"The Skull Was of Enormous Capacity" [DYIN]

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFnJLNJoEdid4JLbD_KFDiUWok1aY1LMpdRunUWJRTrdgAQf9oljzFlv-Cv5uYQ2G-3IopCvge_4BQfQW_5j0_Pe-XgU5wu2DcVoJvsRb72wK1e_E1uk9EupL0k-zNyykaOUwuTjDvoxR/s1600/FINA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFnJLNJoEdid4JLbD_KFDiUWok1aY1LMpdRunUWJRTrdgAQf9oljzFlv-Cv5uYQ2G-3IopCvge_4BQfQW_5j0_Pe-XgU5wu2DcVoJvsRb72wK1e_E1uk9EupL0k-zNyykaOUwuTjDvoxR/s200/FINA.jpg" width="100" /></a></div>It's always reassuring when we can find scientific validation of long-held commonly accepted truths. But it's quite another thing when we discover that what we accepted as fact is In a recent study by the <a href="http://www.sanger.ac.uk/">Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute</a>, scientists found that brain size and function are not correlated.<br /><br />The scientists who conducted the study determined that it is a matter of processing power rather than size that makes a difference. The estimated that approximately 37% of the population has a below-average size head, which had previously meant that they were considered intellectually inferior.<br /><br />This assumption is something that makes a few appearances in the Canon. For example, when Henry Baker lost his hat in "<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Sherlock-Holmes-Carbuncle-Beeches/dp/B00005O5CQ?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Blue Carbuncle</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=B00005O5CQ" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b>," Sherlock Holmes thought that he was highly intelligent. The exchange between Holmes and Watson:<br /><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkw16hRW3x38QYlR5npS56gPz1ml1kUOjpUY6fkPj6OuazyjSSorFCZi12rdzTVsAHt2JWCErP1l4XFDAwzjEyZAf5QRaJmJsac55GYeeoMiyVidZwaH2nP1uYNZDdEoKT9sgQHky38f55/s1600/cubiccapacity.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkw16hRW3x38QYlR5npS56gPz1ml1kUOjpUY6fkPj6OuazyjSSorFCZi12rdzTVsAHt2JWCErP1l4XFDAwzjEyZAf5QRaJmJsac55GYeeoMiyVidZwaH2nP1uYNZDdEoKT9sgQHky38f55/s200/cubiccapacity.PNG" width="200" /></a></div>"I have no doubt that I am very stupid; but I must confess that I am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that this man was intellectual?"<br />   For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a brain must have something in it."</blockquote>But clearly, Holmes wasn't alone in his assumption that a large skull meant a superior intellect. In "<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Sherlock-Resident-Patient-Red-Headed/dp/B000060MV1?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Final Problem</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=B000060MV1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b>," Professor Moriarty's first words upon meeting Sherlock Holmes were<br /><blockquote>"You have less frontal development than I should have expected."</blockquote><br />Dr. Mortimer also commented on the shape Sherlock Holmes's head in <i><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hound-Baskervilles-Sherlock-Holmes-Mystery/dp/193659403X?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Hound of the Baskervilles</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=193659403X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b></i>, noting the relatively long shape compared to the width:<br /><blockquote>"You interest me very much, Mr. Holmes. I had hardly expected so dolichocephalic a skull or such well-marked supra-orbital development."</blockquote>Even among the highly intelligent Sherlock Holmes, Professor Moriarty and Dr. Mortimer, we can forgive them for being products of their age. Interesting that it has taken over 100 years for the facts to come to light. We wonder what other Canonical assumptions are no longer valid...<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 /><i><br /></i><br /><i><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thebakerstree-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0262710102&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>  <iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thebakerstree-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B00005O5CQ&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>  <iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thebakerstree-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=193659403X&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></i><br />--

"The Skull Was of Enormous Capacity" [DYIN]

It's always reassuring when we can find scientific validation of long-held commonly accepted truths. But it's quite another thing wh...

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by Scott Monty

The Sherlock Holmes Drinking Game

<br /> <h4 style="text-align: center;"> <span style="text-align: start;">"Drinking his beer" [SOLI]</span></h4> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsmonty/4181727669/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="abbe-04 by Scott Monty, on Flickr"><img alt="abbe-04" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2570/4181727669_1cec6daccd_m.jpg" /></a></div> <br /> <div> <br /></div> [<i>Editor's note: this is the first contribution by Kate, who writes at <a href="http://www.thediaryofdrwatts.com/">The Diary of Dr. Watts</a>. If you would like to be considered as a contributor to I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere, please see the <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/p/aboutcontribute.html" target="_blank">Contribute page</a> above.</i>]<br /><br />In the United States at least, Saint Patrick’s Day (March 17th) has become a comically irreverent excuse to wear ridiculous hats, paint oneself green and consume excessive amounts of alcohol. If you are a Sherlockian who intends to participate in this silly but entertaining tradition, I suggest taking a look at the “Sherlock Holmes Drinking Game.”<br /><br />Take along your copy of the Canon to a party or a pub, choose your favorite case and have your friends take turns reading aloud - or if you happen to be dramatically inclined, do it yourself. The important thing is to have fun with it!<br /><br />The rules are as follows:<br /><ol> <li>Take one drink every time Holmes makes an amazing deduction </li> <li>Take one drink every time Holmes speaks badly about the police </li> <li>Take one drink every time Holmes lets a perpetrator go free </li> <li>Take one drink every time Holmes chastises Watson for not 'observing' </li> <li>Take one drink every time someone rushes into the rooms at 221B </li> <li>Take one drink every time Holmes and/or Watson dash off in a hansom cab </li> </ol> <br />The creator of this game is <a href="http://www.examiner.com/sherlock-holmes-in-national/jill-brumer">Jill Brumer, “Sherlock Holmes Examiner” on Examiner.com</a>. You can find her article <a href="http://www.examiner.com/sherlock-holmes-in-national/sherlck-holmes-fans-21-up-the-sherlock-holmes-drinking-game-has-arrived">introducing the game</a> and from there you can find some inventive cocktail recipes inspired by the adventures. Ms. Brumer is making her way through the Canon, creating a drink to go with each story and providing an account of every drink taken. Even if you don’t drink, it’s an entertaining read. As she says at the start of her article for “The Blue Carbuncle,” “I knew my interest in both drinking and Sherlock Holmes would pay off eventually.”<div> <br /><i>Note: I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere does not advocate for the consumption of alcohol. Please behave responsibly and take heed of all local laws and ordinances. Know your limits and don't overimbibe.</i><br /> --<br /> <br /></div>

The Sherlock Holmes Drinking Game

"Drinking his beer" [SOLI] [ Editor's note: this is the first contribution by Kate, who writes at The Diary of Dr. Wat...

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by Katie Magnusson

"A Crack in One of His Own High-Power Lenses" [SCAN]

