Sherlock Holmes: Trifles

Clients in Jeopardy

“the victim of an unfortunate accident” [FIVE] For our "Mr. Sherlock Holmes the theorist" episode, we take a step back into 1947 to "Clients in Jeopardy" by Henry C. Clark, appearing in The Second Cab . There were at least four instances in which Sherlock Holmes knew his clients were in danger, yet he sent them on their way. In which stories do we find these people, and are there others? It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock....

Langurtin

“the wondrous strength-giving serum” [CREE] For our 300th episode, we thought we'd do something just a Trifle different. Following the theme of our previous episode, we're focused again on "The Adventure of the Creeping Man." This time, however, we turn to a satirical piece that appeared in The Baker Street Journal : a piece in the style of a pharmaceutical ad for the wonder drug known as "Langurtin." It appeared in the Autumn 1997 issue (Vol. 47 No. 3) and was created by Jeff and Wanda Dow. It'...

Masters Class: Lowenstein of Prague

“an obscure scientist who was striving in some unknown way” [CREE] In this month's Masters Class, we turn to a Morley-Montgomery Award-winning article from The Baker Street Journal in 1973: "Lowenstein of Prague" by Jan C. Prager and Albert Silverstein. In "The Creeping Man," a certain H. Lowenstein is reviled for supplying Professor Presbury with an experimental substance. Who was Lowenstein, in actuality? And was he truly the culprit in the matter? It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion ...

The British Monarchy

“a regal and stately lady in Court dress” [CHAS] With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, we find ourselves in a similar place as Sherlock Holmes did in 1901 with the passing of Queen Victoria: at the end of an age. What a perfect opportunity then, to reflect on the thirteen British monarchs who appeared in the Sherlock Holmes stories. Who were they? We found thirteen — some were obvious and others were a little tricky to find. Thanks to the help of Chris Redmond, it's just a Trifle. If you have ...

The Arcadia Mixture

“You still smoke the Arcadia mixture of your bachelor days then!” [CROO] When Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson first met, Watson noted he was not averse to strong tobacco and that he usually smoked what he called "ship's" himself. But later, Holmes finds him smoking the "Arcadia mixture" from his bachelor days. Why the switch? And what was it? Robert F. Cairo, Jr. identified the Arcadia mixture in a piece in The Baker Street Journal from 2000. And it's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a...

The Metaphysical Holmes

“I caught a glimpse of a great heart” [3GAB] Without a question, Sherlock Holmes was a master of his craft. When we look at his motivations for pursuing his career—at least on the surface—he seems like he's all business. And yet, we have glimpses of Holmes over the course of his career when he waxes a bit more philosophical. David Stuart Davies' column "A Great Heart" in the latest issue of Sherlock Holmes Magazine got us thinking about it. And it's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a ...

The Best Sherlock Holmes Stories

“the finest assorted collection” [STUD] For nearly a century, there has been a general concordance on which Sherlock Holmes stories are best. It was a tradition started by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the Strand Magazine, no less. Over the years, there have been minor quibbles, but one story has remained at the top of the list. How did these rankings come about and what do they say about successive generations? It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trif...

James Watson, M.D.

“he was trying to hide his own identity” [RESI] Over the years, there have been numerous theories about how Watson (or Mrs. Watson, rather) got his name wrong, substituting “James” for “John.” We covered some of them in Episode 7 . But this is a Masters Class episode in which we pick a masterful piece of Sherlockian scholarship and discuss it. In this case, it's one that may get to the bottom of this issue once and for all: Thomas Cynkin's article “James Watson, M.D.” appeared in Vol. 51, No. 4 ...

Carina

“Carina sings tonight at Royal Albert Hall” [RETI] We revisit our previous episodes about music, with a singular investigation: Carina. Mentioned in the last Sherlock Holmes story to be published, Carina sang at Royal Albert Hall. What do we know about the venue? More importantly, just who was Carina? One investigation into her identity caught our attention, and it's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea ...

His Last Bow — Wow!

“the judgment which we have pronounced” [ABBE] You say bow, I say bow. Potato, potato, tomato, tomato, let's call the whole thing off. Of course, that song never made sense in print, just like Lord Donegall's assertion that there are alternative pronunciations to "His Last Bow." We take a look at an old piece of scholarship about this story. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll sen...

