The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

[Monique, Founder and Advisor. Sherlockian, with a tint of diagnostician.]

Margie wrote: "Music to my ears!
We were so fortunate to have the cover design donated by a brilliant Sherlockian graphic artist in Australia. It is so unusual, like the book. :)"

That must be very nice. Will get my hands on one of these in the future!

[Monique, Founder and Advisor. Sherlockian, with a tint of diagnostician.]

Margie wrote: "Ok, only 21 days left to get through TWIS, and then on to BLUE for the day after Christmas, when, like, Watson, we can call upon our friend 'upon the second morning after Christmas, with the intent..."

Yahoo! Almost there! TWIS is wonderful. Just proves how ingenious ACD was... a beggar quoting Shakespeare, brilliant scheme!

[Barbara]

In the story, St. Clair was a journalist who was assigned a story on beggars which gave him the idea to try begging when he needed money. From the mid 1800s on, undercover journalism began to take off, and Conan Doyle might have been influenced by one of the most famous ones, James Greenwood who became famous when he dressed up as a tramp and got admitted to a London workhouse and then wrote the article "A Night in the Workhouse" which started off a lot of exposes about London's poor. Greenwood did a lot of other undercover stories and was known for his skill at disguise.

[Monique, Founder and Advisor. Sherlockian, with a tint of diagnostician.]

Barbara, that's very interesting!

I really can't decide if St. Clair was doing a wrong. The only he "crime" committed was not doing justice to his family, scaring his wife like that too.

[Barbara]

One thing that puzzled a lot of Sherlockians is why Holmes stays overnight at St. Clair's house, miles away from the action. If St. Clair was spotted in the city, and Holmes hangs around the opium dens in the city, why does he stay "three English counties" away? He tells Watson there are inquiries he can only conduct in the vicinity of St. Clair's home, but what are they exactly?

[Monique, Founder and Advisor. Sherlockian, with a tint of diagnostician.]

Margie wrote: "I don't know exactly. I read some of the commentaries but they mostly annoyed me. It was all about him having designs on St. Clair's wife, or her having designs on him. *major eye roll*

Since Wats..."

I think Holmes did think that he could find some clues at St. Clair's home. I might have done the same if I were a sleuth (or I'm probably just saying this because, I don't know). Maybe he wanted to personally tell the wife of his unsuccessfulness? Will have to reread...

[Barbara]

I think St. Clair is lucky he was able to keep it quiet. When he was asked if he was ever prosecuted he says something like, "What was a fine to me?" but under the vagrancy acts, he could have gotten up to a month at hard labor, and it would be harder for that sentence to be kept quiet.

[Monique, Founder and Advisor. Sherlockian, with a tint of diagnostician.]

Barbara wrote: "I think St. Clair is lucky he was able to keep it quiet. When he was asked if he was ever prosecuted he says something like, "What was a fine to me?" but under the vagrancy acts, he could have gott..."

Interesting! I was wondering about his punishment.

[Monique, Founder and Advisor. Sherlockian, with a tint of diagnostician.]

Margie wrote: "Poor Watson---this case begins when he is just newly returned from work and thinking about yawning, and he finally gets to sleep in the country and is awakened at 4:25AM. Bradstreet must start work..."

For the sake of the family, I would agree with Holmes. But in truthful reality it may have never been kept quiet, considering the sentence Ms Barbara mentioned. But Holmes did a good. I think it's up to St. Clair to explain his mess 😁

[Monique, Founder and Advisor. Sherlockian, with a tint of diagnostician.]

"Note the telephone on the wall. Things are changing in London."
That's very nice that we get to read about the developments throughout! Subtle details.

[Monique, Founder and Advisor. Sherlockian, with a tint of diagnostician.]

Merry Christmas!

Today I'll be rewatching the Granada episode. On of my favorite parts is when Watson finds Holmes on the couch observing the hat... oh excuse me.. you are engaged...