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1421498903/darleneredcoat2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1421498903/darleneredcoat2018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"><span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;"><span _mce_style="color: #333399;" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">[<i>Editor's note: This is an interview with Darlene Cypser, Author of </i><strong style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Crack-Lens-Darlene-Cypser/dp/0971855250?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Crack in the Lens</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=0971855250" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></strong><i> - a New Novel about Sherlock Holmes - that originally appeared on the LondonW1 blog by Marc, who joins us as a regular correspondent.</i>]</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"><span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;"><span _mce_style="color: #333399;" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;"><strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">W1: Hi Darlene, Welcome to LondonW1, Tells us a bit about yourself:</strong></span></span></div><div class="mceTemp" draggable="" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;"><span _mce_style="color: #333399;" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">DC: I am 53 years old. I currently live in Colorado but I mostly grew up in Poughkeepsie, New York. I read everything when I was a child. In my early teens I went through a Ellery Queen streak and then Nero Wolfe and eventually ended up reading W.S. Baring-Gould's biography of Sherlock Holmes. Baring-Gould's book puts an entirely different spin on Sherlock Holmes. When you write a biography you are no longer thinking in terms of individual adventures but rather of reconstructing a mans' life. It was from that book that I learned of the existence of the "Baker Street Irregulars" organization of Sherlock Holmes enthusiasts who "play the game" that Holmes was a real person and study his life and works. There are local Sherlock Holmes groups across the US and many of them are considered "scions" (It means "offspring".) of BSI. I started attending meetings of one of those when I was in my teens. I read and re-read the Canon, but I also read the "Higher Criticism" -- essays written by such scholars about Sherlock Holmes, and of course read many pastiches and saw many movies. I wrote my own first scholarly essays (called "trifling monographs" after a comment by Holmes) in the 1980s. I began my collection of Sherlock Holmes books, movies and memorabilia in the mid-1970s. More details on my Sherlockian background <a href="http://www.theconsultingdetective.com/shessay1.html">can be found on this webpage</a>. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"><span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;"><span _mce_style="color: #333399;" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;"><strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;"></strong></span></span><br /> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a><span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;"><span _mce_style="color: #333399;" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;"><strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;"><br /> </strong></span></span> <span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;"><span _mce_style="color: #333399;" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;"><strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">W1: What was the first SH Adventure and what grabbed your attention?</strong></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"><span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;"><span _mce_style="color: #333399;" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">I don't remember what was the first Sherlock Holmes story I read. It would have been over 40 years ago. I think I had read most of them at some time before I encountered Baring-Gould's biography which is what really intrigued me. To me it is the characters of Holmes and Watson that are most interesting. The cases are fun but it is Holmes and Watson that keep us following along.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"><span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;"><span _mce_style="color: #333399;" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;"><strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">W1: What inspired you to start writing a SH story?</strong></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Crack-Lens-Darlene-Cypser/dp/0971855250?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="The Crack in the Lens" height="200" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0971855250&tag=thebakerstree-20" width="133" /></a><span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;"><span _mce_style="color: #333399;" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">DC: You need to understand that my book is not a Sherlock Holmes mystery <img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0971855250" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />where he solves crimes. In fact the mysteries that arise in <i>The Crack in the Lens</i> are <b><i>not</i></b> solved in the book. Sherlock Holmes is an unusual man. He has trained himself in the skills he needs to be a detective at a time when no one really thought such skills were useful. He is not a sociable man. He has few friends. He does not date women. He hides his inner emotions and even Watson rarely sees them. The question in my mind was: "How did Sherlock Holmes become the man we know?" That question went around and around in my head over 27 years ago. As I read the Canon, ideas about the answer to that question came to me and I started keeping notes. </span></span><br /> <span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;"><span _mce_style="color: #333399;" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;"><br /> </span></span> <span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;"><span _mce_style="color: #333399;" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">Eventually in my mind I started to feel like I knew the character of the younger, more open Sherlock Holmes and how he changed into the man that Dr. Watson knew. Other characters sprang up and the story unfolded. However, I knew that in order to write the story properly I needed to do a lot of research about the time and the place. I've never been to Yorkshire. So I had to learn about the country, what it looks like and how the people live and speak. I taught myself to write broad Yorkshire dialect and then later had to tone it down substantially because most the readers (from the UK, USA, Canada and Australia) could read it! I had to learn about the behavior of the different classes of British society at the time. It took many, many years of research to understand Sherlock Holmes' world but many people have commented that the result is a world that is realistic and believable. Arthur Conan Doyle did not to do that research because he was writing about the time and the places he lived. It is harder to write about a time and place that is 140 years ago and thousands of miles away.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"><span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;"><span _mce_style="color: #333399;" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;"><strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">W1: Clive Merrison is an excellent Sherlock Holmes in the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Sherlock-Holmes-Radio-Collection/dp/0563525207?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">audio book series by Bert Coules</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=0563525207" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />, would you like the book to be made in to audio drama?</strong></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"><span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;"><span _mce_style="color: #333399;" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">DC: I heard that BBC radio had recorded the entire Canon a few years back but radio stations that play dramas are rare in the US these days. So I have not heard them. I'll have to buy the CDs sometime. I have some interest in converting my book to an audio drama in a year or two. Since Sherlock is a 17-year-old boy in <i>The Crack in the Lens</i> I would probably need someone younger to pay that part. I am a movie producer, so I have contacts with a lot of actors and have access to audio equipment. So it would not be that difficult.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"><span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;"><span _mce_style="color: #333399;" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;"><strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">W1: Any thoughts on Anthony Horowitz being the chosen by the estate to make a ‘Holmes return’ and do you think it will ever be seen as Canon?</strong></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"><span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;"><span _mce_style="color: #333399;" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">DC: I have never read any of Horowitz's writing, so I am not familiar with his style or his skills at adapting to other styles. No, it won't ever be Canon. It would be just another pastiche, whether a good one or a bad one, is to be seen.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"><span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;"><span _mce_style="color: #333399;" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;"><strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">W1: If you had to take a vacation with Holmes or Watson which would it be and why?</strong></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"><span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;"><span _mce_style="color: #333399;" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">DC: I would prefer to follow Holmes around and learn from him.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"><span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;"><span _mce_style="color: #333399;" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;"><strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">W1: What is your favourite SH Adventure?</strong></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"><span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;"><span _mce_style="color: #333399;" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">DC: That is really hard to say. There are some I like better than others but no single one stands out. Among my favorites are the 4 novels: <i>A Study in Scarlet</i>, <i>The Sign of Four</i>, <i>The Hound of the Baskervilles</i> and <i>The Valley of Fear</i>, plus "The Copper Beeches," "The Speckled Band," and "The Devils Foot."</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"><span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;"><span _mce_style="color: #333399;" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;"><strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">W1: There have been many who have played Holmes but who is your favourite?</strong></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"><span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;"><span _mce_style="color: #333399;" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">DC: Oh, I have several. I do like what Benedict Cumberbatch is doing with the character currently. Jeremy Brett was very good but I also like Basil Rathbone and Ronald Howard.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"><span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;"><span _mce_style="color: #333399;" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;"><strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">W1: And will be seeing any more Holmes Novel?</strong></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"><span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;"><span _mce_style="color: #333399;" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">DC: Yes, there is a trilogy that follows after <i>The Crack in the Lens</i>. It is 3 books that cover Sherlock's years at University, his acting career and the early years of his career at Montague Street. <i>The Crack in the Lens</i> ends with Sherlock emotionally and physically devastated. In the following books we see him rebuild his life and gradually become the man Dr. Watson meets in 1881. In fact the last book of the trilogy ends at the moment Holmes and Watson meet.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"><span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span _mce_style="color: #333399;" style="line-height: 1.5;">Thank for all your time Darlene and keep us up to date on further writings...many thanks...</span>W1</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"><span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;"><a _mce_href="http://www.thecrackinthelens.com/buy.html" href="http://www.thecrackinthelens.com/buy.html" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 1.5;">Buy </span><i style="line-height: 1.5;">The Crack in the Lens</i></a></span></span><br /> <span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;"><br /> </span> <span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;"><b><i>If you would like to contribute to the Baker Street Blog, <a href="http://www.bakerstreetblog.com/p/about-me.html">please visit our About page</a> by clicking here or the link at the top of the site. There you'll find a form you may submit for consideration.</i></b></span><br /> <span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;"><br /> </span> <span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">--</span></span><br /> <span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 1.5;"><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=thebakerstree-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0971855250&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br /> </span></div>

"A Crack in One of His Own High-Power Lenses" [SCAN]

[ Editor's note: This is an interview with Darlene Cypser, Author of The Crack in the Lens - a New Novel about Sherlock Holmes - that ...

