I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere

Episode 81: Mycroft Holmes

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"Some of my most interesting cases have come to me in this way through Mycroft." [GREE]</h4>
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If asked, who would you say is the biggest Sherlock Holmes fan? Prior to January 2015, we would not have said Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. But when he made a surprise appearance at the 2015 BSI Dinner and we had a chance to speak with him we discovered it was in fact he.<br />
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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Anna Waterhouse have written a new book called <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1gp8psR" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mycroft Holmes</a></i>, due out next week. We won't give too much away, but it chronicles the early career of Sherlock Holmes's older brother, at the age of 23. You'll find the classic Oxford-Cambridge boat race, the grimy streets of London, cigars, a sea voyage and much more. It's a very interesting, insightful and surprising look into what went into the beginnings of this mystical figure from the original Sherlock Holmes stories.<br />
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If you think this book is worthy of a sequel, <a href="http://ctt.ec/Wedz1" target="_blank">please click to tweet</a> "I support @kaj33 and a sequel to Mycroft Holmes."<br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en">
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My fans know I love books & that I live to write so I need your support so my publisher will let me do the sequel. <a href="https://t.co/y4ERJa6Qrc">pic.twitter.com/y4ERJa6Qrc</a></div>
— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (@kaj33) <a href="https://twitter.com/kaj33/status/723154585834147840">April 21, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
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We've got a couple of listener comments to share before getting to "Mental Exaltation," in which we welcome a listener to the show to play.<br />
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And please be sure to check out our <a href="http://patreon.com/ihearofsherlock" target="_blank">Patreon</a>, which means you can become a regular supporter of our show.<br />
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We close out with an original Editor's Gas-Lamp, "The Softer Holmes" from Vol. 7, No. 1 of the <i>Baker Street Journal</i>, which reflects on the softer Mycroft we find in Abdul-Jabbar's book.<br />
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We've already been getting some photos in, but if you do purchase one of our <a href="http://ihose.co/221Bstickers" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">221B or 1895 oval stickers</a>, please <a href="mailto:comment@ihearofsherlock.com" target="_blank">send us a picture</a> of where you've put it.</div>
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Notes:</h3>
1:30 Introductory remarks and witty banter<br />
3:30 News (check out our new high-tech news theme music!)<br />
21:45 Ray Jessel performs at the 2010 BSI Dinner<br />
35:40 Interview with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Anna Waterhouse<br />
1:21:02 Sponsors - including one you shouldn't miss<br />
1:26:45 Announcing our <a href="http://patreon.com/ihearofsherlock" target="_blank">Patreon</a> effort<br />
1:29:05 Listener comments<br />
1:32:21 Our quiz show "Mental Exaltation"<br />
1:41:47 The Editor's Gas-Lamp<br />
1:46:27 Final comments</div>
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And as usual, you might want to be sure you pay attention for a special <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_egg_(interaction_design)" target="_blank">Easter egg</a> somewhere in the show...<br />
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<a href="http://traffic.libsyn.com/ihearofsherlock/ihearofsherlock081.mp3" target="_blank">Download</a> [Save As] | File size 51.6 MB, 1:52:12</h4>
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Links:</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/events/egnrzc" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes - a Musical Mind</a> - BBC Prom 41</li>
<li><a _blank="" href="http://sherlockholmes.io/%20target=" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes and the Internet of Things</a></li>
<li><a href="http://variety.com/2015/biz/news/mr-holmes-lawsuit-settlement-arthur-conan-doyle-1201585667/" target="_blank">The Conan Doyle Estate, Ltd. has triumphed over Miramax</a></li>
<li>And the inevitable happened: <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2015/08/conan-doyle-sues-own-estate-from-beyond.html#.VfhtQ_lViko" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Conan Doyle Sues Own Estate From Beyond the Grave</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2015/09/remembering-ray-jessel.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Remembering Ray Jessel</a>, composer of <i>Baker Street</i> songs</li>
<li>The <a href="http://patreon.com/ihearofsherlock" target="_blank">I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Patreon</a> page</li>
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Many more links, articles and images are available in our Flipboard and Scoop.it sites at <a href="http://ihose.co/flipsherlock" target="_blank">ihose.co/flipsherlock</a> and <a href="http://www.scoop.it/t/sherlock-holmes" target="_blank">ihose.co/scoopsherlock</a>, as well as on the <a href="https://plus.google.com/communities/114565123495685504221" target="_blank">The Sherlock Holmes Community</a> on Google+ (now over 2,800 members), as well as through our accounts on <a href="http://facebook.com/ihearofsherlock" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/ihearofsherlock" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <a href="http://ihearofsherlock.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a>.<br />
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Sponsors</h3>
This episode includes two sponsors that deserve your attention:<br />
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<a href="http://www.wessexpress.com/" target="_blank">Wessex Press</a> (check out the new <a href="http://wessexpress.com/html/newspaper.html" target="_blank"><i>Sherlock Holmes and Conan Doyle in the Newspapers Volume 1</i></a>)<br />
<a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/" target="_blank"><i>The Baker Street Journal</i></a>, where you should get <a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/itemsforsale/subscriptions.html" target="_blank">your annual subscription</a> in now to secure all four issues and a very special Christmas Annual about <i>The Seven Per-Cent Solution</i>.<br />
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Interested in becoming a sponsor? You can find <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/p/contact.html#.Vc1Qx7JViko" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">more information here</a>.</div>
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Episode 81: Mycroft Holmes

"Some of my most interesting cases have come to me in this way through Mycroft." [GREE] If asked, who would you say is th...

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by Scott Monty

Remembering Jeremy Brett 20 Years Later

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"the stage lost a fine actor" [SCAN] </h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iWmSgUZreZuL31HY5pCKhOluWkdM0F_vDpzMTL6fWZ1Ok3giNygYlfedO5o7pBeKnVf5GwlDi-TWOjw9bSzsfi1tUFAW38J3A9wks0D7Ynu4-gpOR2jchN-rGsb-1sE38O0PXAttV3T6/s1600/Jeremy+Brett.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iWmSgUZreZuL31HY5pCKhOluWkdM0F_vDpzMTL6fWZ1Ok3giNygYlfedO5o7pBeKnVf5GwlDi-TWOjw9bSzsfi1tUFAW38J3A9wks0D7Ynu4-gpOR2jchN-rGsb-1sE38O0PXAttV3T6/s640/Jeremy+Brett.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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On September 12, 1995, Jeremy Brett passed away at the age of 61 (although <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1995/09/14/obituaries/jeremy-brett-an-unnerving-holmes-is-dead-at-59.html" target="_blank">contemporary accounts gave his age as 59</a>). It's hard to believe that one of the most influential impersonators of Sherlock Holmes has been gone 20 years.<br />
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Many have hailed Brett as the definitive Sherlock Holmes, although it can be argued that each generation has its own definitive Holmes. In our estimation, the value of Brett's performance in the Granada series are due in part to two things: 1) the careful crafting of the Victorian setting and (in the earlier episodes mostly) the faithful adaptation of the Canon; and 2) Brett's own interest and expertise in the Canon and Sherlock Holmes.<br />
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In <a href="http://wessexpress.com/html/studyincelluloid.html" target="_blank"><i>A Study in Celluloid</i></a> (Wessex Press), Michael Cox, the producer of the Granada series, noted that often times in script readings, Jeremy would make suggestions to steer the writing toward the Canon, with entire paragraphs of dialog being lifted directly from the original writings. Indeed, the team even had their own reference guide that kept the production crew and cast well informed as to Holmes's appearance and habits called <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Baker-Street-File-Appearance/dp/1553100387/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=5f8d2c46816d9f8dee1da87b0d047b79&linkCode=ktl" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Baker Street File</a><img border="0" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=5f8d2c46816d9f8dee1da87b0d047b79&_cb=1442027544062" /></i>.<br />
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We personally remember the outpouring of grief and memories that Sherlock Holmes fans shared online in 1995 — the early days of the Internet — through discussion forums and listservs, and wonder just how the web would have exploded had his death occurred in the present day. Tumblr, Twitter and the like would have exploded with emotion.<br />
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Today, at Clapham Common in London, a number of people are gathering at the bandstand for <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1462453807302910" target="_blank">An International Celebration of Jeremy Brett's life, love and laugh</a>. That link will take you to the Facebook event page, where a number of comments and content related to the event and Brett are flowing in. Evidently, word is that David Burke, Brett's first Watson, will be in attendance.<br />
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Here are some happier memories of Brett, in his incarnation of Sherlock Holmes.<br />
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Anna Massey, Brett's ex-wife, wrote of his passing in her autobiography, <a amzn-ps-bm-asin="0099486946" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="f322cbdcb87dbac416e871b740e54a43" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Telling Some Tales" href="http://www.amazon.com/Telling-Some-Tales-Anna-Massey/dp/0099486946/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=f322cbdcb87dbac416e871b740e54a43&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_3025115" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>Telling Some Tales</i></a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_3025115" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=f322cbdcb87dbac416e871b740e54a43&_cb=1442028899302" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" />, "A light went out in many people's lives when he died, for he was one of life's true originals."<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyxGB3tDRdYqlKHOoLmQC0G1LfHiSdJNO-PAHUUIIuujr2nKBRsqWJg8MCLv2W-P3gNN_lPy4v8uj3zJwt9W-p1KT-c7PHNfRHZWVbYlYeIyF7U3-BIoJ5jMXJv9s41LXF7MVz83ciiFW/s1600/Jeremy+Brett+SIGN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyxGB3tDRdYqlKHOoLmQC0G1LfHiSdJNO-PAHUUIIuujr2nKBRsqWJg8MCLv2W-P3gNN_lPy4v8uj3zJwt9W-p1KT-c7PHNfRHZWVbYlYeIyF7U3-BIoJ5jMXJv9s41LXF7MVz83ciiFW/s640/Jeremy+Brett+SIGN.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FalkArchive?fref=ts" target="_blank">The Falk Archive - "KFA"</a></td></tr>
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Farewell again, Jeremy Brett. We appreciate you making the world of Sherlock Holmes the sweeter for your presence.<br />
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<i>Image credit: <a href="http://double-zero-agent-alison.tumblr.com/post/110362909075/original-still-of-jeremy-from-sign" target="_blank">Tumblr</a></i><br />
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<a href="http://wessexpress.com/html/studyincelluloid.html" style="background-color: white; color: #006f85; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="A Study in Celluloid - Michael Cox, producer of the Granada Sherlock Holmes series, takes readers behind the scenes with Jeremy Brett." border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQculGPSH9NlP6E-OGueAgqPyhYx63uOn1lN1zV4VnJ6OG-UtIms8O0b07DPWXmhoEPymZfMiIVoglU94utYUnYcPXvhLrJ3G7qbK56Faq4kXpuPb3J6u0RqNjR5XcXbXtWSsd2HHwSESp/s1600/celluloid350.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" title="A Study in Celluloid" width="128" /></a>    <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L2YXV2W/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00L2YXV2W&linkCode=as2&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=EZ6WDYITZARHRE2G"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00L2YXV2W&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=thebakerstree-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00L2YXV2W" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />

Remembering Jeremy Brett 20 Years Later

"the stage lost a fine actor" [SCAN] On September 12, 1995, Jeremy Brett passed away at the age of 61 (although contemporar...

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by Scott Monty

Groombridge Place, a Sherlock Holmes Inspiration, Celebrates Conan Doyle Month

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"The only approach to the house was over a drawbridge" [VALL]</h4>
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If you happen to be in or near Royal Tunbridge Wells in Kent, by all means make your way to Groombridge Place. Any time will do, but particularly in September, 2015 when it's <a href="http://www.groombridgeplace.com/news-index/celebrate-conan-doyle-month-at-groombridge-place" target="_blank">Conan Doyle Month</a> there.<br />
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Conan Doyle was a Crowborough resident and was friends with the owners of Groombridge Place during the early 1900s.  He visited the house frequently as a guest and used it as inspiration for <i>The Valley of Fear</i> in 1914.</div>
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According to the <a href="http://groombridgeplace.com/events-at-groombridge-place/" target="_blank">Groombridge Place website</a>, here are the details for the month's celebrations:</div>
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Every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday throughout September tickets will be available for "Sherlock Holmes and <i>The Valley of Fear</i>" guided tour (1pm and 2pm). Tickets £2.50 per person, available in advance or on the day.<br />
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<li>Saturday 19 September ‘The Homecoming’ Sherlock Holmes Murder Mystery and Dinner (7pm – 10:30pm) £40 per person *Booking essential*</li>
<li>Saturday 19 September  ‘Sherlock Holmes: The myth and the facts’ Illustrated talk with Dr Antony Richards 4pm – 5pm £2 per person, pay on the door or in advance  *Booking essential*</li>
<li>Friday 25, Saturday 26, Sunday 27 September ‘Remembering Sir Arthur…’</li>
<li>Theatre Evening – includes tapas and wine in our café and a performance in the adjacent Conan Doyle Theatre.  Choice of performances at 7:45pm and 8:45pm, with tapas available from 7pm until 10pm.  Tickets £20 per person, includes choice of 3 tapas, and a glass of wine. *Booking essential* </li>
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"A Case of Identity"</h4>
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Aside from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groombridge_Place" target="_blank">fascinating history of Groombridge Place</a>, the property should be of interest to Sherlockians because of its associations with the Manor House of Birlstone in <i>The Valley of Fear</i>. But first a little history in the identification.<br />
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H.W. Bell, BSI ("<i>The Valley of Fear</i>") was one of the early and great Sherlockian scholars and Baker Street Irregulars. Bell was a Bostonian (being an inveterate member of The Speckled Band of Boston) who carried on correspondence with a number of other Sherlockians, including Dorothy Sayers and Edgar Smith. Smith was impressed with Bell's <i>Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson: The Chronology of Their Adventures</i> (1932) and he included Bell's "Three Identifications" in <i>Profile by Gaslight</i> in 1944. It was in this monograph that Bell determined that Birlstone Manor was based on The Moated House at Brambletye. In 1945, the year after the BSI began issuing investitures, Bell received his — "The Valley of Fear" — specifically because of this (and it should be noted that the four novels — STUD, SIGN, HOUN and VALL — were considered uber-investitures and were given to some of the earliest and most significant Sherlockians of the day: Vincent Starrett, Christopher Morley, Edgar Smith and Bell, respectively).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim1g8rrtvsAO5gkQ0Eu5JCede-xjmKjvEJ1Yjabs2IlT30IUUu1TvR92Ef6v_e7waf8l6gK3uJL6eTRQMFUS3NYnD8J2JAkeTJ3UWMNJ6eBBn_kdZYjFJD0oJHM78_9pWGbSInLQhU5Td8/s1600/Brambletye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="H.W. Bell's identification of Birlstone Manor" border="0" height="441" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim1g8rrtvsAO5gkQ0Eu5JCede-xjmKjvEJ1Yjabs2IlT30IUUu1TvR92Ef6v_e7waf8l6gK3uJL6eTRQMFUS3NYnD8J2JAkeTJ3UWMNJ6eBBn_kdZYjFJD0oJHM78_9pWGbSInLQhU5Td8/s640/Brambletye.jpg" title="The Moated House at Brambletye" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Moated House at Brambletye</td></tr>
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However, in <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B000MPFJWW" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="430d0d373faf6cb79323b6e4075dd45d" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Montgomery's Christmas Annual 1955" href="http://www.amazon.com/MONTGOMERYS-CHRISTMAS-ANNUAL-1955-IDENTITY/dp/B000MPFJWW/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=430d0d373faf6cb79323b6e4075dd45d&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_5185228" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Montgomery's Christmas Annual 1955</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_5185228" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=430d0d373faf6cb79323b6e4075dd45d&_cb=1441856427386" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i>, James Montgomery, BSI ("The Red Circle") took up another investigation — "A Case of Identity," as he called his entry — and respectfully corrected Bell's misinformation after having lunch with James Keddie, Jr., BSI ("The Crooked Man"), Cheetah of The Speckled Band, in 1954. Keddie had with him three leaves from a second printing of <i>The Valley of Fear</i>, published in 1915 — one of which included this inscription from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_otDhZh-6aVTqecA0hljY8OVzGcRP6s2MO0YohUmDQHoCTB0jCSluuw8P3YppjhpCJ7YngkioYpQNjj89euR8uxdO6EUxcdAX9Y361i1uZU7mJH_MeJ2D71e9GB6TSUJ9rRI1d59iIBk/s1600/Brambletye-VALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_otDhZh-6aVTqecA0hljY8OVzGcRP6s2MO0YohUmDQHoCTB0jCSluuw8P3YppjhpCJ7YngkioYpQNjj89euR8uxdO6EUxcdAX9Y361i1uZU7mJH_MeJ2D71e9GB6TSUJ9rRI1d59iIBk/s640/Brambletye-VALL.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"With all kind remembrance from Arthur Conan Doyle who hopes you have pleasant memories of Groombridge House which is the old house herein described. June 22/21."</td></tr>
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That settled the matter nicely.<br />
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But what of the "old house" itself? Here we have the description of Birlstone Manor from VALL:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