The Four Violets

“stained with violet” [IDEN] It should come as no surprise that the most common name of female leads in the Sherlock Holmes stories was Violet. We meet four of them in as many stories: "The Copper Beeches," "The Solitary Cyclist," "The Bruce-Partington Plans," and "The Illustrious Client." But what do Misses Hunter, Smith, Westbury and de Merville have in common? And how was it that Conan Doyle was influenced to use this particular name? It's just a Trifle. This topic was suggested by listener T...

The Dynamics of an Asteroid

“man in the scientific press capable of criticizing it” [VALL] Every month, we feature an episode called "Masters Class" that looks at an exemplary piece of Sherlockian scholarship that stands out for its workmanship. This time, we look at Isaac Asimov's essay "The Dynamics of an Asteroid," published in Baker Street and Beyond . He looks at the prevailing scientific knowledge of the time and ponders just what Moriarty was suggesting in his treatise. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion f...

A Study in Speech

“a curious lisp in her utterance” [HOUN] In the canon of Sherlock Holmes stories, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle gave us settings and characters that spring to life in our minds. His vivid descriptions help us to visualize the places and people that Holmes encounters. However, there's one subtle example that might go unnoticed by the untrained eye. Listener Anna Brindisi-Behrens, a speech pathologist by trade, brought it to our attention. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episod...

A Note on The Priory School

“one might think that you were afraid of our finding something out” [PRIO] The first week of the month means it's time for another round of Mr. Sherlock Holmes the Theorist, in which we take a look at a piece of old Sherlockian scholarship and discuss it anew. In this case, it's Trevor Hall's essay "A Note on The Priory School" from his book Sherlock Holmes: Ten Literary Studies . Hall manages to find a clue buried later in "The Blanched Soldier" and traces it back to "The Priory School." What h...

Sherlock Holmes and Advertising

“run down to the advertising agency and have this put in the evening papers” [BLUE] We know Sherlock Holmes valued the agony column; we discussed that previously on Episode 50. Looking back at a paper by an advertising executive from the mid-20th century — a real-life Mad Man — we find the makings of an expert copywriter and marketer. We even identify a media buyer. All of this and more, related to advertising in the Canon. It's just a Trifle. Links / Notes This episode: ihose.co/trifles287 The ...

Strange Business

“the rest of that strange company” [DANC] Men and women from professions of all kinds consulted Sherlock Holmes. And throughout the Canon we're introduced to a number of companies, either by name or type of business. But some of them stand out because of their unusual categories. Strange company, indeed. It's just a Trifle. Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles286 Thank you to our sponsor, the BSI Press. Please support Trifles on Patreon: https://patreon.com/trifles...

Watson's Hidden Addiction

"much addicted" [TWIS] This month's Masters Class brings us back to a Morley-Montgomery Award -winning article from The Baker Street Journal . Susan Rice wrote "Watson's Hidden Addiction" for Vol. 47, No. 2 (June 1997) of the BSJ , and it concerned a significant flaw in Watson's character. Perhaps "flaw" is not the right word — let's call it a weakness. She even found a syndrome that would explain it. It's just a Trifle. Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles285 Thank you to our sponsor, The ...

Witchcraft in Baker Street

“What's this, Mr. Holmes? Man, it's witchcraft!” [VALL] Continuing on our supernatural theme, we land on witchcraft. And not just any witchcraft, either. This was a spell cast at Baker Street. Our monthly "Mr. Sherlock Holmes the theorist" theme lands on Frank Allen's "Witchcraft in Baker Street" from the anthology Beyond Baker Street , and it looks at how some of the people we meet in "Charles Augustus Milverton" were bothered, bewitched, and bewildered. It's just a Trifle. Full show notes: htt...

Hocus Pocus

"some hocus-pocus" [SIGN] The last time we were together, we examined Sherlock Holmes's Tours de Force (Episode 282), in which we discussed a number of ways he wowed people with his unique skills. As we look closer, there are instances when people accuse him of practicing magic, sorcery, or wizardry. What are those examples, and what might have happened to Sherlock Holmes, had he lived in a different era? It's just a Trifle. Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles283 Thank you to our sponsor, ...

Sherlock Holmes's Tours-de-Force

“my poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I am so candid” [REDH] One of the greatest features of the Sherlock Holmes stories is seeing the master ply his trade. That is, watching Holmes when he dazzles Watson (and us!) with his brilliance. In the first two novels plus The Adventures and The Memoirs , we have some delicious examples of Holmes at his finest. It is just a Trifle. And be sure to tune in to hear if you, Patreon supporter, won some back issues of the Baker St...

