Sherlock Holmes plots trifles

The new year usually brings resolutions and offers a new beginning. In our new podcast which begins in January 2017, we thought it was the ideal time to look at optimism in the Sherlock Holmes stories.  &nbsp;   Was there more hope or despair in the Canon? Certainly, many cases began with despair, but which ones ended in optimism?   &nbsp;   From "The Stockbroker's Clerk" to "The Copper Beeches," we have clients who were optimistically heading into new jobs. But all was not as it seemed... And what ends well for Sherlock Holmes does not always mean the same thing for his clients.   &nbsp;   &nbsp;  Links   Maria Konnikova on Episode 91 of I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere, discussing The Confidence Game. The Sherlock Holmes stories online

Optimism

The opening lines of A Study in Scarlet are rich with details about Dr. Watson's past. His medical degree, his army service, even his injury. He recalls how he came to London without knowing anyone in the city and proceeded to blow through his cash reserves.

Just how far could one get on 11s. 6p. per day in 1881? And how fortunate we are that Watson couldn't keep to his budget. For his cash situation is what required him to find a flatmate...

Music credits:
Performers	Uncredited violinist
	US Marine Chamber Orchestra
Publisher Info.	Washington, DC: United States Marine Band.
Copyright	Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Sherlock Holmes: Trifles

Watson in the City

Dr. Watson tells us that he and Sherlock Holmes visited one London restaurant two times. And while the gustatory habits of the famed Baker Street duo are not entirely well-documented, we have a good sense as to what they must have eaten at the famed Simpson's in-the-Strand.

This is a case of fact meeting fiction, as Simpson's is very much a real establishment in London — one that was recently in danger of losing its identity. We bring you inside this gem that dates from the 1820s as a cigar and chess divan and explore what dining like Sherlock Holmes was like.

Simpson's

Sir Eustace Brackenstall met with a grisly, if appropriate end in "The Abbey Grange." Ultimately, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson let his killer go free. &nbsp; But was Captain Crocker solely responsible for Brackenstall's death? Other individuals were involved with the calm plotting of the aftermath of the death&nbsp;— but whose shoulders bear the ultimate brunt of the guilt in the end? &nbsp; Links &nbsp;  "The Abbey Grange" "The game's afoot" as found in King Henry's speech "Once more unto the breach" in Henry V.  &nbsp;

Guilt in The Abbey Grange

Charles Augustus Milverton was considered by Sherlock Holmes to be "the worst man in London." Watson tried to shield the date of the case — not to protect Milverton, but to protect his victims. And Holmes and Watson went to extraordinary lengths to defeat the odious blackmailer, from burglary to destruction of property, and even a faux engagement by Holmes. While reputation was everything in Victorian times, did the pair go too far? Their willingness to break the law was in service of victims, but what about their own reputations and adherence to the law? Please subscribe to us on iTunes or Google Play, and consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal.  Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band. Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 &nbsp;

Moral Relativism in Charles Augustus Milverton

"a puzzled quarter of an hour" [MISS]  The Sherlock Holmes stories are filled with hints of dates, places and people that cause them to be intertwined with reality. It is therefore natural to think that we can arrive at some certainty as to the date of an adventure when Watson gives us a specific month in which a case begins. It is also wrong to think so. "The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter" is one such example. We're given a February date (hence the release date of this episode) and yet, as we can plainly see, that date is impossible, given other facts. So we follow the path of many Canonical chronologists who attempted to determine the actual date of this adventure, using logic and history as our guide. Were they right? Tune in to find out. &nbsp; Links  "The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter"  An online version of some of the chronologies of the stories  "The Date Being—?"  The Annotated Sherlock Holmes by William S. Baring-Gould  The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes by Leslie S. Klinger The Sherlock Holmes Reference Library: The Return of Sherlock Holmes  &nbsp; Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band. Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 &nbsp;

Dating the Missing Three Quarter

"what's amiss with the names?" [VALL]&nbsp; &nbsp; One of the most puzzling passages in the Sherlock Holmes stories is when Mrs. Watson referred to her husband, the good Doctor, as "James." However, we know that his given name is John. What could be afoot here? Was it a typo? An impostor? A slip of the tongue? We review some of the longstanding theories and even provide a few of our own to see if we might get to the bottom of this mystery. Links  "The Adventure of the Man with the Twisted Lip"  Sherlock Holmes: A Study in Sources by Donald A. Redmond   Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band. Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 &nbsp; &nbsp;

John, James and Mary

"it is a very sweet little problem" [BERY]&nbsp; &nbsp; One of the more comical openings to a story occurred in "The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet," in which the banker Alexander Holder raced his way through to snow to 221B Baker Street, which he followed by beating his head against the wall. You don't get much more dramatic than that. But when it comes to reporting the crime, would the criminal, Holder, or the owner of the beryl coronet have been more at risk if the details came to light? After all, the coronet was a public holding and its absence could have been an embarrassment.  Links  "The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet" Coronet   Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band. Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 &nbsp;