About half a mile from the town, standing in an old park famous for its huge beech trees, is the ancient Manor House of Birlstone. Part of this venerable building dates back to the time of the first Crusade, when Hugo de Capus built a fortalice in the centre of the estate, which had been granted to him by the Red King. This was destroyed by fire in 1543, and some of its smoke-blackened corner-stones were used when, in Jacobean times, a brick country house rose upon the ruins of the feudal castle. The Manor House, with its many gables and its small, diamond-paned windows, was still much as the builder had left it in the early seventeenth century. Of the double moats which had guarded its more warlike predecessor the outer had been allowed to dry up, and served the humble function of a kitchen garden. The inner one was still there, and lay, forty feet in breadth, though now only a few feet in depth, round the whole house. A small stream fed it and continued beyond it, so that the sheet of water, though turbid, was never ditch-like or unhealthy. The ground floor windows were within a foot of the surface of the water. The only approach to the house was over a drawbridge, the chains and windlass of which had long been rusted and broken. The latest tenants of the Manor House had, however, with characteristic energy, set this right, and the drawbridge was not only capable of being raised, but actually was raised every evening and lowered every morning. By thus renewing the custom of the old feudal days the Manor House was converted into an island during the night - a fact which had a very direct bearing upon the mystery which was soon to engage the attention of all England."</blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcl9eSsuT4dW78areUT1M9S3sySZxjILidzlPWhm_fsi28eFEB9xibixkCCm451HdQHPbdXLTG4Eytim4xwxVx8AuS1BpzZxaK3WZY7fwcSV18JE4YwUlyc0XHqJri9UV4WOHBm8tHHBa/s1600/img008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcl9eSsuT4dW78areUT1M9S3sySZxjILidzlPWhm_fsi28eFEB9xibixkCCm451HdQHPbdXLTG4Eytim4xwxVx8AuS1BpzZxaK3WZY7fwcSV18JE4YwUlyc0XHqJri9UV4WOHBm8tHHBa/s640/img008.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Map of Groombridge Place, Plate IX from <i>Montgomery's Christmas Annual 1955: A Case of Identity</i></td></tr>
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So let's take a look at some of the grounds and the house that inspired Conan Doyle to create Birlstone Manor. All images are plates from <i>Montgomery's Christmas Annual 1955: A Case of Identity</i>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz30PQfp7XYehzIlI7PNrJ7JWLLdSQ90rmmegCFzaMgQCDld0rFPzX0CNr1_3Q4cbqtik-9TPmcfouq8furCHlRozyJloU_tkjLR51NVy2-vGQ_VD4160cWPas2Gvvj-QHnQgZhaIP96d9/s1600/Groombridge004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz30PQfp7XYehzIlI7PNrJ7JWLLdSQ90rmmegCFzaMgQCDld0rFPzX0CNr1_3Q4cbqtik-9TPmcfouq8furCHlRozyJloU_tkjLR51NVy2-vGQ_VD4160cWPas2Gvvj-QHnQgZhaIP96d9/s640/Groombridge004.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plate XII: "The long, low, Jacobean house of dingy, liver-coloured brick lay before us."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYASfxtpfcuk6zjpREqNt-FwAWsPnxR5Ou5oYK9dP6WrVuWj9x6MDk1F7bMUAvQbtNtZNRHoOMPPjXNDierJKDTe8HEL8VYIReXtJIZLtHR3hmUFx8r7vcMplV8xCGSwmZH6a8zEPloav/s1600/Groombridge003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYASfxtpfcuk6zjpREqNt-FwAWsPnxR5Ou5oYK9dP6WrVuWj9x6MDk1F7bMUAvQbtNtZNRHoOMPPjXNDierJKDTe8HEL8VYIReXtJIZLtHR3hmUFx8r7vcMplV8xCGSwmZH6a8zEPloav/s640/Groombridge003.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plate XIII: "The long sweep of the dull-coloured, water-lapped front."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSVF6hyphenhyphenX6zypLhsa8yVXass66WTOFIHalSZm76JOXT2cInnYfRPpX9SHISYNp5w7RooDx57HVuYcALjlJOVDWAF4hjJa6HpYE4A80o09odFDcryVYfOSorfE_yHp1CsMEjrlvDw9FWnNK/s1600/Groombridge002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSVF6hyphenhyphenX6zypLhsa8yVXass66WTOFIHalSZm76JOXT2cInnYfRPpX9SHISYNp5w7RooDx57HVuYcALjlJOVDWAF4hjJa6HpYE4A80o09odFDcryVYfOSorfE_yHp1CsMEjrlvDw9FWnNK/s640/Groombridge002.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plate XIV: "The Manor House, with its many gables and its small, diamond-paned windows."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9NbdH82ljpdRrcWjKReGrVc5bJHDZd4JWuXwidbp-beD8yP_W8XDECWuT_kDA4rS33xBRFuJkDx69g4fdlPzVvwN199Pydf-dy0JrEMZlSmHK74yX-nQTlaM92jHiToSdcs-BEMWoS27/s1600/Groombridge001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9NbdH82ljpdRrcWjKReGrVc5bJHDZd4JWuXwidbp-beD8yP_W8XDECWuT_kDA4rS33xBRFuJkDx69g4fdlPzVvwN199Pydf-dy0JrEMZlSmHK74yX-nQTlaM92jHiToSdcs-BEMWoS27/s640/Groombridge001.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plate XV: "The only approach to the house was over a drawbridge."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hH9ZBmxL3NTVNVCwMjsGZmC7DRgqqlzdmwa53i_WDmPDpzos3kEb6vYkH98P3b2gk_F3-tsLAf1-Jju_ad6el7UOszawyKfzmrNeqb0NFKXrEdN_ksIvtOVZ_8vmVMbDOPeTCiKy-iNy/s1600/Groombridge007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hH9ZBmxL3NTVNVCwMjsGZmC7DRgqqlzdmwa53i_WDmPDpzos3kEb6vYkH98P3b2gk_F3-tsLAf1-Jju_ad6el7UOszawyKfzmrNeqb0NFKXrEdN_ksIvtOVZ_8vmVMbDOPeTCiKy-iNy/s640/Groombridge007.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plate XVI: "Those strange peaked roofs and quaint overhung gables were a fitting covering to grim and terrible intrigue."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0s65PD65GTUAYfDsjd_n9KSed9i9MHGb1HJXRi_O3jwjvh93pzZLz6bQCMzqATtw388ZdJsssPpF1cP2cLABWIPOnwPblDJDIbE8QEg2zRJa2lVkFjIHEgzdj48UqpcBro_HktY4ayYH/s1600/Groombridge008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0s65PD65GTUAYfDsjd_n9KSed9i9MHGb1HJXRi_O3jwjvh93pzZLz6bQCMzqATtw388ZdJsssPpF1cP2cLABWIPOnwPblDJDIbE8QEg2zRJa2lVkFjIHEgzdj48UqpcBro_HktY4ayYH/s640/Groombridge008.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plate XVII: "Forty feet in breadth, though now only a few feet in depth."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5NZoCsaoJj3mmFkZadKrsfKwW5vruGpVkHJDyMmFakcgOFAyHMe6pO_AXD03x-s_cGMqLsLT37hrbMugYJjzD7TF7QxSYW90l_S-uoJwf6_xxWWu3ypgXEdM0OcQg7IoCQWF-yHhzq4V/s1600/Groombridge005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5NZoCsaoJj3mmFkZadKrsfKwW5vruGpVkHJDyMmFakcgOFAyHMe6pO_AXD03x-s_cGMqLsLT37hrbMugYJjzD7TF7QxSYW90l_S-uoJwf6_xxWWu3ypgXEdM0OcQg7IoCQWF-yHhzq4V/s640/Groombridge005.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plate XVIII: "The beautiful broad moat, as still and luminous as quicksilver."</td></tr>
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As Montgomery wrote, "Pitifully few are the shrines made forever sacred to us by Sherlock Holmes and his faithful companion." Groombridge Place is a poignant and clear one that should be enjoyed by all. Particularly this month.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHVSbUKLfDH8Pq5kd3-0YZ6FuMM1FDxGlzZMQciyGJbpMGr-uHsjE8gT9bRwFER5hAI7jbxBzbkEKn31CY4ynfNU_dYnno579xQYe5CzGpmyNGmYZXXRyN79sg34csIv3wG4zYTl1_LSo/s1600/img027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHVSbUKLfDH8Pq5kd3-0YZ6FuMM1FDxGlzZMQciyGJbpMGr-uHsjE8gT9bRwFER5hAI7jbxBzbkEKn31CY4ynfNU_dYnno579xQYe5CzGpmyNGmYZXXRyN79sg34csIv3wG4zYTl1_LSo/s200/img027.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
[<b><i>Editor's note:</i></b> we have an extra copy of <b><i>Montgomery's Christmas Annual 1955</i></b>. There were only 300 copies printed, and they were distributed by James Montgomery's widow Constance following his sudden death on November 9, 1955. If you are interested in purchasing it from us, please <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/p/contact.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">get in touch</a>.]<br />
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<i>Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons (<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Groombridge02.jpg#/media/File:Groombridge02.jpg" target="_blank">"Groombridge02" by Hans Bernhard (Schnobby)</a>).</i><br />
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Groombridge Place, a Sherlock Holmes Inspiration, Celebrates Conan Doyle Month

"The only approach to the house was over a drawbridge" [VALL] If you happen to be in or near Royal Tunbridge Wells in Kent,...