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by Scott Monty

Episode 31: A Chat with Les Klinger

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLceZOesVvCq61l0ZFsNl3_UDodWbDVziwN9wKsRqOX9xrMDKfWO_gkMhCi-iOUh2v-ew2t0IiR5Udlf2ksbUHdVT0CbDgmbaHC63FlCJD3yEtkT3TmYF6ghS41bzwehyrDW8bFN82PePb/s1600/klinger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLceZOesVvCq61l0ZFsNl3_UDodWbDVziwN9wKsRqOX9xrMDKfWO_gkMhCi-iOUh2v-ew2t0IiR5Udlf2ksbUHdVT0CbDgmbaHC63FlCJD3yEtkT3TmYF6ghS41bzwehyrDW8bFN82PePb/s200/klinger.jpg" width="170" /></a></div> We are delighted to bring you one of the greats of the Sherlockian world in this episode - none other than the Edgar-winning editor Leslie Klinger, BSI, 2s ("The Abbey Grange"). And while it's tempting to craft these show notes entirely out of endnotes and footnotes, we'll give you some meaty content.<br /> <br /> Les Klinger is one of the foremost living experts on Sherlock Holmes, having edited a number of books related to the great detective. He also has a vast knowledge of Dracula and has contributed to the literature of that subject as well. We have a representative listing of his works in the links section below.<br /> <br /> Les is the editor of the three-volume set <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/New-Annotated-Sherlock-Holmes-Complete/dp/0393059162?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes</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=0393059162" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i> and the ten-volume <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&search-alias=aps&field-keywords=Sherlock%20Holmes%20Reference%20Library" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes Reference Library</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=" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />. He has written numerous books and articles on Sherlockiana and co-edited with Andrew Jay Peck, BSI ("Inspector Baynes, Surrey Constabulary") the revised edition of <i>The Date Being--?: A Compendium of Sherlockian Chronologies</i> and <i>Sherlock Holmes, Conan Doyle & The Bookman: An Anthology of Literary Treasures (1895-1933)</i> with S.E. Dahlinger. He has taught several UCLA Extension courses on "Sherlock Holmes and His World" and has consulted with Warner Bros. on the Sherlock Holmes film series with Robert Downey, Jr. He is co-editing an anthology of Victorian detective stories for IDW Publishing. Les has written <a href="http://www.amazon.com/New-Annotated-Dracula-Bram-Stoker/dp/0393064506?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">The New Annotated Dracula</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-color: initial !important; border-width: initial !important;"><i><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=0393064506" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i></span> and is also editing an anthology of Victorian vampire stories for IDW Publishing. He served as the Series Editor for the BSI Manuscript Series and is currently the editor of the BSI's History Series. With Laurie R. King, he co-editing <i>The Grand Game</i> and the duo is currently co-editing a collection of original Sherlock Holmes-inspired short stories called <i>A Study in Sherlock</i>, due out from Random House in December 2011.<br /> <br /> Les joins us for a very robust discussion of his passion - mostly editing, writing and lecturing about Sherlock Holmes and Dracula - passions that have seemingly been fueled by a lack of weekend activities of this practicing attorney. He shares with us the beginnings of his interest, the growth of his writing and editing responsibilities and eventual academic post involving Sherlock Holmes, and has recommendations as to where new Sherlockians can get started.<br /> <br /> We also have a wonderful audio comment from a listener.<br /> <br /> <b>Links:</b><br /> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fentity%2FLeslie-S.-Klinger%2FB002LABYP2%3Fie%3DUTF8%26ref_%3Dsr_ntt_srch_lnk_1%26qid%3D1299722576%26sr%3D8-1&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957">Leslie S. Klinger on Amazon</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=ur2&o=1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li> <li><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/New-Annotated-Sherlock-Holmes-Complete/dp/0393059162?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes</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=0393059162" style="border-bottom-style: none !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-width: initial !important; cursor: move; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i></li> <li><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&search-alias=aps&field-keywords=Sherlock%20Holmes%20Reference%20Library" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes Reference Library</a></span></i></li> <li><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><a href="http://wessexpress.com/html/bookman.html">Sherlock Holmes, Conan Doyle & The Bookman: An Anthology of Literary Treasures (1895-1933)</a></i></span></i></li> <li><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/New-Annotated-Dracula-Bram-Stoker/dp/0393064506?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The New Annotated Dracula</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-color: initial !important; border-width: initial !important;"><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=0393064506" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></span></i></li> <li><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-color: initial !important; border-width: initial !important;"><a href="http://bakerstreetjournal.com/grandgamev1.html">The Grand Game: A Celebration of Sherlockian Scholarship Volume 1: 1902-1959</a></span></span></i></li> <li><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://bakerstreetjournal.com/itemsforsale/bsimanuscriptseries.html">The BSI Manuscript Series</a></span></li> <li><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://bakerstreetjournal.com/itemsforsale/bsihistoryseries.html">The BSI History Series</a></span></li> </ul> <br /> <b>Listen now:</b><br /> <center> <iframe allowfullscreen="" height="45" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="http://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/1540089/height/45/width/250/theme/standard/direction/no/autoplay/yes/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/" style="border: none;" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="250"></iframe></center> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://traffic.libsyn.com/ihearofsherlock/ihearofsherlock031.mp3"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TL5jgdrUh_nM_zlDgxql-jKOFGUVFqhoV6A2JtYklXOu4qmVDyRVbwGV6XrwXZgnG9awSwJ7td-txL1_4KGrpSf4igJLILOim4yJmX5pGTPIdMhCBYLyImSI5gs1MOMUZPAlpAgvtPdb/s1600/podcastIcon.gif" /></a></span></div> Download this episode by right-clicking the icon and selecting "Save As..." or simply click on the file to listen, or on the nice box above. (File size: 53.8 MB, 58:42)<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2011/04/episode-32-untitled-les-klinger-sequel.html" target="_blank">Part II of this interview can be found here</a>.<br /> <br /> <br /> Your thoughts on the show? Leave a comment below, send us an email, call us at (774) 221-READ (7323) or drop by our <a href="http://facebook.com/ihearofsherlock">Facebook page</a>.<br /> <br /> Please visit our sponsor, <a href="http://www.wessexpress.com/">Wessex Press</a>.<br /> <br /> Image credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsmonty/4283914782/">Scott Monty (Flickr)</a><br /> --

Episode 31: A Chat with Les Klinger

We are delighted to bring you one of the greats of the Sherlockian world in this episode - none other than the Edgar-winning editor Leslie...