[Monique, Founder and Advisor. Sherlockian, with a tint of diagnostician.]

Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with astonishment.

“The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!” he gasped.

“Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off through the kitchen window?” Holmes twisted himself round upon the sofa to get a fairer view of the man’s excited face.

Had the goose really come back to life, that would really be something to imagine.

[Monique, Founder and Advisor. Sherlockian, with a tint of diagnostician.]

I should like to visit this Brixton Road. How many times was it mentioned in the Canon? 😅

[Monique, Founder and Advisor. Sherlockian, with a tint of diagnostician.]

Margie wrote: "Brixton Road by name, 24 times, STUD (13), BLUE (9),LADY (1), SIXN (1); several more times with Brixton only without being followed by Road.

This is the first Christmas in many years I have not wa..."

Jeez, Brixton Road made more cameos than Lestrade, am I right? 😁

I know how that is, watching something so much you can nearly quote it!
That scene is a classic for sure. Burke just says it so perfectly.
I also like this part:

“Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been making inquiries,” said Holmes carelessly. “If you won’t tell us the bet is off, that is all. But I’m always ready to back my opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the bird I ate is country bred.”

“Well, then, you’ve lost your fiver, for it’s town bred,” snapped the salesman.

“It’s nothing of the kind.”

“I say it is.”

“I don’t believe it.”

“D’you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that went to the Alpha were town bred.”

“You’ll never persuade me to believe that.”

“Will you bet, then?”

“It’s merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But I’ll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be obstinate.”

The salesman chuckled grimly. “Bring me the books, Bill,” said he.
...
Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless fashion which was peculiar to him.

So well played, Holmes! I like in the episode how the salesman asks, before they walk off, "what about this man's fiver?"
Then Watson gives Holmes his money back.

[Barbara]

This might be my favorite of the Granada episodes ,and its hard for me to pick out a favorite scene - a couple little moments I like:
They way Holmes - a tobacco addict (as was JB apparently) reaches for a cigarette from bed, and then can't find matches and hurries into the sitting room poking around the mantle.
The whole scene with Henry Baker - the actor is so sweet and sad.
When Holmes and Watson leave the tavern, the landlord goes to help up a poor woman on the sidewalk and brings her inside to get warm.
The market scene and the "bet"
When they finally sit down to dinner, and Watson says they have to help out the plumber who is still in jail, Holmes takes one more peek under the plate cover before they go.

[Barbara]

I recently read a very good short story in one of the MX Publishing Sherlock Holmes anthologies. Not really a sequel, but it brings back Peterson and mentions that Holmes saw to it Peterson got the reward.
It irks me too when people think Holmes kept the stone. We should know he would never do that.

[Monique, Founder and Advisor. Sherlockian, with a tint of diagnostician.]

Barbara wrote: "I recently read a very good short story in one of the MX Publishing Sherlock Holmes anthologies. Not really a sequel, but it brings back Peterson and mentions that Holmes saw to it Peterson got the..."

Agreed, Holmes would not keep the stone, and I should think the same for SIXN.

[Monique, Founder and Advisor. Sherlockian, with a tint of diagnostician.]

I wrote a little something for the new year, regarding our continuation of the readings. 😀

https://baskervillepups.com/2022/01/0...

[Monique, Founder and Advisor. Sherlockian, with a tint of diagnostician.]

Margie wrote: "Very nice!

I'm not sure I can get to your form this week but will soon.

Thanks for all your hard work."

Ah, splendid! I do look forward to featuring you on our page, Ms Margie!

does a curtsy 🥰

[Monique, Founder and Advisor. Sherlockian, with a tint of diagnostician.]

Margie wrote: "And on we go to The Speckled Band. IMHO, this is one of the very best short stories in the Doyle canon, despite the little things like snakes don't drink milk. Oh, well: this villain is evil, Holme..."

Goodness, SPEC is another spectacular favorite of mine! You're very right about that snake drinking milk myth; I think the Hindus offer milk to snakes, so that could have stemmed from there.