+ Read more »

by Scott Monty

British Monarchs in the Sherlock Holmes Stories

<h4 style="text-align: center;">
"<i>Some Observations upon the Segregation of the Queen</i>" [LAST]</h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKb6ig_YnUkg1IXFV7w9mk0m50a4lCi4Te2UpA7MKXYnvciQy6hZGxOK6X_tF-bqAojHwCAONNgv8NpocUBgjinmux_r26peRAYvLN9oht5ZjqIVEsmg4qR_TkWDIfP5VB93zaV6WiaeP/s1600/Queen_Victoria_by_Heinrich_von_Angeli.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKb6ig_YnUkg1IXFV7w9mk0m50a4lCi4Te2UpA7MKXYnvciQy6hZGxOK6X_tF-bqAojHwCAONNgv8NpocUBgjinmux_r26peRAYvLN9oht5ZjqIVEsmg4qR_TkWDIfP5VB93zaV6WiaeP/s640/Queen_Victoria_by_Heinrich_von_Angeli.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Queen Victoria is still "a certain gracious lady", as Watson calls her in "The Bruce-Partington Plans", but she loses an important historical distinction today. She is no longer the longest-reigning British monarch; Elizabeth II, who has been Queen since February 6, 1952, <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2015/09/queen-elizabeth-ii-surpasses-queen.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">has now been on the throne for longer</a>.<br />
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Victoria reigned for 63 years 216 days (or 23,226 days, as Buckingham Palace prefers to calculate it), from June 1837 to January 1901. Sherlock Holmes "began his adventures in the very heart of the later Victorian era," as Arthur Conan Doyle wrote in the introduction to <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B005LI3H4C" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="45c77ccaff0a0e9a620369a74c78c9a4" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes" href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Case-Book-Sherlock-Holmes-ebook/dp/B005LI3H4C/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=45c77ccaff0a0e9a620369a74c78c9a4&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_5075984" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_5075984" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=45c77ccaff0a0e9a620369a74c78c9a4&_cb=1441813983225" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i>, and Sherlockians are among those who know something of the respect and affection she inspired. Holmes himself felt patriotic sentiments towards the Queen-Empress, with the "VR" for Victoria Regina that he inscribed on Mrs. Hudson's wall in bullet-pocks. <br />
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The present Queen is Victoria's great-great-granddaughter, which may seem like a very great gap, but consider this: Winston Churchill, who was Elizabeth's first prime minister, was already a Member of Parliament while Victoria was still on the throne. Christopher Morley, Basil Rathbone, Edith Meiser, Sir Sydney Roberts, Dorothy Sayers, Raymond Massey and Mary Louise Conan Doyle are among people with Sherlockian connections who were alive in both reigns.<br />
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Queen Victoria's Golden and Diamond Jubilees (1887 and 1897 respectively) seem to have an attraction for pastiche authors, but the canon itself has only one casual mention, in "The Dancing Men", when Hilton Cubitt "came up to London" for the celebrations. He is not clear which Jubilee that was, but most chronologists seem to favour the latter. Queen Elizabeth marked her Golden Jubilee in 2002 and her Diamond Jubilee in 2012. <br />
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In case anyone is wondering who holds third place in the standings, behind Elizabeth and Victoria in length of service on the British throne, that would be George III, who reigned from October 1760 to January 1820. And he certainly figures in the canon, with that memorable line in "The Noble Bachelor" about "the folly of a monarch in far-gone years".<br />
<div>
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<h3>
<b>Giveaway</b></h3>
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At least nine other British or English monarchs are also mentioned in the Canon: William I, William II, Edward I, James I, Charles I, Charles II, Anne, George II, and George IV. We have a prize from the I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Grab-Bag of Gifts (IHOSE GBG) for anyone who<b style="font-style: italic;"> can name the stories in which these nine monarchs appear</b>. Leave your answer in the form of a comment below, on our <a href="http://facebook.com/ihearofsherlock" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>, or tweet us (<a href="http://twitter.com/ihearofsherlock" target="_blank">@ihearofsherlock</a>) with the hashtag #9monarchs and use the <a href="http://ihose.co/ABREV" target="_blank">Jay Finley Christ abbreviations</a> for the story names.<br />
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Good luck and God save the Queen!<br />
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British Monarchs in the Sherlock Holmes Stories

" Some Observations upon the Segregation of the Queen " [LAST] Queen Victoria is still "a certain gracious lady", a...

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by Chris Redmond

Queen Elizabeth II Surpasses Queen Victoria As Longest Serving British Monarch

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"a certain gracious lady" [BRUC]</h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrSJ8jZmTpSwkcnv1gTvXunm_Nho271LhMhi3UTUJxo_UUt-9AaJRwXioWpMjos9xqT0DfAhdMKtacrjwpnAg_A5AgRinrTwsWCwau6bWfwYio5cDyl-27e1gk8ti9zOprGYhSMLz8Cbo1/s1600/QEII+Jubilee+Portrait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Diamond Jubilee Portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in 2013" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrSJ8jZmTpSwkcnv1gTvXunm_Nho271LhMhi3UTUJxo_UUt-9AaJRwXioWpMjos9xqT0DfAhdMKtacrjwpnAg_A5AgRinrTwsWCwau6bWfwYio5cDyl-27e1gk8ti9zOprGYhSMLz8Cbo1/s1600/QEII+Jubilee+Portrait.jpg" title="Diamond Jubilee Portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth" width="640" /></a></div>
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Today, 9 September 2015, marks a very significant day for <i>Her Majesty</i> Queen Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.<br />
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For today is the day that she has surpassed her great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria, as the longest-reigning British monarch.<br />
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While Queen Victoria was not mentioned by name in any of the Sherlock Holmes tales, she was certainly referred to in "The Bruce Partington Plans," during which Holmes expressed his regret that "that all the Queen's horses and all the Queen's men cannot avail in this matter." Later in the tale, Watson recounted:<br />
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I learned incidentally that my friend spent a day at Windsor, whence he returned with a remarkably fine emerald tie-pin. When I asked him if he had bought it, he answered that it was a present from a certain gracious lady in whose interests he had once been fortunate enough to carry out a small commission. He said no more; but I fancy that I could guess at that lady's august name, and I have little doubt that the emerald pin will for ever recall to my friend's memory the adventure of the Bruce-Partington plans.</blockquote>
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Elizabeth was born 21 April 1926 to Prince Albert, Duke of York (later George VI) and Elizabeth, Duchess of York (later Queen Elizabeth and after his death, Elizabeth the Queen Mother). Even as a child, she was remarkable; Winston Churchill <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_II#Early_life" target="_blank">described her</a> at the age of two as "a character. She has an air of authority and reflectiveness astonishing in an infant."<br />
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"Lilibet," as she was known to her family, was initially not expected to ascend the throne. While she was third in line to the throne, her uncle the Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII) was young and was expected to have children. It was only after his abdication and her father's investiture that Elizabeth became heir apparent.<br />
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When her father died on 6 February 1952, she became Elizabeth II at the age of 25. She celebrated her 89th birthday earlier this year and has now earned her rightful place in the record books as the longest serving British monarch.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84iiKRcImiq4Bpji3b5wstpcqsVK7Zvp9gm7ncy2gFPiO23vJFB8XykMV00vEDMKBIsqVtvc5_q45k9osUeqT_9vpAWOVHw3-Moydcqa1wE15nAUmLvx-c9e4bofq3jt93sXStGYPIT4A/s1600/A+Portrait+of+Her+Majesty+Queen+Elizabeth+II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Australian-born artist Ralph Heimans painted this Diamond Jubilee portrait of Elizabeth the Second" border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84iiKRcImiq4Bpji3b5wstpcqsVK7Zvp9gm7ncy2gFPiO23vJFB8XykMV00vEDMKBIsqVtvc5_q45k9osUeqT_9vpAWOVHw3-Moydcqa1wE15nAUmLvx-c9e4bofq3jt93sXStGYPIT4A/s1600/A+Portrait+of+Her+Majesty+Queen+Elizabeth+II.jpg" title="Diamond Jubilee portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Australian artist Ralph Heimans." width="640" /></a><br />
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God save the Queen.<br />
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Long may she reign!<br />
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Queen Elizabeth II Surpasses Queen Victoria As Longest Serving British Monarch

"a certain gracious lady" [BRUC] Today, 9 September 2015, marks a very significant day for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the S...