The Wrinkle in The Beryl Coronet

"embrace the true faith" [STUD]&nbsp; We see glimpses of religion in a number of stories, from plot devices to red herrings, saintly inferences to clever disguises. What role did religion play in the Sherlock Holmes stories? And Arthur Conan Doyle's own faith had some bearing on what we see as well. It's a chat about religion, faith, and their multitude of instances in the Canon. &nbsp; &nbsp;

A Matter of Faith

"He was clad in his dressing gown" [CREE] &nbsp; You'll find Sherlock Holmes lounging in his dressing gown in no fewer than 14 of the original stories. And yet, its color changed from story to story. Sherlock Holmes's dressing gown was alternatively purple, blue and mouse — how can this be? We discuss the possibilities that scholars have put forth over the course of many decades and even add our own conjecture. Add in a quick primer on what dressing gowns are and what Victorian / Edwardian habits were that required them, and you've got the best podcast episode about dressing gowns and Sherlock Holmes you've ever heard. A tip of the deerstalker goes to Bill Hyder, BSI, whose 1995 BSI Dinner publication "TRIFLES" contained this very topic. &nbsp;  Please subscribe to us on iTunes or Google Play, and consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. &nbsp; Links  Dressing Gowns: Loungewear of Old  &nbsp; &nbsp; Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band. Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 &nbsp; --

The Dressing Gown of Many Colors

"you could not celebrate him without being known yourself" [HOUN]&nbsp; &nbsp; With mid-March upon us, we thought it was high time to investigate some of the Irish connections in the Sherlock Holmes stories. From the obvious to the subtle, we go from Belfast to Waterford to Skibbereen, across the pond to America, and back again.&nbsp; &nbsp; Short stories and novels alike, there are glimpses of the Emerald Isle in a number of hiding places in the Canon. Did we miss any? Well, you'll just have to tell us. &nbsp;  Please subscribe to us on iTunes or Google Play, and consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. &nbsp; Links  No links this episode  &nbsp; Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band. Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 &nbsp; --

Celebrations

"To Sherlock Holmes, she is always the woman" [SCAN]  It is the first story in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, and it is also the first of what we might call the stories of legend: those Canonical tales that have inspired our imaginations far beyond the events that Watson wrote down. We already have Holmes and Watson, legends enough for anyone, but just as "The Greek Interpreter" reveals brother Mycroft Holmes, and "The Final Problem" outlines the evil figure of Moriarty, "A Scandal in Bohemia" introduces a character so compelling that she pervades our image of Sherlock Holmes forever after. Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable memory — to us, she is always "the woman!" &nbsp; Please leave us a rating and review on iTunes or Google Play, and consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. &nbsp; Links  "A Scandal in Bohemia" Episode 10  Warren Buffet's annual letter to shareholders  Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band. Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 &nbsp;

Irene Adler: A Legend Is Born

"quarter day is at hand" [WIST]&nbsp; &nbsp; There are at least two instances in the Sherlock Holmes stories when we come across a mention of quarter day. Just what is quarter day, and what is the significance with regard to these two stories?&nbsp; We delve into the history of quarter days, cross-quarter days and why the real estate market had such an impact on calendars and ultimately played into the plots of "Wisteria Lodge" and "The Resident Patient." &nbsp; Please leave us a rating and review on iTunes or Google Play, and consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. &nbsp; Links  Quarter days (Wikipedia) The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge The Resident Patient  Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band. Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 &nbsp;

Quarter Day Is at Hand

"roused its snakish temper" [SPEC]&nbsp; &nbsp; "The Adventure of the Speckled Band" is consistently ranked as one of the most popular Sherlock Holmes stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. And in it, there are so many gems, so many possibilities to explore. We manage to delve into a few of them, including Dr. Roylott's clever yet poorly executed plan, the seemingly disparate time it took for victims to die, a passing glance at scores of untold cases accumulated during those early years, and more. Please leave us a rating and review on iTunes&nbsp;or  Google Play, or the listening platform of your choice, and consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or  PayPal. &nbsp; Links  "The Adventure of the Speckled Band" Nerve and Knowledge: Doctors, Medicine and the Canon  &nbsp; Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band. Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 &nbsp;

The Speckled Band and its Snakish Temper

"tell me how you came alive" [EMPT]&nbsp; While there is no explicit mention of Easter in the Sherlock Holmes story, we do have a story arc that follows the Easter mystery. While Holmes himself may not have been terribly religious (although he did express some acknowledgement of a higher power from time to time), he respected the tradition and the necessary belief in resurrection. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Sherlock Holmes and Easter

