW9rTuZ2jNR/s1600/barsherlock.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitP1rCp0QNLq020u6ZvID-NNkdpyUqRIqM7r9bazQLlMcefm7cm9jbttuRCNpSQ6CFtQNf8IuS9FvbB43oJv9TpzxFam9R-gy1UKLuqFmL56YKm4xX_xzJX2dIY1QJ29TlPSW9rTuZ2jNR/s1600/barsherlock.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dubbed <a href="http://redscharlach.livejournal.com/212275.html">"<i>A Study in Pink Gin</i>" on LiveJournal</a></td></tr>
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But the one cocktail that intrigues us is one called the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Monkey_Gland" target="_blank">Monkey Gland</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's made of gin, orange juice, grenadine and absinthe, and seems to promise something of vigor.</div><div>Created in Paris in early 1923 (as seen in the April 23, 1923 <i>Washington Post</i> article below), its origins seem to have <a href="http://www.artofdrink.com/archive/popular-cocktails/monkey-gland" target="_blank">something of a marketing ploy</a> about them. Click through to read more about the history of the drink.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyahfQrbLfS231jqFWJtXg95Nrl_d9ldiI8SDgTRVErrTPzmgUTZp_SzrvugkSFWBbZVX0iNQvpZ0_lr-_6d5U6-hoYKONLaLn6L7Px5oHru3-meFkGWuZpY-8vl0o2fOMcsoYBHx5lt19/s1600/monkeygland.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyahfQrbLfS231jqFWJtXg95Nrl_d9ldiI8SDgTRVErrTPzmgUTZp_SzrvugkSFWBbZVX0iNQvpZ0_lr-_6d5U6-hoYKONLaLn6L7Px5oHru3-meFkGWuZpY-8vl0o2fOMcsoYBHx5lt19/s1600/monkeygland.png" /></a></div><div><br /></div>
But for us, there's an interesting bit of timing involved. "<a href="http://www.sherlockian.net/canon/stories/cree.html" target="_blank">The Adventure of the Creeping Man</a>" was published in March 1923 and - without giving away too much - concerns an elderly professor who goes to extreme lengths to win the affections of a younger woman. </div><div><br /></div><div>Let's just say he would have enjoyed the above drink.<br />
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Was Conan Doyle inspired by Frank's concoction? Perhaps he even visited the Parisian establishment and partook of the drink himself. Or perhaps the era of Prohibition inspired such outre innovations in the bartending world. </div><div><br /></div><div>What do you think?<br />
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