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by Scott Monty

Qualify for the Quiz on our Next Episode

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"I had a note from my brother this morning" [STOC] </h4>
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Thank you for your continued interest in "Mental Exaltation," the quiz segment of the I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere internet radio show. You can listen to <a href="http://ihose.co/ihose80" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Episode 80</a>, in which our guest Zach Dundas played on behalf of a contestant (annotated below at 1:20:00).<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">If you've listened to NPR shows like </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"><a href="http://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/" style="color: #006f85; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!</a></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> and </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"><a href="http://www.npr.org/programs/weekend-edition-sunday/" style="color: #006f85; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Weekend Edition Sunday</a></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">, you'll know that there are opportunities for listeners to participate in quizzes. In the former, a guest typically plays on behalf of a listener; on the latter, the listener plays live on the air.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">As </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> (the podcast) has a connection with NPR - we've been called "a cross between NPR's </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Car Talk</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"> and </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Fresh Air</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">" - we thought it would be entirely appropriate to model our own quiz program after the two above.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Here's how "</span><b style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Mental Exaltation</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">" works:</span></div>
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<li>Each month, we'll post a qualifying question to determine a listener who'll play / be played for on the program. Winner will be chosen at random from all correct entries.</li>
<li>If you'd like to enter, you must <a href="http://www.feedblitz.com/f/?Sub&publisher=445106&sitescope=45933" style="color: #006f85; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">subscribe to I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere by email</a>.</li>
<li>We'll either have a guest play on your behalf or we'll patch you into the show to have you play over the phone or Skype.</li>
<li>If your player or you succeeds in passing the test, you'll win a random item from our I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Grab-Bag of Goodies (that's the IHOSE GBG).</li>
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<span style="color: #0e0e0e; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Episode 81 of I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere will feature author, celebrity and former NBA star Kareem Abdul Jabbar, who has written <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="1783291532" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="cd2980ee10ef76e1a4780d5f01a7e206" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Mycroft Holmes" href="http://amzn.to/1KYSxtN" id="amznPsBmLink_3350407" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mycroft Holmes</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_3350407" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=socialmediama-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=cd2980ee10ef76e1a4780d5f01a7e206&_cb=1441721306537" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i>. Our quiz and the qualifying question are directly related to the book, so stay tuned!</span></span><br />
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<b>Qualify now</b></h3>
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Qualify for the Quiz on our Next Episode

"I had a note from my brother this morning" [STOC] Thank you for your continued interest in "Mental Exaltation,...

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by Scott Monty

Remembering Ray Jessel, of Baker Street Fame

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"one ray of sunlight" [ILLU]</h4>
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We recently discovered that Broadway and Hollywood composer, writer and performer <a href="http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/ray-jessel-dead-love-boat-writer-1201544128/">Ray Jessel passed away on July 17</a> at the age of 85. His connection to the world of Sherlock Holmes was through the 1965 Broadway musical <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baker_Street_(musical)">Baker Street</a>.<br />
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Born in Cardiff, Wales in 1929, Raymond Jessel earned a degree in music from the University of Wales and then emigrated to Canada, where he went to work as an orchestrator and composer for CBC Radio. He wrote a theatrical satire Spring Thaw with Marian Grudeff, which led to a collaboration on Baker Street and the score for a revival of <i>Hellzapoppin</i>.<br />
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Jessel then moved to Hollywood where he began writing for variety shows such as <i>The Dean Martin Show</i>, <i>The Carol Burnett Show</i> and <i>The Smothers Brothers Show</i>. He wrote 34 episodes of <i>The Love Boat</i> — including the two-hour special "The Musical" — and was the story editor for 60 episodes between 1977 and 1980. Jessel also wrote nine episodes of <i>The Head of the Class</i>.<br />
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According to <a href="http://www.rnh.com/bio/169/Jessel-Raymond">Rodgers & Hammerstein</a>:<br />
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Ray Jessel returned to Broadway in 1979, being chosen by Richard Rodgers to write additional lyrics for I Remember Mama. He wrote the lyrics to four songs in the show including "A Little Bit More" — the last song Richard Rodgers was to write for the musical stage.</blockquote>
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But Jessel's surprise talent was actually in performing, which he took up at the age of 72. It was in this capacity that he paid a surprise visit to the Baker Street Irregulars in 2010. He dropped into the BSI cocktail reception and played <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL888E2C347114B076">a handful of songs</a> to the crowd's delight, including the hysterical "Short Term Memory Loss Blues," "Shirley Levine" and one number from <i>Baker Street</i>, "Finding Words for Spring."<br />
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Jessel had also popped into the BSI dinner the evening before, where he talked for a bit about his experience writing <i>Baker Street</i> and regaled us with additional songs from the musical. If you tune in to <a href="http://ihose.co/ihose81" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Episode 81</a> of our podcast, you'll be able to hear some of that as well. And if you'd like another view of <i>Baker Street </i>from a cast member, we spoke with actor Fritz Weaver on <a href="http://ihose.co/ihose26" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Episode 26</a>.<div><br /><iframe title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/1115060/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/414851/time-start/00:00:00/playlist-height/200/direction/backward/download/yes" height="192" width="100%" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="" webkitallowfullscreen="true" mozallowfullscreen="true" oallowfullscreen="true" msallowfullscreen="true" style="border: none;" data-dashlane-rid="90c3e4cbae4d284d" data-form-type="other" data-dashlane-frameid="3707"></iframe></div><div><br />
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Ray Jessel was an American treasure (ironic, as he was Welsh and Canadian, we know). His ear for music and his sense of humor endeared this funny little man to all who knew him. We count ourselves fortunate for having had the pleasure of seeing him perform live and for being the beneficiary of his excellent work on <i>Baker Street</i>.<br />
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Of course, most of America came to know another side of Jessel rather late via his surprise hit "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtVqD-ac5eQ&ab_channel=WolfSmack" target="_blank">What She's Got</a>," featured on America's Got Talent in 2014. Hide the children.<div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mtVqD-ac5eQ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div>
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Remembering Ray Jessel, of Baker Street Fame

"one ray of sunlight" [ILLU] We recently discovered that Broadway and Hollywood composer, writer and performer Ray Jessel pas...