Anywho, that stepfather of Ms Stoner was a selfish and terrible man.

This is one of my favorite parts, when Watson tries to apply Holmes' methods: https://youtu.be/2mwR2y966D0?t=1894

[Monique, Founder and Advisor. Sherlockian, with a tint of diagnostician.]

Margie wrote: "Might note here that SPEC was ACD's favorite of the short stories. From his response to The Strand contest in 1927,
his list---
1. The Speckled Band
2. The Red-Headed League
3. The Dancing Men
4. ..."

Funny, I was just going through this list, trying to look for the most underrated Sherlock Holmes stories.

[Monique, Founder and Advisor. Sherlockian, with a tint of diagnostician.]

Hi Ms Margie,

Hope you have a good one. Au revoir! (I'm caught up applying to college, so I'll on here and there. See ya!)

Best,
MB

[Barbara]

Margie wrote: "Might note here that SPEC was ACD's favorite of the short stories. From his response to The Strand contest in 1927,
his list---
1. The Speckled Band
2. The Red-Headed League
3. The Dancing Men

I have to say, I am surprised to see The Five Orange Pips on their, because it isn't much of a story. Holmes listens to the guy, sends him off, he's killed - Holmes is pretty much a lazy failure in this story. For stories involving Americans where Holmes comes to the wrong conclusion, I prefer "The Yellow Face" which I think has a great ending. I was always sorry they never got around to doing it in the Granada series.

[Ellie]

YELL contains one of my favorite comments from Watson. They are all waiting – 10 long minutes! – to hear Grant Monroe’s response to Effie’s confession. Watson says “when his answer came it was one of which I love to think.” That’s the essence of Watson: he sees Grant’s benevolent nature and rejoices in the happiness the family will have as a result.

[Barbara]

I agree with both above comments. Conan Doyle's depiction of Americans often comes off as crude and one dimensional, even in trying to reproduce the way they talk, their slang, etc Especially when he deals with the American west, since he probably got most of his information about that from "yellow back" novels.
But I love the end of The Yellow Face. When Grant Munro says he's not a good man but a better man than his wife had thought and picks up the little girl to take his wife and daughter home - one of my favorite endings.

[Barbara]

Actually, interracial marriages were banned the US until the mid 20th century. There was a case brought to the Supreme Court in the 1880s that upheld Alabama's statute against interracial marriage saying it didn't violate the constitution.
The case that turned things around was in the late 1960s - a white man and black woman married in DC and were arrested when they returned to their home in Virginia - the case went to the Supreme Court. Ironically - their name was "Loving".

[Ellie]

I love discussing Sherlock Holmes stories with my kids. They get to the heart of the matter. I described YELL to my son and he said “That guy got the n-word pass for life.”

[Ellie]

Lol, my kids are young adults so I don’t so much read the stories to them as slip in plot points and quotes during daily conversations. Sometimes they indulge me by watching Granada episodes with me, while throwing in their own modern interpretations. Brunton is trying to get Rachel to help him in MUSG.
Rachel: Your promises, oh Richard, you make them so freely
son: oh richard you’re so full of sh*t

[The Baskerville, A lady of mystery.]

What-ho!

Seems like I missed out on some fine topics of interest. Recently I had a go at this blog post on the Canon stories ranked:
https://bookriot.com/sherlock-holmes-...

You ladies have probably read this one before. Concerning racism, sexism, and other biases that were probably used, I can't stick up for the historical backgrounds of the stories. I say it's a ripping way to analyze society during those times, though.
My opinion here, but I'm thankful Granada didn't do YELL. Had there been an episode, it might have come across oddly, regardless of no ill intentions.