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by Scott Monty

The Undershaw Preservation Trust

<h4 style="text-align: center;">"an effort to preserve it" [IDEN]</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBsOzdNlrszMlJ16Ad_Z942Ha6kaItzY9_QKdOS-UxnVNRD_9nn1fv7AXRClSHS6rXK8WTnpW3cM0DXyRTio1UbqoYcZCEM0lAhtvT_Wt8aMd1iP7G91HxNNhTQZ_f5wipSmdm11xV-Rk/s1600/Undershaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBsOzdNlrszMlJ16Ad_Z942Ha6kaItzY9_QKdOS-UxnVNRD_9nn1fv7AXRClSHS6rXK8WTnpW3cM0DXyRTio1UbqoYcZCEM0lAhtvT_Wt8aMd1iP7G91HxNNhTQZ_f5wipSmdm11xV-Rk/s640/Undershaw.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>[<i>Editor's note: Jacquelynn Morris, ASH is an Undershaw Preservation Trust Representative—Maryland, USA. She is also the sparking plug behind <a href="http://www.watsonstinbox.org/a-scintillation-of-scions.html">A Scintillation of Scions</a>.</i>]<br /> <br /> <blockquote>It was an old, tumbledown building in a crazy state of disrepair… the grass-grown drive in front of the blotched and weather-stained door…the whole place was depressing.</blockquote><br /> Sir Arthur Conan Doyle once wrote these words about <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Adventure-Wisteria-Lodge-Dodo-Press/dp/1406556076?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Wisteria Lodge</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=1406556076" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />, but they have come to be sadly prophetic about a house nearer and dearer to his heart. Not Wisteria Lodge, but <b><a href="http://www.saveundershaw.com/">Undershaw</a></b>, the home designed by and lived in by Conan Doyle and his family for over ten years, during which time he wrote some of his most memorable work.<br /> <br /> Undershaw came into being after a conversation Conan Doyle had with his friend, novelist Grant Allen, in 1895. Allen suffered from tuberculosis, the illness which left Conan Doyle’s wife, Louise, an invalid for the last 15 years of her life. In this conversation Conan Doyle had with Allen, Allen claimed the healthy air of <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Hindhead+surrey+england&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=Hindhead,+Surrey,+UK&gl=us&ei=E3dwTfftGM-ftwfU2bWNDw&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBcQ8gEwAA">Hindhead</a>, in Surrey, England, cured him of tuberculosis.<br /> <br /> At a time when wealthy tuberculosis sufferers were encouraged to go to the Swiss Alps for a better chance of survival, Conan Doyle himself had taken to moving the family about for Louise’s health from Switzerland to Egypt. Hindhead certainly offered an alternative closer to London.<br /> <br /> Immediately after this conversation with Grant Allen, Conan Doyle visited Hindhead, about 40 miles south of London, and decided it was his “English Switzerland.” He purchased a plot of land where he planned to have a house built and drafted the first designs of the house himself before passing them on to architect and friend Joseph Henry Ball to complete.<br /> <br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2peXAVNQdwDsmkDUnfD5t3KlOGIIOCExBPN-cvImfFYM_lFCyAgsGiqIbHPbfW5sFzHOekRqhQtJ6kAsgvEk7xac_Ya7jun1p-8APPRoXNej9PYf3poBpRyjDSB-c9YbCSbAJ6dYksavr/s1600/b_undershaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2peXAVNQdwDsmkDUnfD5t3KlOGIIOCExBPN-cvImfFYM_lFCyAgsGiqIbHPbfW5sFzHOekRqhQtJ6kAsgvEk7xac_Ya7jun1p-8APPRoXNej9PYf3poBpRyjDSB-c9YbCSbAJ6dYksavr/s1600/b_undershaw.jpg" /></a></div>In his autobiography, <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sir-Arthur-Conan-Doyle-Adventures/dp/184022570X?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Memories and Adventures</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=184022570X" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></i></b>, Conan Doyle describes the house as “a considerable mansion…planned upon a large scale.” The house was built on a four-acre site, facing south toward woods and the heath. Conan Doyle wanted a comfortable modern house to entertain family and friends as well as to allow Louise a quiet place to rest. When completed, the substantial gabled red-brick house was approached from a winding drive. There was an impressive two-story entrance hall where there was displayed a collection of swords as well as a series of stained glass windows with what Conan Doyle considered his family coat of arms. The house included eleven bedrooms and dressing rooms, a dining room that could seat 30, Conan Doyle’s study, a wood-paneled drawing room, a billiard room, substantial servants’ quarters, and a power plant to provide electricity to the house. Also on the grounds were a four-room lodge, a stable which held six horses, a coach house, a garage, a magnificent railway on the grounds to delight his children, and a tennis court. With Louise’s ill health in mind, doors that hinged both ways were installed per Conan Doyle’s instructions, and the house’s main staircase was built with shallow steps to allow her to ascend and descend with relative ease.<br /> <br /> Sir Arthur named the house “Undershaw,” from the word “shaw,” meaning a small copse or wood. Conan Doyle writes: “…we moved into the new house, which I called Undershaw—a new word, I think, and yet one which described it exactly in good Anglo-Saxon, since it stood under a hanging grove of trees.”<br /> <br /> Once the Conan Doyle family took up residence in Undershaw they began receiving visitors. At first it was mostly family, but one of their first non-family visitors was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidney_Paget">Sidney Paget</a>, illustrator of the majority of Holmes stories and who had been commissioned by Conan Doyle to paint his portrait. J.M. Barrie, who wrote <i><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Peter-Pan-100th-Anniversary-Barrie/dp/0805072454?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Peter Pan</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=0805072454" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></b></i>, was also a guest at Undershaw, as were both Virginia Woolf and Bram Stoker, creator of Dracula, who said about Undershaw:<br /> <blockquote>It is so sheltered from cold winds that the architect felt justified in having lots of windows, so that the whole place is full of light. Nevertheless, it is cosy and snug to a remarkable degree and has everywhere that sense of “home” which is so delightful to occupant and stranger alike… </blockquote><br /> Stoker describes the view at Undershaw:<br /> <blockquote>…an endless sea of greenery, ranges of hills piling up one behind the other, in undulations of varying blue. An expanse which, whether seen from near or far, in unity or detail, simply ravishes the eye with its myriad beauties.</blockquote><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Great-Boer-Arthur-Conan-Doyle/dp/1147178933?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="The Great Boer War" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=1147178933&tag=thebakerstree-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1147178933" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />Conan Doyle wrote <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Great-Boer-Arthur-Conan-Doyle/dp/1147178933?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Great Boer War</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=1147178933" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></i></b> there in 1900, after his time as a volunteer physician in South Africa during the war. <i>The Great Boer War</i> became influential in military reforms, when Conan Doyle suggested use of camouflage and advised against continued use of cavalry swords. He felt that all Englishmen should be marksmen, forming the Undershaw Rifle Club where he held bi-weekly training sessions and provided, at his own expense, firearms and ammunition. The rifle club had over 300 members and became an example followed by other communities across England; this served the country well when Englishmen trained in marksmanship joined the British Army at the start of the First World War.<br /> <br /> Undershaw was where Conan Doyle lived when he received the knighthood in 1902. It was where he learned to drive a motorcar as one of Hindhead’s first motorists, and it was in the driveway of Undershaw where Conan Doyle had his first car crash in 1905.<br /> <br /> Undershaw was where Conan Doyle’s children, Mary and Kingsley, grew up and where his wife, Louise, spent the last years of her life.<br /> <br /> It was from Undershaw that Conan Doyle championed the cause of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Conan-Doyle-Parsons-Son-George/dp/1843862417?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">George Edalji</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=1843862417" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />, falsely imprisoned for animal mutilation.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hound-Baskervilles-First-American/dp/1131210344?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="The Hound of the Baskervilles ( First American Edition )" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=1131210344&tag=thebakerstree-20" /></a><b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hound-Baskervilles-Sherlock-Holmes-Mystery/dp/193659403X?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><br /> </a></i></b><b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hound-Baskervilles-Sherlock-Holmes-Mystery/dp/193659403X?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1131210344" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />The Hound of the Baskervilles</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=193659403X" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></i></b> was written at Undershaw. Holmes was resurrected in "The Adventure of the Empty House" at Undershaw in 1903, and Conan Doyle went on to write the 13 stories of <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Return-Sherlock-Holmes-Collection/dp/B00009WVO2?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Return of Sherlock Holmes</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=B00009WVO2" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></i></b> while in residence.<br /> <br /> It was also at Undershaw where Conan Doyle first considered writing a play about Sherlock Holmes. Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, one of the great figures of the English theatre, was interested in the play but wanted the character of Holmes adapted to his own acting style. Conan Doyle refused. About this he said,<br /> <blockquote>Rather than re-write it on lines which would make a different Holmes from my Holmes, I would without the slightest pang put it back in the drawer.</blockquote>Although Conan Doyle would not change Holmes himself (even though he professed disdain for the character), he later allowed actor William Gillette to change Holmes and allow him to be engaged to be married at the end of the play (famously replying to Gillette’s telegram “MAY I MARRY HOLMES?”, Conan Doyle said, “YOU MAY MARRY HIM OR MURDER HIM OR DO ANYTHING YOU LIKE WITH HIM”). Gillette’s portrayal of Holmes became legendary and even iconic, introducing the calabash pipe to our perception of Holmes as Gillette preferred not to block his face with any other style of pipe.<br /> <br /> After Louise finally succumbed to illness in 1907, Conan Doyle sold Undershaw and his life went in a different direction with his new wife, Jean Leckie. Undershaw was sold again in 1924, and until 2004 the house was used as a small country hotel and restaurant, when it was once again purchased by a developer. It has languished in neglect in the years since then.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggE8Bf8EdQu0jme65PO0BH9PYeUHnl8CGTpiPrjCorC_akLAVdzDOOLfy_U_KBdzzBFH2gOnio0TEHXGtj0oEBB2TBNn1qL11xg_Hvg9_j7JiIVjhLlphHMCg-yHgmsno18X5MAOYE_mve/s1600/Undershaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggE8Bf8EdQu0jme65PO0BH9PYeUHnl8CGTpiPrjCorC_akLAVdzDOOLfy_U_KBdzzBFH2gOnio0TEHXGtj0oEBB2TBNn1qL11xg_Hvg9_j7JiIVjhLlphHMCg-yHgmsno18X5MAOYE_mve/s1600/Undershaw.jpg" /></a></div>Today, Undershaw stands sorrowfully empty, neglected and vandalized. The three-story red-brick structure forlornly awaits its fate, with boarded-up windows and an overgrown yard, sadly bringing to mind Wisteria Lodge. Lead has been stolen from the roof, graffiti has marred the walls, windows have been broken and water has leaked in nearly every room. Promises by the owner/developer for upkeep of Undershaw have been poorly implemented, forcing the Waverley Borough Council to take some measures to at least secure the building from further damage.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1257565/Its-mystery-stump-Sherlock-Holmes-Why-earth-letting-Conan-Doyles-home-fall-ruin.html"><b><i>Robert Hardman</i></b> of the <i>The Daily Mail</i> wrote</a>:<br /> <blockquote>The imposing late Victorian house…is boarded up, dilapidated…How on earth could a nation which has produced the most famous character in modern fiction—inspiring a record 223 films and 400 fan clubs worldwide—simply stand by while his creator’s legacy is erased?</blockquote><br /> <br /> <center><iframe frameborder="0" height="285" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/11360128" width="500"></iframe></center><center><a href="http://vimeo.com/11360128">Save Undershaw</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user762441">WetherbyPond</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a></center>.<br /> <br /> Some of us cannot “simply stand by.” In August 2009 <b><a href="http://www.saveundershaw.com/">Undershaw Preservation Trust</a></b>, or UPT, was formed by <b><i>John Gibson</i></b>, author of 5 books on Conan Doyle, some with his friend, the late Richard Lancelyn Green. John Gibson is now Director of the Undershaw Preservation Trust and has campaigned for the restoration and preservation of Undershaw, testifying at hearings in defense of Conan Doyle’s legacy. After a visit to the property, Gibson reported:<br /> <blockquote>It was in a terrible state. I came here once and the front door was wide open with rain pouring through. I reported it to the Council and came back two weeks later and it was still open to the world.</blockquote><br /> The developer/owner has proposed several different plans for the grounds and Undershaw itself, most rejected by the Waverley Borough Council in Hindhead, but all involving destroying the historic value of Conan Doyle’s home in pursuit of financial gain. The developer's plans have included permanently dividing the building into townhomes, building other structures on the property, and converting Conan Doyle’s horse stables with their cast iron stalls into a garage.<br /> <br /> A very telling comment by Michael Wilson, the developer's architect, about the proposed changes for Undershaw: "The main house is being put back in the original form but vertically divided. To leave it as a single house doesn't work financially."<br /> <br /> In June 2010 Waverley Borough Council, after having rejected numerous redevelopment plans over the years, at last gave in and granted the owners planning permission to carve up the literary, historic house into three flats, with five more homes built on the site.<br /> <br /> About this, John Gibson said:<br /> <blockquote>It will destroy the whole spirit of the place. You’ll have Conan Conan Doyle’s drawing room in one house, his dining room in another, and his study in another.</blockquote><br /> One member of the Waverley Borough Council, Jim Edwards, cast the only vote against the planning officers’ recommendations and took the preservationists' side. Mr. Edwards is quoted as saying "This house has got tremendous historical importance. This is a massive development, and quite unacceptable in my view." Conan Doyle's great-nephew Richard Conan Doyle, said "The family had been trying to come up with ways of buying it, but the price was so high we could not afford it. We just wish there was something we could do."<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/christianpayne/3523758590/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" title="Stephen Fry visits Bletchley Park by Documentally, on Flickr"><img alt="Stephen Fry visits Bletchley Park" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3311/3523758590_be3fb546d1_m.jpg" /></a>Actor <a href="http://twitter.com/stephenfry"><b>Stephen Fry</b></a> is a supporter of UPT and had this to say to the Council:<br /> <blockquote>As Patron of the Conan Conan Doyle library, as a former youngest member of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London, as an admirer of Conan Doyle and his achievements I urge Waverley Borough Council to reconsider what future ages will adjudge a foolish short-sighted and wanton act of vandalism. There is real value in Undershaw. If it is thought about, it can attract new generations of tourists to the area, it can be an enormous source of local pride.</blockquote><br /> In spite of last year’s setback, all is not yet lost. Word is spreading about Undershaw through a concerted effort on the part of the Undershaw Preservation Trust via <a href="http://www.saveundershaw.com/"><b>their website</b></a>, <a href="http://undershawhelp.blogspot.com/"><b>a blog</b></a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Undershaw-Preservation-Trust/143840102309365"><b>Facebook page</b></a>, and UPT volunteer representatives. Writers <i><b>Julian Barnes</b></i> and <i><b>Ian Rankin</b></i> are backing the campaign, and author <b><i>Alistair Duncan</i></b> is currently writing a book, <i>An Entirely New Country - Arthur Conan Conan Doyle, Undershaw and the Resurrection of Sherlock Holmes</i>. Even more significantly, actor and writer <b><i>Mark Gatiss</i></b>, writer/creator and portrayer of Mycroft in the new <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sherlock-Season-One-Benedict-Cumberbatch/dp/B004132HZS?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><i>Sherlock</i></b></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=B004132HZS" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> TV series, is now patron and sponsor of the Undershaw Preservation Trust and has been a champion of the cause in recent interviews:<br /> <blockquote>I would like to express my whole-hearted enthusiasm for the campaign to save Undershaw. It seems to me a very sad reflection on our times that the home of one of our greatest and most popular writers should be so neglected and in danger of unsympathetic redevelopment…Sir Arthur Conan Conan Doyle occupied several residences in his prolific and thrilling career, only Undershaw bears the stamp of his massive personality…It’s no exaggeration to say that Undershaw was the centre of Conan Doyle’s life during perhaps the most fruitful and fascinating phase of his career. It must be saved and take its place among the sensitively preserved residences of this country’s other literary giants. This is certainly a three-pipe problem but not, I am convinced, an insoluble one.</blockquote><br /> John Gibson has been consulting with attorneys to determine whether the planning permission from Waverley was possibly unlawful; they are in the process of preparing Judicial Review papers for submission to the Royal Courts of Justice to have the decision overturned. It is hoped that sometime this spring there will be good news on this front.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7YMrQduRHZU9Rv9zzQ30kHY8aaASvs9hopV1i7DL-0uWdesLiirXdhG6gL6_AV3RGTBOykRMntf7H1DK2KbllBz1HOcPAJR5rNjoYdpXl2KrNOkl0m59CBdAu-_-lRrJRumFJz9rDktBl/s1600/conandoyle-pic03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7YMrQduRHZU9Rv9zzQ30kHY8aaASvs9hopV1i7DL-0uWdesLiirXdhG6gL6_AV3RGTBOykRMntf7H1DK2KbllBz1HOcPAJR5rNjoYdpXl2KrNOkl0m59CBdAu-_-lRrJRumFJz9rDktBl/s200/conandoyle-pic03.jpg" width="143" /></a></div>The vision of the Undershaw Preservation Trust is to someday see the Undershaw house, stable, and grounds restored to their former glory, eventually becoming a self-supporting Sherlock Holmes/Conan Doyle Museum. Exhibits could be on view in conjunction with the <a href="http://www.conandoylecollection.co.uk/">Portsmouth Museum’s 50,000-item Conan Doyle collection</a> of John Gibson’s late friend, Richard Lancelyn Green. Ideally, the proposed museum at Undershaw might then become part of a Conan Doyle tour, including visits to London, Portsmouth Museum, and Conan Doyle’s grave in the New Forest’s Minstead Churchyard. This would certainly require a significant amount of money which would need to be raised, but major fundraising is still in the future. The first priority has to be stopping the proposed development. If that is allowed to occur there will be no saving Undershaw for future generations of Sherlockians.<br /> <br /> The Undershaw Preservation Trust now has more than 25 representatives in at least 10 different countries. The representative's task is to spread the word about Undershaw and rally the Sherlockian troops for support in upcoming projects and fundraising. Preliminary fundraising plans at this point include a UPT pin which will be for sale in coming months, as well as some items which will be sold on eBay. An Undershaw awareness-raising project for the UK is being considered for the opening of a long-awaited tunnel in Hindhead this May; tentative plans include Undershaw supporters attending in Victorian attire to hand out flyers about saving Conan Doyle’s house.<br /> <br /> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">How can you help? </span></b><br /> <ol><li>If you’re on Facebook, find the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Undershaw-Preservation-Trust/143840102309365"><b>Undershaw Preservation Trust’s Facebook page</b></a> and join as a fan. </li> <li>Visit the website, <a href="http://www.saveundershaw.com/"><b>www.saveundershaw.com</b></a>, for updates and to leave comments. </li> <li>Follow <a href="http://twitter.com/spiritangel04">@spiritangel04</a> on Twitter; retweet UPT tweets so that your followers will see them. </li> <li>Tweet a #FollowFriday recommendation for UPT. </li> <li>On your blog or website mention UPT and link to <a href="http://www.saveundershaw.com/"><b>Save Undershaw's website</b></a>. </li> <li>Mention Undershaw to any Sherlockians of your acquaintance and refer them to the website.</li> <li>Spread this blog post by email, Twitter, Facebook or any other sharing method; we've provided the tools directly at the top and bottom of this entry to help you with that.</li> </ol><br /> We cannot do this alone, but we just may be able to do it together. As Holmes says in "The Copper Beeches,"<br /> <blockquote>The pressure of public opinion can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish.</blockquote><br /> If we believe that Holmes and Conan Doyle belong to all of us--even generations long beyond our own time--then we are charged with making it known through the Undershaw Preservation Trust that Undershaw must be preserved and restored. We must bring that “pressure of public opinion” to this campaign. The loss of Undershaw is more than a loss for Hindhead; it is a loss for us all.<br /> <br /> <br /> <iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=thebakerstree-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0015VT2N4&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>  <iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=thebakerstree-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B004OB0JZM&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>  <iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=thebakerstree-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=184022570X&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe> <iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=thebakerstree-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0034MKK8I&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe> --