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by Scott Monty

The Professor, the Detective and Genderswap

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"the whole sex at his mercy" [ILLU]</h4>
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The original Sherlock Holmes stories have been noted as examples of unbridled masculine friendship, in that one of the appeals of the series is the close friendship depicted between two men. Of course, one question that has come up again and again is, was it just a friendship? Was Holmes truly not interested in the fairer sex? Was Watson the lady's man Doyle described? As the years have gone by, these questions have been explored in many texts, some depicting Holmes as a homosexual, some having both Holmes and Watson in  a loving relationship, others have both men taking lovers, some even have Holmes getting married. <br />
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As <a href="https://www.plymouth.edu/department/english/faculty/profile/ann-mcclellan/" target="_blank">Dr. Ann McClellan</a> has shown in her essay <a href="http://journal.transformativeworks.org/index.php/twc/article/view/553/454" target="_blank">Redefining genderswap fan fiction, a <i>Sherlock </i> case study</a>, regardless of the characters' sexual preferences, the characters do take on the roles of both genders on occasion, particularly in the series <i>Sherlock</i> and the new fanfiction which has arisen about the series. We had the opportunity to interview Dr. McClellan in the town of Plymouth, New Hampshire where she is the English Department Chair of Plymouth State University.<br />
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<b>I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere: What is genderswap and how does it relate to Sherlock Holmes, particularly the series <i>Sherlock</i>?</b></h4>
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<b>Ann McClellan:</b> Genderswap is actually quite a complicated term. In fandom, it means stories in which the main characters (or subsidiary characters) change gender from male to female, or female to male. At minimum, one character changes gender, but there are some stories where the authors swap all of the characters’ genders. The term itself is problematic for anyone who studies gender theory, however, because what most of these stories are actually describing is ‘sexswap’—i.e., a character who changes biological sex. But for some reason (perhaps because of the more frequently understood definition of sex as sexual intercourse), most stories do not use this term.<br />
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<br />
Sexswap or genderswap often goes beyond biological sex changes as well. Many writers play around with stereotypical gendered behaviors (masculine and feminine) and their association with a particular sex. For instance, you could have a biologically sexed female character, like a female Sherlock, who is identified by her logic and reasoning, lack of emotion, and interest in science—all of which, culturally, have been associated with masculinity and masculine behavior. Or, you could have a male John Watson who is nurturing, a homemaker, etc., which some could argue is exhibiting traditionally feminine characteristics. As you can see, it all gets pretty thorny very quickly!<br />
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When it comes to <i>Sherlock</i> fan fiction, genderswap is a relatively minor subgenre within the thousands of fics published on the web; however, I believe many fans are drawn to it because (a) Sherlock Holmes is such a famous, iconic male heroic character, and (b) he seems to embody many of the most traditional cis masculine behaviors and characteristics (emphasis on logic, rejects emotion, interested in science and the law, lacks close emotional relationships [other than Watson], exists somewhat outside the bounds of law and society, etc.). Many of the blogs and fans I researched thought there wasn’t a female equivalent of that in Western literature or media, and they didn’t want an approximate of Sherlock Holmes: they wanted a female Sherlock Holmes.<br />
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<b>IHOSE: In your article, you explain how both Holmes and Watson in <i>Sherlock</i> both "embody stereotypical masculine and feminine gender behaviors simultaneously within male sexed bodies." Can you give specific examples when this occurs? Also, is this unique to the series or do you feel this also occurs in the original canon?</b></h4>
<b>AM:</b> There are a few specific behaviors and scenes that come to mind. In regards to Watson, I always think about that opening scene in "The Blind Banker," when John is off at the grocery buying food—we are led to assume—for the household, while Sherlock is at home fighting the baddy. When John comes back and complains that Sherlock hasn’t moved all day, he notices their kitchen table has a new scratch in it and he tssks at Sherlock for not taking care of their things. That, to me, stood out as two stereotypically, related feminine behaviors: doing the shopping and minding the furniture. This gets picked up over and over in the fanfiction with John making tea all of the time, doing the washing up, buying groceries, etc. while Sherlock is responsible for bringing excitement in their lives. At the same time, of course, John is shown to be a highly effective bodyguard and a violent man—typically masculine traits.<br />
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Sherlock isn’t immune to feminization, either. He is clearly clothes obsessed and is often fussing with his hair, ruffling his fingers through his curls and looking at himself in the mirror—which, some would argue, is a stereotypically feminine obsession with his appearance. We can also comment on his sulks on the couch, like in the beginning of “The Great Game” episode, and his snark, both of which could be described as feminine.<br />
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Is this unique to Sherlock? I would say no. Jeremy Brett’s Sherlock Holmes was delightfully snarky and peevish; Brett was a masterful television actor and used very slight facial expressions and gestures to indicate huge ranges of thought and feeling, which were delightful. One could also argue that Robert Stephens’ Holmes in T<i>he Private Life of Sherlock Holmes</i> was similarly feminized, but that seems a bit trickier since so much of the premise of that film is about whether or not Holmes is gay.<br />
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Of course, in the original canon, Watson gets on Holmes's case for his health and for his cleanliness, which are, as I said, stereotypical feminine traits.  Doyle breaks so many rules in his writing.  There are no backgrounds to his characters which makes it easy to start questioning the characters' relationships and their behaviors.<br />
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<b>IHOSE: You mention the fact that Sherlock has been criticized for its lack of female characters and perceived misogyny, yet the series has a large female fanbase.  What do you see as the appeal to the female fans, beyond Benedict Cumberbatch?</b></h4>
<b>AM:</b> That is a great question. I think there are several things about the show that appeal to a female fan base. First, it’s not a simple mystery or detective show that focuses solely on the crime solving elements; rather, it seems more invested in character development and the relationships between characters, no matter how subtly drawn. Second, it’s a highly stylized show with brilliant cinematography, lighting, and innovative camera developments that engage the senses and makes for a visually, as well as intellectually, stimulating show. I know, personally, I was immediately intrigued with how the show was shot as well as how it was written. And lastly, I think it’s very clever. As Moffat and Gatiss themselves often say in interviews, they don’t write down to their audience. The dialogue, action, and scenes are very fast-paced and technologically driven; it’s challenging to follow Sherlock’s deductions. He doesn’t slow down for the audience so you have to work hard to keep up. I think all of those elements combine to make a smart show that smart people like, especially women.<br />
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I guess I would add one more caveat: a lot of women love the relationship between Sherlock and John and really enjoy the sexual tension between the two actors. There have been a lot of arguments online about whether the show is ‘queer baiting’ the audience—that is, leading the audience into thinking that Sherlock and John have erotic or romantic feelings for one another when they have no intention of going in this direction. Moffat, Gatiss, and the entire cast have gone back and forth on Sherlock’s sexuality, whether the two characters are attracted to one another, both denying and admitting as much in different interviews. What we can’t deny is that they talk about Sherlock and John’s feelings for one another and raise questions about what kind of feelings these are in virtually every episode. Virtually every other character on the show thinks or has hinted that the two have romantic feelings for one another. I think this intrigue is something that drives a lot of female fans, too.<br />
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<b>IHOSE: Towards the conclusion of your essay, you mention that while gender identity is fluid in <i>Sherlock</i>, you only found one example of fan fiction which actually shows Sherlock Holmes physically changing his body and becoming a woman.  Why do you think this fan fiction genre is rare?  Do you think this subgenre will increase over time?</b></h4>
<b>AM:</b> To clarify, I was talking about a transgendered Sherlock—that is, one who has taken cultural and possibly medical steps to change her sexual and gender identity from female to male. My article was published over a year ago, so there may well be more transgender Sherlocks now in fanfiction, but at the time of my research I had found only one. I expect, with the recent media coverage of transgender issues in the U.S. media that there are probably more transgender fics published now than there was a year or so ago. I can’t answer for any of the authors who choose to write fanfic as to why they write a specific kind, or why they might write a Fem!Sherlock but not a transgender Sherlock.<br />
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I can speculate that, at the time, probably fewer fanfic authors were very knowledgeable about transgender people, politics, etc. so they might not be as comfortable writing a fic about this particular kind of identity. On the one hand, I could argue that <b><i>not</i></b> making Sherlock transgender but just Fem!Sherlock raises a lot more questions about the relationships between sex and gender than somehow re-aligning Sherlock’s biology with her gendered behaviors. If Fem!Sherlock identifies as male and exhibits masculine characteristics (i.e., acts like Cumberbatch’s Sherlock on the show) and then changes her sex to male, doesn’t this seem to reinforce those behaviors as masculine and therefore ‘appropriate’ to a male body?<br />
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Many of the Fem!Sherlock fics I read expressed a lot of anxiety and even disgust about the female body; many of the characters didn’t want to be seen as female because it somehow made them less in the other characters’ eyes. By taking that female Sherlock and turning her back into a man, one could argue, one is re-affirming stereotypical gender roles that men are logical, scientific, and reasonable—that these traits don’t fit a female body. Now, I’m not saying this is true for transgender people at all. I think sex and gender are much more complicated than simply assigning certain behaviors to specific body parts. This is why I’m so fascinated with genderswap fanfiction—because it challenges what we culturally assume about gender and sexual identity.<br />
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<b>IHOSE: On a slightly different note, you recently gave a talk about the popularity of Sherlock Holmes at a local library.  What are some of the reasons as to why Holmes is the world's most popular fictional character?</b></h4>
<b>AM:</b> Yes, I give talks throughout the state through a wonderful organization called the NH Humanities Council on the popularity of Sherlock Holmes. I think Sherlock’s longevity and popularity come from a range of specific characteristics: the cultural milieu in which he was created (the prestige of the British empire in late 19th century England, the 1884 Education Act providing federally funded education to all children between the ages of 5-11—just a few years before Doyle started publishing the Holmes stories, the rise of affordable magazine publishing which made disposable magazine publishing in reach for many working and middle class homes, Doyle’s invention of the series genre); the public’s engagement with Holmes throughout the past century (we look at the public reaction to his reported death in “The Final Problem” and the faux obituaries that rose up and compare it to the “I Believe in Sherlock Holmes” global phenomenon in 2012) and how they immediately treated him like a real historic figure.<br />
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We then talk about how Holmes is grounded in a real physical place (221B Baker Street) which gives a verisimilitude to the fictional world not found with any other literary character in history. I also then talk about a concept introduced by scholar Matt Hills, detachability. Hills argues that cult films have scenes, phrases, and feelings that can be lifted out and used in everyday life and experiences. So much of what the public knows about Holmes—his deerstalker hat, his meerschaum pipe, his inverness cloak, the catchphrase “Elementary, my dear Watson”—of course, do not come from any of the original 60 stories. Rather, they have been picked up through different media over the past century and attached to Holmes’ identity. The Sherlock Holmes we all know worldwide today is, in fact, not the creation of Arthur Conan Doyle but rather a modern media invention. Sherlock Holmes has been detached from his fictional Victorian world and has become a part of modern media history and culture, so that we can’t even trace back the origins of his identity. It’s fascinating.<br />
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<b>IHOSE: The question we ask all Sherlockians.  If you were stranded on a desert island with just one Sherlock Holmes story, which would it be and why?</b></h4>
<b>AM:</b> Ugh, that is such a hard question. For length, I would pick <i>The Sign of Four</i> because it has so many wonderful Sherlockian elements—drug use, murdering pygmies, Indian history. However, it’s not perfect; Doyle gets caught up in figuring out how to get Jonathan Small’s story out and the second half is full of way too much exposition. If I had to pick a short one it would be “The Man with the Twisted Lip.” It has so many of my favorite elements: domestic battles between Holmes and Watson, Holmes in disguise, the underbelly of London’s opium drug dens contrasted with the idyllic (and frightening to Holmes) countryside, mistaken identity, and some fantastically interesting assumptions about class, identity, work, the East. It’s really wonderfully rich.<br />
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<b>IHOSE: What are your upcoming projects?</b></h4>
<b>AM:</b> I’m completing a book on world building in Sherlock fan fiction which analyses how fans (re)write, expand, and challenge the fictional world of the BBC’s <i>Sherlock</i>. Primarily focusing on fan fiction, the book looks at how fans explore facets of setting, character, genre, and the boundaries between fictional and real worlds.<br />
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<b>Ann McClellan</b> is Professor of Twentieth Century British Literature and English Department Chair at Plymouth State University in Plymouth, New Hampshire, USA. She is the author of <a href="http://amzn.to/1KRNhrZ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>How British Women Writers Transformed the Campus Novel</i> </a>(2012) as well as numerous national and international articles on nineteenth and twentieth century British women's literature, Sherlock Holmes, and fan fiction. She is currently working on a monograph on world building in <i>Sherlock</i>.<br />
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The Professor, the Detective and Genderswap

"the whole sex at his mercy" [ILLU] The original Sherlock Holmes stories have been noted as examples of unbridled mascul...