Jolly good of you to share Sherlockiana with your kiddos, Ms Ellie. Precisely why I started this forum, initially. It's difficult to find youths into the Canon these days, save the BBC Sherlock fans… or perhaps it's just on my side.
Ms Barbara, thank you for sharing that piece on the Loving V. Virginia case. It reminds me that I have to brush up on the good old History II; it also reminds me that Texan students like myself might be limited to lessons addressing racism and sexism. 😖
Reading these works is a great way for this generation to understand how far we have come in equality. I’m always grateful that I wasn’t born back in those repressive times. ACD made a good attempt at being inclusive in YELL.

[The Baskerville, A lady of mystery.]

Ellie wrote: "Lol, my kids are young adults so I don’t so much read the stories to them as slip in plot points and quotes during daily conversations. Sometimes they indulge me by watching Granada episodes with m..."

This sounds a lot like me and my fam watching the episodes. It's a Sunday tradition here.

[The Baskerville, A lady of mystery.]

Margie wrote: "To close out SPEC---

1-- Do you think it is odd that Roylott died so quickly from the snake, but Julia lived long enough to seek help and mention the speckled band. Perhaps the timing is about the..."

Hmm, Ms Margie, good question. Considering the time they took to reach to Dr Roylott, I suppose he died in the same amount of time. What species is the swamp adder? It's not a common krait because the death time is within half a day, I think... and it's definitely not a cobra...

[Ellie]

When I first read ENGR, my main objection to it was how unlikely it would be that Colonel Stark could chop off Mr. Hatherley's thumb as he was hanging from the window sill. Hatherley would be holding onto the window with his fingers above and his thumbs on the side of or below the sill, and so should more probably have multiple fingers chopped off. But that is the kind of detail that nerdy children tend to get caught up with.
My current approach to Sherlock Holmes is that every story has its outstanding qualities. ENGR has given us the classic —somewhat stomach churning — mental image of Holmes' before-breakfast pipe filled with the plugs and dottles of the previous day's smokes; and a protagonist who, despite being in grave danger, stopped to consider whether the woman helping him needed his help in return. I always had a soft spot for Mr. Hatherley because of this.

[Barbara]

The Noble Bachelor is a story that is sort of "ripped from the headlines" as Law and Order used to say. Back in Doyle's day - from around the middle 1800s into the early 20th century - there were a batch of marriages between British titled men and American heiresses. In America, men were making fortunes in gold, publishing, railroads so their daughters had huge dowries. The daughters would be brought to England to be paired off with titles, because a title was the only thing they didn't have.
For the men, the money helped prop up very expensive inherited estates, and especially for someone like St. Simon who was said to be a second son, it meant he could continue to live in the style he was used to.
There was a book that documented these marriages - I will have to look up the title. Something like Marrying an English Lord.
BTW. regarding that second son thing - one of the MX anthologies had a story, The Return of the Noble Bachelor, St. Simon comes back for Holmes help about 10 years after the original story. Very touching.

[Barbara]

The St. Simon/Flora plot was also "ripped from the headlines." When English lords weren't marrying American heiresses, they were marrying dance hall girls. There was a Belle Bilton who married the son of an earl, Dolly Tester, former barmaid and dance hall girl who married a marquis and there was a stage performer who married a Duke of Saxe Meinigen - wonder if he was related to the fiancee of the King of Bohemia!

[The Baskerville, A lady of mystery.]

Ellie wrote: "When I first read ENGR, my main objection to it was how unlikely it would be that Colonel Stark could chop off Mr. Hatherley's thumb as he was hanging from the window sill. Hatherley would be holdi..."
Now I really do find it unrealistic... I doubt someone is that skilled to chop off one thumb, which would be among four fingers. Some more fingers have to get the blunt of the chop as well. And yes, exactly: the thumbs would be on the side or below the sill.
Doyle should have paid more attention to people hanging out of windows, hehe. 😅

[The Baskerville, A lady of mystery.]

Barbara wrote: "The St. Simon/Flora plot was also "ripped from the headlines." When English lords weren't marrying American heiresses, they were marrying dance hall girls. There was a Belle Bilton who married the ..."