The Hoof-Marks in "The Priory School"

"a remarkable cow" [PRIO] The third week of the month means it's time for Master's Class: a look at an exemplary piece of Sherlockian scholarship from over the years. In this episode, we turn to an award-winning article in The Baker Street Journal . S. Tupper Bigelow pondered the patterns of hoof-marks as laid out in various editions of the Canon, and won the Morley-Montgomery Award in 1962 for it. It's just a Trifle. Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles281 Thank you to our sponsor, The Bak...

Sherlock Holmes and Shakespeare

"A touch! A distinct touch!" [VALL] Every author owes something to Shakespeare. His inventiveness with language has withstood the test of time, and many of the phrases he originated or popularized are still in use today. We find Shakespeare's words dotted throughout the Sherlock Holmes stories, well beyond the usual quotes. A number of Shakespearean phrases are allusions in the Canon. It's just a Trifle. Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles280 Thank you to our sponsor, The Baker Street Jour...

The Dates in the Red-Headed League

“As to your dates, that is the biggest mystification of all.” [CREE] This is another instance of the new product we're calling "I Can't Believe We Didn't Talk About This Already." An early instance of Sherlockian scholarship and commentary, in 1934 Dorothy L. Sayers wrote "The Dates in the Red-Headed League," picking up where H.W. Bell's 1932 Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson: The Chronology of Their Adventures left off. It's a fine example of using data at hand and being creative, and it's part of...

The Rushed Wedding

“Drive like the devil” [SCAN] Call this the case of the overlooked fact. And one that was staring us in the face, too. It concerns the marriage of Irene Adler and Godfrey Norton in "A Scandal in Bohemia." A listener wrote in and asked us just why Irene Adler had to get married in such a rush. We did a little digging, found some material to discuss, and put our own thoughts into it. It's just a Trifle. We're holding the monthly drawing for our Patreon supporters in this episode. Are you the winne...

The Tree That Wasn't

“There’s not a tree in the park” [EMPT] The third week of the month means it's time for Master's Class: a look at an exemplary piece of Sherlockian scholarship from over the years. In this episode, we look at Nicholas Utechin's masterful piece from the 1972 Baker Street Journal in which he deduced exactly where Colonel Moran was when he shot the Hon. Ronald Adair in "The Empty House." Or was it Moran at all? It's just a Trifle. Don't forget: all of our Patreon supporters are eligible for our mon...

Trees, Part 2: Branching Out

The Problem of the Case-Book

“Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small case-book” [SPEC] The first week of the month means it's a "Mr. Sherlock Holmes the Theorist"-themed episode, featuring an old piece of scholarship that investigates some trifling issue. In this episode, we look at an early piece that Martin Dakin wrote for The Sherlock Holmes Journal , questioning the authenticity of some of the stories in The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes . Which made the passing grade? It's just a Trifle. Don't for...

Trees, Part 1: Over the Oak / Under the Elm

“grazing the top of the oak” [MUSG] I think that I shall never see... a Sherlock Holmes story as lovely as a tree. However, there are plenty of instances of trees in the Canon that make for interesting observation, if only we stop to look at them through the forest. Inspired by one of Don Jewell's books, we spend some time investigating the instances of oaks and elms in the stories (far more than just "The Musgrave Ritual," we assure you) and comment on the state of these trees in Victorian time...

Grief

“a look of grief and despair” [BERY] Let's face it: when clients arrived to consult Sherlock Holmes, they were rarely in positive spirits. Some were confused, others were concerned, and some were just looking for answers. But some were grief-stricken. Or had cases that ended in grief. It's a sad admission of reality, but there is a strain of grief that starts at the beginning of the stories and continues to the final entry. It's just a Trifle. Reminder: in the next episode we'll be holding both ...

In Memoriam: Muzzafar ad-Din

"I want that yellow diamond!” [MAZA] The Masters Class series continues, and this time, Peter Blau instructs us on some finer points of geology and of geopolitical history. "The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone" featured a yellow diamond, and yet, the Crown Jewels don't contain a diamond of that color. So what was the gem and where did it originate? It's just a Trifle. Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles272 Thank you to our sponsor, The Baker Street Journal...