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by Belanger Books

Conan Doyle Estate Reaches Settlement with Miramax Over 'Mr. Holmes'

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"I grudge them their blood money" [LAST]</h4>
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<br /><a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2015/05/conan-doyle-estate-sues-mr-holmes.html#.Vep6FvZViko" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2015/05/conan-doyle-estate-sues-mr-holmes.html#.Vep6FvZViko" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Earlier this year, </a>we reported on the lawsuit that the Conan Doyle Estate, Ltd. filed against Miramax, Roadside Attractions and Bill Condon in conjunction with the release of the film <i>Mr. Holmes</i> starring Ian McKellen.<br />
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Now, the Estate Limited <a href="http://variety.com/2015/biz/news/mr-holmes-lawsuit-settlement-arthur-conan-doyle-1201585667/" target="_blank">is claiming victory in its latest effort</a>. An agreement was in place in principle prior to the release of the film, and the parties are in the process of finalizing it. Benjamin Allison, attorney for the Estate, said earlier this week, "The estate is very pleased." Miramax had no comment on the ongoing litigation. According to press reports, the defendants had not filed a response to the lawsuit.<br />
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This is precisely how most nuisance lawsuits are handled by large entities. Big company lawyers are more expensive than a settlement would be. In our view, this is exactly what the CDEL hoped for, and <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2014/08/7th-circuit-orders-conan-doyle-estate.html#.VeqC9PZViko" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the 7th Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals noted last year</a> noted in its landmark decision against the Estate last year:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">
The Doyle estate’s business strategy is plain: charge a modest license fee for which there is no legal basis, in the hope that the "rational" writer or publisher asked for the fee will pay it rather than incur a greater cost, in legal expenses, in challenging the legality of the demand. The strategy had worked with Random House; Pegasus was ready to knuckle under; only Klinger (so far as we know) resisted. In effect he was a private attorney general, combating a disreputable business practice—<u><b>a form of extortion</b></u>—and he is seeking by the present motion not to obtain a reward but merely to avoid a loss.</blockquote>
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The court even made a helpful recommendation:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
It’s time the estate, in its own self-interest, changed its business model.</blockquote>
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However, with a Hollywood movie in its sights and precious little time left on its remaining 10 copyrighted stories, the Limited entity insists on panning for as much gold as it can.<br /><br />
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Meanwhile the case of <a href="https://burtwolder.wordpress.com/2015/07/27/a-strange-case/" target="_blank">Conan Doyle suing his own estate</a> from beyond the grave continues...<br />
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Conan Doyle Estate Reaches Settlement with Miramax Over 'Mr. Holmes'

"I grudge them their blood money" [LAST] Earlier this year, we reported on the lawsuit that the Conan Doyle Estate, Ltd. fil...

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by Scott Monty

Review: Barry Baskerville Traps a Thief

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<span style="line-height: 1.38;">"The youth pondered for a moment." [SIGN]</span></h4>
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“Barry got dressed for school quickly and opened the bedroom door. He admired the large sign attached to the door. The sign, in very large letters, read Office of Barry Baskerville - Boy Detective.”</blockquote>
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<i><a href="http://amzn.to/1NSSHVh" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Barry Baskerville Traps a Thief</a></i> is the third book in the Barry Baskerville children’s series by Richard Kellogg and illustrated by Gary Kato. Barry idolizes Sherlock Holmes, and in a town called Watsonville, who can blame him? He is precocious, to an almost annoying degree as he delights in showing off his talents for verbal trickery and logic puzzles to his friends John, Mary and Irene. Once he gets a crime to solve, however, the aspiring detective gets a chance to shine. Someone has been stealing all the wooden items in Watsonville, and the police are stumped. With a little help from local policeman Officer Lestrade, Barry’s on the case. <br />
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Our primary criticism of this book is that the mystery doesn’t start until two-thirds of the way through. It would have been nice to see a little more of the boy detective detecting, but at least Barry’s enthusiastic, and cute Sherlockian references abound. The brightly illustrated series could be a neat introduction for young kids to logical problem solving, as well as Sherlock Holmes. <br />
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The series, which also includes <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1EG6g7H" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Barry Baskerville Solves a Case</a></i> and <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1Fo9W90" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Barry Baskerville Returns</a></i>, is aimed at children ages 7 to 10, and is available on <a href="http://amzn.to/1NSSHVh">Amazon.</a><br />
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Review: Barry Baskerville Traps a Thief

"The youth pondered for a moment." [SIGN] “Barry got dressed for school quickly and opened the bedroom door. He admired...

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by Katie Magnusson

Remembering Austin McLean, BSI

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"a library where Sherlock Holmes was pursuing some laborious researches" [3STU]</h4>
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Austin McLean, BSI ("The London Library) died on January 16, 2015.  Thus passed one of the most important guardians of the Sherlock Holmes legend whose merits, like those of the Great Detective himself, should be publicly recognized. <br />
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Born in 1930, Austin served in the United States Marine Corps and later held positions in a variety of libraries, culminating as Curator of the Special Collections and Rare Books section of the University of Minnesota Libraries for nearly three decades in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.<br />
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Together with E.W. McDiarmid, BSI ("The Bruce-Partington Plans") and many others associated with the libraries, he was instrumental in establishing Minnesota as a world class center for the study of Sherlock Holmes.<br />
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This began with the purchase of the small but select James C. Iraldi collection in 1974 but really gained momentum in 1978 through the donation of the Mary Kahler and Philip Hench collection of Sherlock Holmes and Arthur Conan Doyle materials, including manuscript pages from <i>The Hound of the Baskervilles</i>, unique William Gillette memorabilia, and original artwork by Frederic Dorr Steele.  Under Austin’s watch there were many other significant acquisitions, including a Frederic Dorr Steele archive donated by his children; the Edith Meiser collection of radio scripts and recordings along with related material; a large portion of the Vincent Starrett papers; the Howard Haycraft archive; and of course the enormous John Bennett Shaw Sherlock Holmes collection.  <br />
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During his tenure  Austin supervised numerous  exhibits and conferences to help publicized these holdings:  details of many of them can be found on the <a href="https://www.lib.umn.edu/scrbm/holmes" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes portion of the Special Collections and Rare Books web site</a>.   These undertakings often resulted in attractive publications, a selection of which are available as PDFs on the web site.  All this first created and then sustained the critical mass necessary to attract still more important materials and additional support for the collections. <br />
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"sparking plug" [LAST]</h3>
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Austin preferred to keep himself in the background during much of this but it is fair to say that<br />
most of what happened to make Minnesota such an important Sherlock Holmes center would have been impossible without his drive and devotion. Virtually every Holmes-related project undertook by the Libraries benefited from his involvement.  All this happened while he oversaw the acquisition and development of many other important collections in different areas, again insuring the University of Minnesota would be an essential stopping ground for many scholarly endeavors.  This fine work is now ably carried on by Tim Johnson and many other talented library employees and local enthusiasts.  <br />
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Austin was invested in the Baker Street Irregulars in 1990 as "The London Library," a suitable acknowledgement of his many contribution towards keeping the memory green, even if most still were not aware of their number and importance.  Again like Holmes, Austin would no doubt proclaim, "I do not think I am in need of booming."</div>
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But even Sherlock Holmes was wrong on occasion.<br />
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<b>Editor's note:</b> <i>Special thanks to Andrew Malec, BSI ("The Strange Old Book Collector") for writing this up, and to Cheryll Fong and Tim Johnson from the Special Collections and Rare Books section of the University of Minnesota Libraries. Tim was our guest on <a href="http://ihose.co/ihose67" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">IHOSE Episode 67</a>.</i></div>
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Remembering Austin McLean, BSI

"a library where Sherlock Holmes was pursuing some laborious researches" [3STU] Austin McLean, BSI ("The London Library...

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by Francine Kitts

Conan Doyle Sues Own Estate from Beyond the Grave

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"opening a grave without the consent of the next-of-kin" [HOUN]</h4>
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Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes, has sued the Conan Doyle Estate, according to a lawsuit filed late yesterday in Tweenhauken, Pennsylvania.<br />
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Karl Planchette, owner of Planchette's Paranormal Parlor, says a Ouija board manufactured in 1890 had been vibrating mysteriously.<br />
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"I usually have the TV on, and this one board often hops around a little during the news. Last week there was a report about <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/search/label/Mr%20Holmes" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">some movie</a>, and it started to bounce around like crazy.  So I wrote down the letters and I was real surprised when I read it back and saw it was a lawsuit.  So I took it over to the courthouse," said Planchette.<br />
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According to Planchette, the complaint points to "statements harming the reputation of Arthur Conan Doyle as an individual deceased person and subjecting the character of Sherlock Holmes to groundless criticism."<br />
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Ouja board, long associated with paranormal beliefs, dictates complaints one letter at a time</h3>
"He was pretty steamed up for sure. It took almost two hours to write it all down. He wants them to sneeze and desist, but I’m pretty sure the sneeze part is a typo," said Planchette.<br />
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Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes, Professor Challenger, and author of  <i>The Lost World</i>, died in 1930 after a long career as a doctor, soldier, statesman and writer.  "He also wanted to know why no one is interested in <i>Sir Nigel</i>, whatever that is,” said Planchette.<br />
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More details of this astonishing story as it develops <a href="https://burtwolder.wordpress.com/2015/07/27/if-true-astonishing-news/" target="_blank">can be found here</a>.<br />
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Conan Doyle Sues Own Estate from Beyond the Grave

"opening a grave without the consent of the next-of-kin" [HOUN] Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes, has s...