The Undershaw Preservation Trust

"an effort to preserve it" [IDEN] [ Editor's note: Jacquelynn Morris, ASH is an Undershaw Preservation Trust Representative—Ma...

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by Scott Monty

Adding Contributors to IHOSE

<h4 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> "the intelligence of your correspondent" [VALL] </h4> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsmonty/4182495602/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="five-03 by Scott Monty, on Flickr"><img alt="five-03" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2569/4182495602_e66a161d74_m.jpg" /></a></div> <br /> A little over five months ago, without much (or any) fanfare, this humble online publication celebrated its fifth anniversary. In real life, that is but a blink of an eye; but on the Web, it may as well have been a lifetime ago. To give you a sense of what was happening in the world just five years ago:<br /> <ul> <li>Pope John Paul II died</li> <li>Tony Blair was elected for a third term</li> <li>London was hit by terrorist bombings </li> <li>Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc on the Gulf Coast</li> <li>More than 350 million digital songs were downloaded (current download rates are 10 million <i>a day</i>)</li> <li>Facebook still had another year before it would be open to the general public</li> </ul> Our first post was on <a href="http://www.bakerstreetblog.com/2005/08/baker-street-blog-welcome-to-baker.html"><b>August 10, 2005</b></a> and compared with the other 492 posts since then, it wasn't all that earth-shattering. But over time, our efforts have both expanded and contracted, and the resultant site is what you see today. It has largely been a single-handed effort, but that is about to change - with your help.<br /> <br /> <h4> <b>A New Model</b></h4> Because the world of Sherlock Holmes is so full of news, information, events and new material every day, we determined that a single-proprietor model simply will not do. Our mission:<br /> <blockquote> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>To be the definitive site for news and information</b></i></span></div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span><br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>about Sherlock Holmes in popular culture.</b></i></span></div> </blockquote> For that reason, we're <b><u><a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/p/aboutcontribute.html#.WVq-KmgrLb0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">turning this site into a multi-author publication</a></u></b>, wherein contributors can each cover topics of interest to them, on a cadence appropriate to each. You may have already seen examples from <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/search/label/Sherlock%20Holmes%20for%20Dummies" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Steven Doyle</a> and <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/search/label/terrace" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Francine Kitts</a>, who are regular contributors; we have also welcomed first contributions from a handful of others as well. You'll continue to see some this week.<br /> <br /> If you or someone you know would like to contribute to our site and help educate the world on what's new in the world of Sherlock Holmes - events, book reviews, games, etc. - <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/p/aboutcontribute.html#.WVq-KmgrLb0"><b>please visit the Contribute page of the Who We Are tab</b></a> you'll find at the top of the site. There you'll find an entry form that will allow you to become a contributor.<br /> <br /> We look forward to expanding our coverage and our editorial team. We're looking for people who write well and who have an ear to the ground for Sherlockian developments. And it should go without saying that an avid interest in Sherlock Holmes is also required. For example, someone who would know to post an image from "The Five Orange Pips" in a post marking our five years in existence...<br /> <br /> Thank you in advance for considering this opportunity and for sharing it with those you know.<br /> <br /> <i>--</i><br /> <i><br /></i>

Adding Contributors to IHOSE

"the intelligence of your correspondent" [VALL]  A little over five months ago, without much (or any) fanfare, this humble on...