"it is with a heavy heart" [FINA]&nbsp; "The Final Problem" is a shocking tale, both for contemporaries of the Strand Magazine as well as for first-time readers of The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. Christopher Morley wrote: "Devoted readers have rarely had such a shock as the opening words of this story when it first appeared in the Strand Magazine." And so too did we. Some reflections on the drastic turn of events and of the reactions to readers around the world. &nbsp; Please&nbsp;leave us a rating and review&nbsp;on&nbsp;iTunes&nbsp;or&nbsp;Google Play, and consider supporting our efforts through&nbsp;Patreon&nbsp;or&nbsp;PayPal. &nbsp; &nbsp; Links  "The Final Problem"  Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson: A Textbook of Friendship  &nbsp;   Music credits   Performers:&nbsp;Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.:&nbsp;Washington, DC:&nbsp;United States Marine Band. Copyright:&nbsp;Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

The Surprise of a First Reading of the Final Problem

"I caught a glimpse of a great heart as well as of a great brain" [3GAR] In "The Adventure of the Copper Beeches," we're treated to a range of emotions and reactions from Sherlock Holmes. The opening scene is one of those Canonical gems:&nbsp;Outside, there is a thick fog, while inside, we see a cheery fire, the gleaming breakfast table, and an eloquently irritable Holmes with his cherry-wood pipe, expounding upon art and detection just long enough to bring us up to the arrival of his attractive and interesting young client. &nbsp; We have a plethora of information about Holmes's personality in not only this opening, but the story itself: his annoyance with Watson and the general public, his charming way with female clients, his thinking, and the age-old question of whether he was attracted to Violet Hunter.  Hop on board with us as we explore the glimpses we have of Sherlock Holmes in&nbsp;"The Adventure of the Copper Beeches," the story that originally appeared in the Strand Magazine in June 1892 and was the final story in the Adventures.&nbsp; &nbsp;   Please&nbsp;leave us a rating and review&nbsp;on&nbsp;iTunes&nbsp;or&nbsp;Google Play, and consider supporting our efforts through&nbsp;Patreon&nbsp;or&nbsp;PayPal. &nbsp;   &nbsp;  Links  "The Copper Beeches"   &nbsp;  &nbsp;   Music credits    Performers:&nbsp;Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra   Publisher Info.:&nbsp;Washington, DC:&nbsp;United States Marine Band.   Copyright:&nbsp;Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 &nbsp;

Glimpses of Holmes in The Copper Beeches

"have a look at the horse" [SILV]&nbsp; One of the best regarded stories in the Sherlock Holmes canon is "Silver Blaze." The story has so many elements to it that lend themselves to the lore of Sherlock Holmes: the Baker Street opening, the image of Holmes and Watson in the railway carriage, a number of famous quotes. We'll be revisiting this story again in Trifles. But for this time, our focus is on the horse. With the Kentucky Derby approaching on May 6, it's an apt time to consider the heritage of Silver Blaze and the associated activities that were happening during that time. Noted sports columnist Red Smith had some thoughts about Holmes's actions and the racetrack bookie, and S. Tupper Bigelow took an opposite tack. Who was right? You'll have to tune in to hear. &nbsp; Please leave us a rating and review on iTunes&nbsp;or  Google Play, and consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal.

Horse Sense in Silver Blaze

"by the honour of your mother" [SIGN]&nbsp; There's no question that fathers play a significant role in many of the Sherlock Holmes stories. But what about mothers? As Mothers Day will be celebrated on May 14 in the United States, we thought it was an appropriate time to look at mothers and motherly figures in the Canon. From independent women to those who tragically lost their mothers, we see a common thread of strength. Where did Conan Doyle draw his examples from? And what did Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson make of such women? Its all here in Trifles. &nbsp; Please leave us a rating and review on iTunes or Google Play, and consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. &nbsp; Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band. Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 &nbsp;

Mothers in the Canon

"I shall run over to Camberwell and call upon Mrs. Cecil Forrester" [SIGN]&nbsp; &nbsp; We know what you're thinking:&nbsp;The Sign of Four&nbsp;wasn't an unpublished case. You, as a Trifles listener, are very astute. We should have expected nothing less. &nbsp; However, within&nbsp;The Sign of Four, we do have a glimpse of a number of unpublished cases: including one with Mrs. Cecil Forrester, with whom Mary Morstan lives in Camberwell. Could this be a connection to a later case mentioned in "The Adventure of the Five Orange Pips"?&nbsp;Or perhaps it's a reference to "the most winning woman" Holmes ever knew, who is also mentioned in&nbsp;The Sign of Four? &nbsp; These trifles await your consideration. &nbsp;  &nbsp; Have you&nbsp;left us a&nbsp;rating&nbsp;and&nbsp;review&nbsp;on the podcast player of your choice yet? We could really use your help.&nbsp;  &nbsp;  And please consider supporting our efforts through&nbsp;Patreon&nbsp;or&nbsp;PayPal.  &nbsp;  &nbsp;  &nbsp;  Links / Notes  This episode:&nbsp;ihose.co/trifles85  &nbsp; Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC:&nbsp;United States Marine Band Copyright:&nbsp;Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 &nbsp;

Sherlock Holmes plots trifles

Ray dickens