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by Third Pillar

The Horror of Holmes: An Interview with Author William Meikle

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"when this horror occurred"[VEIL]</h4>
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Over the last 100 years, as pastiches have grown ever more popular, we have seen the blending of different literary genres with Sherlock Holmes.  There are romances (the <a href="http://amzn.to/1MFYnAc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mary Russell novels</a>), science fiction tales (<i><a href="http://amzn.to/1JFdfzG" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes Through Time and Space</a></i>), mash ups with Dracula (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Further-Adventures-Sherlock-Holmes-Dracula/dp/1781161429/">Sherlock Holmes vs. Dracula</a>), Dr. Moreau (<i><a href="http://amzn.to/1MFYtaZ" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes and the House of Pain</a></i>), and even Jane Austen (<i><a href="http://amzn.to/1JFei2P" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">My Particular Friend</a></i>).  What is probably the most popular genre, though, is combining Holmes and horror, and one of the best authors in this genre is William Meikle.  We had a chance to interview Mr. Meikle via email about his Holmes stories, his horror fiction, and a new <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/285514212/my-peculiar-family-an-anthology?ref=video">Kickstarter</a> anthology project he's currently involved in.<br />
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I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere:  In "The Sussex Vampire," Holmes states "No ghosts need apply," yet most of your Sherlock Holmes stories blend elements of horror in with the traditional pastiche. What made you decide to have the consulting detective take on unspeakable terrors?</h4>
<b>William Meikle:</b> Initially at least, we have EDGE Publishing and Charles Prepolec to thank - I saw a story submission call for their <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1U7BBSo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gaslight Grotesque</a></i> anthology back in 2009 and sent in a story which I was delighted to have accepted. Then <a href="http://lovecraftzine.com/" target="_blank">The Lovecraft Ezine</a> put out a call for Lovecraftian Holmes mash-ups, and I had a story accepted for that too. Once <a href="http://darkregions.com/" target="_blank">Dark Regions Press</a> expressed an interest in more, I was on my way. <br />
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As you can probably tell if you've read any, I'm happy to play fast and loose with the Canon, although apart from the introduction of the supernatural, I like to stay as close as I can to the original concepts of the characters. A bit of leeway-but not too much. But ghosts, monsters, supernatural terror, and unspeakable things from beyond is what I'm all about as a writer, and throwing them at Holmes and Watson just seemed like a natural thing to do for me.<br />
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It doesn't stop me from getting some blisteringly bad reviews and name calling from purists, but I suppose that's the price I pay for taking what few liberties that I have.<br />
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But they're my stories, and I'm very proud of them, and of getting a small place in the ranks of Sherlockiana. Plus having a still growing set of gorgeous limited edition hardcovers of my tributes to the great fellow Scotsman on my shelves makes me very happy.<br />
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<b>IHOSE: You have written pastiches not just of Holmes but also of Doyle's Professor Challenger.  What is it about Doyle's characters which draws you to writing new adventures with them?</b></h4>
<b>WM:</b> I grew up with Doyle, Wells, Verne, and Stevenson, and even now I still go back and reread them all. It's the characters more than anything - Holmes especially is still recognizable worldwide all these decades later. Not many writers have captured the public imagination like that.<br />
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There's also the nostalgia factor - I've also written numerous <a href="http://www.williammeikle.com/whycarnacki2.html">Carnacki</a> stories, and I've got a hankering to try a Victorian alien invasion story soon too. It's just the way my brain is wired I guess.<br />
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Plus, as a writer, having a pre-built framework to hang stories on gives you a way in to stories without having to worry about some of the technical aspects, so that's attractive too. </div>
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<b>IHOSE:  You were born in Scotland and now reside in Canada.  How do your different locales impact your writing?</b></h4>
<b>WM:</b> Locale is always a big thing for me - a lot of my work is set in Scotland, and much of my newer stuff is now happening in Canada. Both have been rural environments in the main apart from a spell in Edinburgh. I now live on a remote shoreline up on the East Coast of Newfoundland with whales, icebergs and bald eagles for company, and a strange sense of isolation has crept into a lot of my recent work.<br />
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But I still go back to London for the Holmes and Carnacki tales. It helps that I spent ten years in the Old Lady back in the '80s so as a locale the old buildings, streets and parks are all still vivid in my mind. I find I need that kind of visual connection somewhere to get me into the stories in the first place.<br />
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<b>IHOSE:  You have a story in a new anthology which is currently part of a Kickstarter campaign.  Tell us a little bit about the story and the anthology.</b></h4>
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<b>WM:</b> The anthology is <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/285514212/my-peculiar-family-an-anthology?ref=video"><i>My Peculiar Family</i></a> and features original never before seen stories by: Christopher Golden and James A. Moore, Stacey Longo, Jason J. Mooers, Robert Mayette,William Meikle, F. Allen Farnham, Samantha Boyette, David Schechter, Rob Watts, Kristi McDowell, Karen Gosselin, George O'Conner, Derrick Belanger, Bracken MacLeod, John Pallisano and Tracy Hickman, with original artwork by Peter  Vinton, Jr. and Sara Richard.<br />
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The individual stories are based entirely on a package each author was given containing a tintype, a name and an occupation/fact about a family member whose picture was found in a box, and had to tell that person's story. <br />
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My story "The Luck of Walter Dimsdale" is about a 19th century steamboat gambler who hits an extraordinary run of luck after meeting a strange woman. But good luck can turn to bad luck on one roll of the dice, and Walter finds that out all too quickly. <br />
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Hopefully the kickstarter will succeed as, given the names involved, there's some great writing in the pipeline. Anyone interested can see the campaign <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/285514212/my-peculiar-family-an-anthology?ref=video">here</a>.<br />
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<b>IHOSE: The question we ask all Sherlockians.  If you were stranded on a desert island and could only have one Sherlock Holmes story, which would it be and why?</b></h4>
<b>WM:</b> It would have to be <i>The Hound of the Baskervilles</i>. It's been among my favorite things for well over 40 years now and stands up to numerous reads. It can't be matched for characterization and atmosphere and although the Hound is explained away, it is the closest thing in the canon to my own stories.<br />
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Plus, it's longer than the short story canon tales, so would keep me occupied for longer in my hammock, and would have more useful sheets of toilet paper. <br />
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<b>IHOSE:  What are your current projects?</b></h4>
<b>WM:</b> I've got a short supernatural Holmes novel, <i>The Dreaming Man</i>, coming next year from Dark Renaissance - once again with great illustrations by Wayne Miller, and once again something that will really annoy the purists. I think that'll be me finished with Doyle pastiches for a while - I'll have The Quality of Mercy collection, the three London Terrors novellas and this new novel as well as the Challenger collection.<br />
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I intend to do more Carnacki though, as I love them even more than the Holmes and Challenger worlds, and I want to do a 3rd collection at some point soon.<br />
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Apart from that, I've got a supernatural Ripper story coming in <a href="http://amzn.to/1NCVIIi" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>The Mammoth Book of Jack the Ripper Stories</i></a>, several secret projects in the pipeline at Dark Renaissance, and 2 novels still to write in my current contract with DarkFuse. <br />
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Busy, busy, busy - the way I like it.<br />
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<b>IHOSE:  Any last thoughts?</b></h4>
Anyone interested in my Sherlockiana can find the list of my publications <a href="http://www.williammeikle.com/Sherlockandme.html" target="_blank">on my site here</a>.<br />
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Also, <a href="http://darkrenaissance.com/product/sherlock-holmes-special-offer" target="_blank">Dark Renaissance is running a deal through August</a>: For $25 you can you get both my Sherlock Holmes books The London Terrors trio of novellas and <i>The Quality of Mercy</i> short story collection - nice signed limited edition paperbacks, illustrated by Wayne Miller - and free shipping if you're in the US.<br />
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<b>William Meikle</b> is a Scottish writer, now living in Canada, with twenty novels published in the genre press and over 300 short story credits in thirteen countries. <br />
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He has books available from a variety of publishers including Dark Regions Press, DarkFuse and Dark Renaissance, and his work has appeared in a number of professional anthologies and magazines with recent sales to NATURE Futures, Penumbra and Buzzy Mag among others. <br />
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His recent novel <i>The Hole</i> reached #3 in the Amazon Horror charts and looks to be well on the way to being another big success story. <br />
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Learn more about the author <a href="http://www.williammeikle.com/index.htm">here</a>.<br />
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