This sounds like the King of Bohemia!

[The Baskerville, A lady of mystery.]

Margie wrote: "To end ENGR, I found a funny note about Holmes's statement that our thumb-less engineer would be good company forever by repeating the story of his adventure: "On the contrary, if he really chose t..."
Good lord 😂; I suppose he can entertain the folks who haven't heard the story before.

"Yes, yes, we know... you were hanging out of a window and..."

[The Baskerville, A lady of mystery.]

LOL, there's a Sherlockian Myth Busters on YouTube. They were investigating the whole thumb scenario.

[Monique, Founder and Advisor. Sherlockian, with a tint of diagnostician.]

I wrote a little something yesterday. Happy Valentine's!

https://baskervillepups.com/2022/02/1...

[The Baskerville, A lady of mystery.]

Margie wrote: "Very nice blog post. You do good work!"

Thank you! Glad you enjoy it! 😊

[The Baskerville, A lady of mystery.]

Margie wrote: "Holmes notes that his reference book indicates Robert St. Simon has Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on the distaff side. Despite the storied history of the Plantagenet line and the s..."


No worries at all, I love the history of the Royals. It's something I always wanted to understand. Now, had you not mentioned the Plantagenet family, I would have started talking about Swiss watches. 😁

[Barbara]

The Baskerville wrote: "Barbara wrote: "The St. Simon/Flora plot was also "ripped from the headlines." When English lords weren't marrying American heiresses, they were marrying dance hall girls. There was a Belle Bilton ..."

This sounds like the King of Bohemia!

Also like Edward VII, Victoria's oldest son. He was a notorious womanizer who had affairs with Lilly Langtry, Sarah Bernhardt and a woman who may have been the real Irene Adler, a woman named Hortense Schneider, the most famous soprano of her day and a talented actress.

[The Baskerville, A lady of mystery.]

Margie wrote: "And, then, we need to figure out why Lestrade is wearing a naval looking outfit. Seems bizarre!

I can't remember if Granada put Colin Jeavons in that outfit for the film. I certainly can't picture..."

Nope, can't remember Colin Jeavons in any other suit than his usuals. Would have been interesting to see!

[The Baskerville, A lady of mystery.]

Margie wrote: "The 'quite epicurean little cold supper' was delivered to Baker Street: brace of cold woodcock, a pheasant, a pate de foie gras pie with a group of 'ancient and cobwebby bottles.' I'm afraid I woul..."
How about the pate de foie gras pie? Any of that in the test kitchen? Liver pies sound.... delicious? 😁

[Barbara]

Woodcock is also mentioned in "The Blue Carbuncle" - Holmes tells Watson that there is woodcock for dinner and under the circumstances maybe he should have Mrs. Hudson check its crop.
There was a "Sherlock Holmes Cookbook" published in the mid-70s with recipes from the stories. I think there have been a couple other versions of a canonical cookbook since.

[Barbara]

Wondering if St. Simon was deprived of the fortune? Holmes says early on that since the marriage is fait accompli, the dowry goes to the husband.
Of course, Hatty produces Frank, she says of their marriage that since her father objected "we just fixed it all up for ourselves." Does she imply that there was some irregularity in the marriage, or maybe it wasn't a legal union? If that's the case, then her marriage to St. Simon would be "fait accompli" and he might get the cash.
Unless that "little secret of his own before marriage" was the fact that St. Simon went through a marriage ceremony with Flora.

[Barbara]

I think Holmes would have known, too. After all, in MUSG, he looked at the blackened metal and "lusterless" stones and recognized it to be the crown of the kings of England.

[Barbara]

I wonder if poor seduced Mary would have wound up like Kitty Winter in The Illustrious Client.

[Ellie]

Holmes’ final comments really show how inaccurate is the misrepresentation of him as misogynistic and without feelings. Instead of judging Mary as evil or immoral, he sounds regretful at the fate that probably awaits her: “whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than sufficient punishment.”