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by Scott Monty

Sherlock Holmes Comes to Arizona

<h4 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> "he went prospecting into Arizona" [NOBL] </h4> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5csW9uM3BX0SLXTS4nY0jR7eD3VkO3kTlovCmyDAfolvu7oJLJ_GakJV8ud_FYhZHShyPdTT6GuBtwpANIpTBbAqXDDhPX-WabSkKjDDxy2-a_jdjGB_JlmR6rDxhnb4mujRh0xQxSnz/s1600/BSI+2016+Reception.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="960" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5csW9uM3BX0SLXTS4nY0jR7eD3VkO3kTlovCmyDAfolvu7oJLJ_GakJV8ud_FYhZHShyPdTT6GuBtwpANIpTBbAqXDDhPX-WabSkKjDDxy2-a_jdjGB_JlmR6rDxhnb4mujRh0xQxSnz/s640/BSI+2016+Reception.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> [<i>Editor's note: the following was submitted to us by Robert Stek, BSI ("The Mysterious Scientist")</i>]<br /> <br /> Announcing the formation of Southern Arizona's first Sherlock Holmes scion society - at <a href="http://www.bookmans.com/">Bookmans</a>, 1930 E Grant Road, Tucson - <b>Sunday, March 20, 2011</b> from 2 PM to 4 PM.<br /> <br /> The 'parent' organization of Sherlockian societies is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baker_Street_Irregulars">Baker Street Irregulars</a>, started in 1934 by one of the founders and editors of the Saturday Review of Literature, Christopher Morley. Today there are over 400 active scion societies worldwide, and nearly 200 in the U.S. alone. What is a scion society? According to the late John Bennett Shaw, a distinguished Sherlockian, "It's two Sherlockians, a copy of the Canon [the 60 stories], and a bottle. In a pinch, you can dispense with one of the Sherlockians." Shaw also suggested that a scion society might begin with three members; that way, two can vote the third one out if necessary.<br /> <br /> <br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a> The purpose of any Sherlockian group is to "keep green the memory of the Master" and to play the '<a href="http://bakerstreetjournal.com/grandgamev1.html">Grand Game</a>' - i.e., Holmes, Watson and all the other characters in the stories are not fictitious. Watson wrote these stories and had them published by his Literary Agent, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Part of the pleasure of playing the Game is in using Holmes' own methods in deducing more information about the stories, and in finding inconsistencies and errors in the Canon (or sometimes Conan, as the 56 short stories and 4 short novels are collectively referred to). For example, Holmes referred to his college days - we know he is brilliant and can therefore deduce that he went either to Oxford or Cambridge. Or in <i>A Study in Scarlet</i>, Watson refers to his wound during the Afghan war - at the battle of Maiwand a Jezail bullet grazed the subclavian artery in his shoulder - but in later stories he limped due to his war wound. Did he suffer two injuries? Watson's wife referred to her husband, John H. Watson, as 'James.' One explanation is that the 'H.' stood for the Scottish name 'Hamish' - a variation of 'James.'<br /> <br /> The focus of a scion society is both fun and scholarship. Often a particular story is suggested reading for a meeting. At the meeting the story may be discussed and analyzed and/or a quiz may be given on the story with a small Sherlockian prize awarded the person with the highest score. Toasts (alcoholic and/or non-alcoholic, depending upon the venue) are also given at meetings - to Holmes, Watson, Mrs. Hudson, <i>the</i> woman - Irene Adler - Mycroft, the Queen, and even to the Literary Agent; often the toasts are in rhyme. One or two 'learned papers' are usually presented by attendees, usually focusing upon some inconsistency in a story, perhaps a new deduction or possibly a review of some current Sherlockian film or play.<br /> <br /> In some scions, Victorian dress is encouraged and may be the topic of a talk or two, or even a fashion show! Factual papers about the Holmesian era are often presented; for example, sometimes prices in pounds and shillings are mentioned in the stories. Adjusted for inflation and currency exchange, what would these figures be today? Dramatic readings and short plays may also be presented and as well older movies or videos may be shown. An interesting discussion of Sherlockian scion societies can be found at <a href="http://www.sherlockian.net/societies/bvw.html.">Sherlockian.net: Singular sets of people</a>.<br /> <br /> Formal meetings may be held two or more times a year. Small groups often meet at someone's home - sometimes light refreshments are provided, sometimes a potluck dinner is organized. Larger meetings are sometimes held at local restaurants, especially if the prepared meal is one described in one of the stories. Other than paying for meals or a pro rata proportion of refreshments and/or venue rental, there are no dues.<br /> <br /> Whether March 20th from 2 PM to 4 PM at Bookmans turns out to be an intimate meeting of three Sherlockians or a standing room only crowd (the meeting room at Bookmans can only hold about 25), this will be the first meeting of the as-yet-unnamed southern Arizona Sherlockian scion society. (The Desert Beekeepers meet monthly in Fountain Hills!) RSVP's appreciated to: stekster@gmail.com by March 18th. And since "A Scandal in Bohemia" occurred on March 20, 1888, you might find it worthwhile to re-read that famous case for this first meeting!<br /> <br /> --<br /> <br />

Sherlock Holmes Comes to Arizona

"he went prospecting into Arizona" [NOBL]  [ Editor's note: the following was submitted to us by Robert Stek, BSI (...

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by Scott Monty

Favorite Sherlock Holmes Quotes

<h4 style="text-align: center;"> "a favourite ditty" [LAST] </h4> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zNMayIn7gaSIBOWDNVnhNV4DCHIWkX9Yk-cKX0J1dB-VJKA-FTTS5KWeM0dbfkSSXSeqszdY20Rq1iLW6f3ljrq_H8_XXCBH70HrWngPgL3iUTNLOUcjVQxXtRN8iTex9KGzJJA0HuBs/s1600/Quotable+Sherlock+Holmes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zNMayIn7gaSIBOWDNVnhNV4DCHIWkX9Yk-cKX0J1dB-VJKA-FTTS5KWeM0dbfkSSXSeqszdY20Rq1iLW6f3ljrq_H8_XXCBH70HrWngPgL3iUTNLOUcjVQxXtRN8iTex9KGzJJA0HuBs/s1600/Quotable+Sherlock+Holmes.jpg" /></a></div> <br /> <img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0446677272" style="border: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="1" />As you may know, we have a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ihearofsherlock">Facebook Page</a>. We use it to notify our fans that we have new content on the site here, but we also try to use it for other purposes, such as quick posts that might not seem to warrant a full entry here, lighthearted observations, and an opportunity to interact.<br /> <br /> One of the regular things we share include quotes from the Canon. We certainly have our own favorites, but as you can imagine, everyone has his or her preferences as well. We love hearing from our fans - on Facebook or below in the comments section - so <a href="http://www.facebook.com/BakerStreetBlog/posts/10150110898262713">we recently asked our fans on Facebook</a> a relatively innocuous question (well, for Facebook, anyway):<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/BakerStreetBlog/posts/10150110898262713"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8eCt8hKN3UAALS4a6PhqZGPNMfQimPWNNBWwMU_nbimj_kk6AfrLeNW2-1NvfPgN2eNv93JxUI97TOqTm2Hfn5JjVyR6H8QDBW_65wYlz32JwL6FEcNxn_oNzIm9pTru3GDufrD_8KouF/s1600/Capture.PNG" /></a></div> <br /> Here are some of the responses we received:<br /> <br /> "But there are always some lunatics about. It would be a dull world without them."<br /> <div style="text-align: right;"> - "The Adventure of the Three Gables"</div> <br /> "Life is infinitely stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent."<br /> <div style="text-align: right;"> - "A Case of Identity"</div> <br /> "It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data."<br /> <div style="text-align: right;"> - "A Scandal in Bohemia"</div> <br /> "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."<br /> <div style="text-align: right;"> - <i>The Sign of Four</i></div> <br /> "You're not hurt, Watson? For God's sake, say that you are not hurt!"<br /> <div style="text-align: right;"> - "The Adventure of the Three Garridebs"</div> <br /> "Is there any other little service that I can do you, my friend?"<br /> "A match and a cigarette."<br /> <div style="text-align: right;"> - "The Adventure of the Dying Detective"</div> <br /> "The world is big enough for us. No ghosts need apply."<br /> <div style="text-align: right;"> - "The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire"</div> <br /> Some of our favorites include:<br /> "For once you have fallen low. Let us see in the future how high you can rise."<br /> <div style="text-align: right;"> - "The Adventure of the Three Students"</div> <br /> "Education never ends, Watson. It is a series of lessons with the greatest for the last."<br /> <div style="text-align: right;"> - "The Adventure of the Red Circle"</div> <br /> "When one tries to rise above Nature, one is liable to fall below it."<br /> <div style="text-align: right;"> - "The Adventure of the Creeping Man"</div> <br /> If you'd like to see what some of the most popular quotes are, as ranked by Randall Stock, check out <a href="http://www.bestofsherlock.com/top-10-sherlock-quotes.htm">The 10 Most Famous Sherlock Holmes Quotes</a>, which includes an explanation of the ranking criteria as well as the complete context around each quote.<br /> <br /> Do you have some favorite lines from the Canon? Please leave a comment below and tell us. No account or login is required to do so.<br /> <br /> --<br /> <br /><div><script type="text/javascript"> amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "scottmonty-20"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; amzn_assoc_region = "US"; amzn_assoc_design = "enhanced_links"; amzn_assoc_asins = "0446677272"; amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit"; amzn_assoc_linkid = "302c7ce111b6120869c3c0cd4e811845"; </script> <script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US"></script><script type="text/javascript"> amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "scottmonty-20"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; amzn_assoc_region = "US"; amzn_assoc_design = "enhanced_links"; amzn_assoc_asins = "022665964X"; amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit"; amzn_assoc_linkid = "388b8d3d24b01309f4f1bb0d5b09efc4"; </script> <script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US"></script><br /></div>

Favorite Sherlock Holmes Quotes

"a favourite ditty" [LAST]  As you may know, we have a Facebook Page . We use it to notify our fans that we have new content ...

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by Scott Monty

Scuttlebutt from the Spermaceti Press — February 2011

<h4 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> "where all gossip is welcome" [VALL]</h4> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMeFYaBiY1B-pW6S11qDWZTvXxsbMkogVb78yuOt7nnQBcsfk3lmq8oAXKkPhukKqWMkffMjPiB8-M8b8FTbbKBqseOv5H13_ynDYtK9ZY18Mdsk9n_bsjIrXa9MoEvZQdUe1qL89XsRV/s1600/blackpeter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMeFYaBiY1B-pW6S11qDWZTvXxsbMkogVb78yuOt7nnQBcsfk3lmq8oAXKkPhukKqWMkffMjPiB8-M8b8FTbbKBqseOv5H13_ynDYtK9ZY18Mdsk9n_bsjIrXa9MoEvZQdUe1qL89XsRV/s1600/blackpeter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMeFYaBiY1B-pW6S11qDWZTvXxsbMkogVb78yuOt7nnQBcsfk3lmq8oAXKkPhukKqWMkffMjPiB8-M8b8FTbbKBqseOv5H13_ynDYtK9ZY18Mdsk9n_bsjIrXa9MoEvZQdUe1qL89XsRV/s1600/blackpeter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMeFYaBiY1B-pW6S11qDWZTvXxsbMkogVb78yuOt7nnQBcsfk3lmq8oAXKkPhukKqWMkffMjPiB8-M8b8FTbbKBqseOv5H13_ynDYtK9ZY18Mdsk9n_bsjIrXa9MoEvZQdUe1qL89XsRV/s1600/blackpeter.jpg" /></a></div> <br /> We're pleased to bring you the latest issue of <i>Scuttlebutt from the Spermaceti Press</i>, Peter Blau's ("Black Peter") monthly newsletter of Sherlockian or Doylean gossip, published in print form since 1971 and as a <a href="http://members.cox.net/sherlock1/scuttle.htm">text-only digital archive on Sherlocktron</a> since 1985. In agreement with Peter Blau, we've arranged to publish facsimiles of the print newsletter here, so online readers can see what the newsletter looks like. Below the scan you can find links to the sites mentioned in the text - in most cases, directly to the article, video or publication, to save you from having to search for the terms.<br /> <br /> The following is the February 2011 issue; please feel free to share it via email, social network, or embed it on your own site.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/49743460/Scuttlebutt-from-the-Spermaceti-Press-February-2011" style="-x-system-font: none; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 12px auto 6px auto; text-decoration: underline;" title="View Scuttlebutt from the Spermaceti Press, February 2011 on Scribd">Scuttlebutt from the Spermaceti Press, February 2011</a> <object data="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf" height="600" id="doc_423152052236684" name="doc_423152052236684" style="outline: none;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf"><param name="wmode" value="opaque"><param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="FlashVars" value="document_id=49743460&access_key=key-1v9u7tyd0rcuyhnm96z1&page=1&viewMode=list"><embed id="doc_423152052236684" name="doc_423152052236684" src="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=49743460&access_key=key-1v9u7tyd0rcuyhnm96z1&page=1&viewMode=list" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="600" width="100%" wmode="opaque" bgcolor="#ffffff"></embed> </object> <b>Links</b> (in order of mention): <br /> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.thesherlockian.com/"><i>The Sherlockian</i></a></li> <li><a href="http://www.audible.com/search/ref=sr_nb_1_1_1?searchNarrator=Flo%20Gibson&qid=1298939756&sr=1-1">Flo Gibson recordings on Audible.com</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bfronline.biz/">Bertram Fletcher Robinson Online</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QG1vBxRp1zo">Richard Dornbush skating to Hans Zimmer's "Sherlock Holmes"</a> (<i>Note: this video <u>might</u> not be available because of copyright claim by U.S. Figure Skating</i>)</li> <li><a href="http://www.parenfaire.com/">"Murder at Mount Hope Mansion"</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.police.uk/overview/?q=Baker%20Street,%20Paddington,%20Greater%20London%20NW1,%20UK">UK Crime Hotspots - Baker Street</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.lybrary.com/sherlock-p-94740.html">SHERLOCK at Lybrary.com</a></li> <li>Sherlock Holmes Roombox - <a href="http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/1207390607058424832RrHRdd">Photo 1</a> and <a href="http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/1207390801058424832AHTIrk">Photo 2</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sir-Arthur-Conan-Doyle-Murdered/dp/B0043CT9BW?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Man Who Murdered Sherlock Holmes (DVD)</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=B0043CT9BW" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li> <li><a href="http://www.centralalbertatheatre.ca/">"The Reluctant Resurrection of Sherlock Holmes" - Central Alberta Theatre</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.sherlock-holmes.com/e_times11-2.htm">The Sherlockian E-Times</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.theatre3dallas.com/">"The Crucifer of Blood" - Theater Three, Dallas</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.thehumanmarvels.com/?p=138">Discussion of Eugen Sandow</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.sandowplus.co.uk/sandowindex.htm">The Great Eugen Sandow</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.michael-procter.com/holmes">Database of Sherlockian pastiches</a></li> <li><a href="http://umedia.lib.umn.edu/assets/Sherlock%2520Holmes?keys=Sherlock%20Holmes&sc=keyword">University of Minnesota's UMedia Archive of Sherlock Holmes Collection</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/20/magazine/20Computer-t.html?scp=1&sq=%22the%20name%20of%20this%20hat%20is%20elementary%22%20watson&st=cse">"What is I.B.M.'s Watson?" - <i>New York Times</i></a></li> <li><a href="http://kieranmcmullen.wordpress.com/2010/12/08/weapons-of-maiwand/">"The Weapons in Maiwand" - Kieran McMullen</a></li> <li><a href="http://auction-team.de/new_highlights/2011_03/ph/031.html">Bloch Sherlock Holmes camera - Auction Team Breker</a></li> <li><a href="https://traderspress.com/detail.php?PKey=859"><i>Trading in the Footsteps of Sherlock Holmes: Balancing Probabilities for Successful Investing</i></a></li> <li><a href="http://bakerstreetjournal.com/ebooks.html"><i>The Baker Street Journal</i> & BSI Publications Indexes</a></li> <li><a href="http://bakerstreetjournal.com/ebooks.html">"Portlandia" Hide & Seek segment</a></li> <li><a href="http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/02/15/44488963.html">"From Sherlock Holmes' London to Erast Fandorin's Moscow"</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.liart.ru/site/index.php?id=1330">"Two Great Cities - Two Famous Detectives" (exhibit)</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.byook.com/">Byook</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.oakknoll.com/detail.php?d_booknr=105527&d_currency="><i>Other People's Books: Association Copies and the Stories They Tell</i></a></li> <li><a href="http://caxtonclub.org/events.html#symposium">Caxton Club & Newberry Library Symposium (Chicago)</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.stephengaspar.blogspot.com">"Cold Hearted Murder" by Stephen Gaspar</a> & <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydPh44KG1I">promo video</a></li> <li><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/Classic-DC-Figurine-69-Detective-Chimp-and-Magazine-/350436804879?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5197a9490f#ht_1848wt_881">Detective Chimp (eBay)</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bakerstreetblog.com/p/holmes-on-facebook.html">Sherlock Holmes Entities on Facebook</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.edwardrhamilton.com/">Edward R. Hamilton</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.laurierking.com/">Laurie R. King - including A Mary Russell Companion (e-book)</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.picturetrail.com/leeann1948">Miniature versions of the Canon</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/3194486">Sherlockian miniatures</a></li> <li><a href="http://indyplanet.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4271"><i>The Edge of the Unknown</i></a></li> <li><a href="http://www.ronaldknoxsociety.com/">Ronald Knox Society of North America</a></li> <li>IDW Publishing - Sherlock Holmes <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sherlock-Holmes-Vol-Graphic-Classics/dp/1600105521?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Vol. 1</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=1600105521" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sherlock-Holmes-Arthur-Conan-Doyle/dp/1600106595?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Vol. 2</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=1600106595" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> & <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sherlock-Holmes-3-Graphic-Novel/dp/1600107834?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Vol. 3</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=1600107834" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li> <li><a href="http://www.drwatsonsblog.com/">The Blog of Dr. Watson</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.grandtheatre.com/">"Sherlock Holmes: Final Adventure" - Grand Theatre, London, ON</a></li> </ul> <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> --

Scuttlebutt from the Spermaceti Press — February 2011

"where all gossip is welcome" [VALL] We're pleased to bring you the latest issue of Scuttlebutt from the Spermaceti Pr...

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by Scott Monty

Batman Wasn't the Original Caped Crusader

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <h4 style="text-align: center;"> "I have seen those battle-signals" [GOLD] </h4> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL0UZRWbvAGkKZZcth5UPnrobWXq14bQFFj0tPFNek1dmcbdHGPMZZ6KlH41O9skWm5Fm81hUq2a4p_LIuLGNvAvEIHhAu4Ph8FUBhlWzcOHsHnHpAr1VpNhY-ldfLzN_CGY-Cpyu56O2Z/s1600/Batman+Detective+Comics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="203" data-original-width="610" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL0UZRWbvAGkKZZcth5UPnrobWXq14bQFFj0tPFNek1dmcbdHGPMZZ6KlH41O9skWm5Fm81hUq2a4p_LIuLGNvAvEIHhAu4Ph8FUBhlWzcOHsHnHpAr1VpNhY-ldfLzN_CGY-Cpyu56O2Z/s640/Batman+Detective+Comics.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Sherlock Holmes was <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsmonty/4171526019/" target="_blank">the original Caped Crusader</a>. Even Detective Comics have acknowledged that Sherlock Holmes was one of the inspirations behind one of its most famous characters.<br /> <br /> If you haven't seen connections between Batman and Sherlock Holmes, let us bring you up to speed a bit. The image at right is from the 50th anniversary issue of Detective Comics, in which <a href="http://crossover.bureau42.com/zbatmanholmes.html" target="_blank">Holmes himself makes an appearance</a>. But beyond that, let's explore a bit of the similarities that we're aware of: each is granted superior intellectual powers, which are the basis behind their greatness; they have a knowledge of Asian hand-to-hand combat techniques; each started alone, yet gained an assistant over time; Batman has Alfred, his butler while Holmes has Mrs. Hudson, his landlady. We're sure there are more, but you get the idea.<br /> <br /> <h3> <b>"Fantastic outrage" [SIXN]</b></h3> The point of this post is to bring your attention to a poll that is running on Comicbookmovie.com called <a href="http://www.comicbookmovie.com/action/news/?a=30960" target="_blank"><b>BATMAN vs. SHERLOCK HOLMES: Battle Poll</b></a>. They pose the following:<br /> <blockquote> Battle of the greatest detectives, who wins in this battle of wits and wiles? Is it elementary? Who solves this puzzle?</blockquote> Currently, Holmes is losing this battle - which seems a little odd, given that he's a progenitor of the Dark Knight. We need your help: circulate this to your Sherlockian network and let's vote Sherlock Holmes as the superior power. Can you do it?<br /> <br /> And to reward yourself for a job well done, you might want to view <i>Batman Brave and the Bold - Trials of the Demon</i> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAfvk0c2sFU">Part 1</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVBFhPsCWLs&feature=related">Part 2</a>, in which Holmes makes a guest appearance.<br /> <br /> --<br /> <br />

Batman Wasn't the Original Caped Crusader

"I have seen those battle-signals" [GOLD]  Sherlock Holmes was the original Caped Crusader . Even Detective Comics have ack...

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by Scott Monty

Dining Out with the Detective

<h4 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> "from the dummy's chair" [MAZA] </h4> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3571/3515327795_19a7188e03_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3571/3515327795_19a7188e03_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> [<i><b>Editor's note</b>: "From the Dummy's Chair" is a regular column on the I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere, written by Steven Doyle, BSI ("The 'Western Morning News'"), who is the author of the Edgar-nominated <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sherlock-Holmes-Dummies-Steven-Doyle/dp/0470484446?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><b>Sherlock Holmes for Dummies</b></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=0470484446" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />. Because of the limitations in the print world, he wasn't able to completely fit everything he wanted into the book. This column serves as a real-time continuation of that labor of love. Steve is also half the team behind <a href="http://www.wessexpress.com/">Wessex Press</a>.</i>]<br /> <h3> <br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><b>Dining Out with the Detective</b></span></h3> Few trifles in the Sherlockian canon escape examination and investigation. Every story is sifted for insight into the character and personality of the master Detective — even his taste in restaurants. It is generally believed that favorite restaurant is <a href="http://www.simpsonsinthestrand.co.uk/">Simpson's-in-the-Strand</a>, one of London's oldest and best-known traditional English restaurants.<br /> <br /> Located in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strand,_London">the Strand</a>, an historic street in London, Simpson's began as a smoking room and coffee house, but eventually became famous for its traditional English food, especially its roast beef. Holmes wasn't the only famous personality to enjoyed a meal at Simpson's. The restaurant was frequented by many historic characters, including Charles Dickens, Benjamin Disraeli and William Ewart Gladstone.<br /> <br /> For years I have imagined the Great Detective and the Good Doctor retiring to Simpson's upon the conclusion of yet another successful case, but the restaurant was actually only mentioned in two stories; "The Dying Detective" and "The Illustrious Client." What are the implications of this? Should Simpson's-in-the-Strand still be considered Holmes's favorite restaurant by virtue of it being mentioned twice? Or are a mere two mentions not enough to earn that distinction? After all, I know that sometimes it takes two visits to determine that a restaurant's quality...one to have a bad meal, and a second to have another bad meal. In this case two visits wouldn't make such a place my favorite.<br /> <br /> Consider that both of Holmes's visits to Simpson's followed cases in which Holmes was physically incapacitated. In "The Dying Detective" he craved Simpson’s following a three day fast. In "The Illustrious Client" he had nearly had his brains beaten in and had just finished a period of recuperation and bed-rest. The evidence seems to indicate that Holmes perceived Simpson’s not as a place to go with Watson to discuss the loose ends of a case over a casual celebratory dinner, but rather as the destination for a much-needed restorative meal.<br /> <br /> Despite our romantic sentiments about Simpson's being his favorite restaurant, this must be true. Holmes, whose body was a mere appendix to his brain, who at times could not spare energy for digestion lest it detract from his mental processes, didn't commonly dine for the mere pleasure of the experience. What the implications of this revelation are for the quality of Mrs. Hudson's cooking, which was passed over even after a three day fast, I will leave to someone else!<br /> <br /> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Image credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34842043@N02/3515327795/">Josh Friedman Luxury Travel (Flickr)</a></i></span><br /> <br /> --<br /> <br />

Dining Out with the Detective

"from the dummy's chair" [MAZA]  [ Editor's note : "From the Dummy's Chair" is a regular column on the ...

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by Scott Monty

A Map of the Meringen Area

<h4 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> "the little village of Meiringen" [FINA] </h4> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKRZHumhvigVHgiUTdr7B92uVwn0WS45bAKnYBYWkMOLduUxRg-ntJCvSgF4RAWJhhOlL-FY_rd_Vj76TWjkeaNgfVE-6_iAqCE8UZDnmI1kl45A6_UE9MtvCsuKPBWjVQJwQjbGuQehk/s1600/Reichenbach+falls.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="850" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKRZHumhvigVHgiUTdr7B92uVwn0WS45bAKnYBYWkMOLduUxRg-ntJCvSgF4RAWJhhOlL-FY_rd_Vj76TWjkeaNgfVE-6_iAqCE8UZDnmI1kl45A6_UE9MtvCsuKPBWjVQJwQjbGuQehk/s640/Reichenbach+falls.PNG" width="640" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <br /> Michael Meer, BSI ("The Englisher Hof") posted an interesting link to Facebook. It was titled <a href="http://maps.google.ch/maps/ms?hl=de&ie=UTF8&msa=0&ll=46.728389,8.185973&spn=0.019209,0.055404&t=h&z=15&msid=207422993767587739800.00049d2f97f6f0ec80ae6">Sherlock Holmes in Meiringen</a> and it passed through to a Google Map.<br /> <br /> Meer is part of a group based in Switzerland called <b><a href="http://www.221b.ch/index.html">The Reichenbach Irregulars</a> </b>(a group which now has a place on our "Gathered from Many Nations" section of the <a href="http://www.bakerstreetblog.com/p/resources.html">Resources</a> page above). Michael says the group is resurrecting itself - how appropriate - just as Holmes managed to reappear in "The Empty House" after his encounter with Professor Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls.<br /> <br /> As one would expect from an Irregular investitured as "The Englisher Hof" and being part of the aforementioned Swiss group, it's not at all unlikely that Meer would have created and shared this excellent Google map. We've embedded it here below for you to see - you can scroll around, zoom in and out, and click on the pins to get more information on some of the sites. These include: the place of the fatal encounter between Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty; two commemorative plaques; the statue by John Doubleday; Conan Doyle Place; the Sherlock Holmes Museum; the Englisher Hof; and more.<br /> <br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <iframe frameborder="0" height="425" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.ch/maps/ms?hl=de&ie=UTF8&msa=0&t=h&msid=207422993767587739800.00049d2f97f6f0ec80ae6&ll=46.728389,8.185973&spn=0.019209,0.055404&output=embed" width="625"></iframe><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <small><a href="http://maps.google.ch/maps/ms?hl=de&ie=UTF8&msa=0&t=h&msid=207422993767587739800.00049d2f97f6f0ec80ae6&ll=46.728389,8.185973&spn=0.019209,0.055404&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">Sherlock Holmes in Meiringen (english version)</a> auf einer größeren Karte anzeigen</small></div> <br /> Have you made it over to Meiringen, Interlaken or Rosenlaui? We'd love to hear of your travels along these hallowed grounds for Sherlockians.<br /> <br /> <i>Please consider visiting our sponsors (in the right column) from time to time. It helps defray the costs associated with running this site.</i> <br /> --<br /> <br />

A Map of the Meringen Area

"the little village of Meiringen" [FINA]  Michael Meer, BSI ("The Englisher Hof") posted an interesting link to F...

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by Scott Monty