“rarefied heights of pure mathematics” [VALL]   &nbsp; As we know, James Moriarty was a professor of mathematics. We know little about his academic appointment, other than having to step down from a chair. &nbsp; What we do know is he has two publications to his name. What are they, and what do they tell us about Moriarty's approach to a life of crime. They're just a Trifle. &nbsp;   &nbsp;   &nbsp;    &nbsp; Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts:&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Have you left us a&nbsp;rating&nbsp;and&nbsp;review&nbsp;on&nbsp;&nbsp;yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show.&nbsp;   And please consider&nbsp;supporting&nbsp;our efforts through&nbsp;&nbsp;or&nbsp;.  &nbsp;   &nbsp;    &nbsp;  Links / Notes  This episode:&nbsp;   Previous episodes:       &nbsp; Sponsor      &nbsp; Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC:&nbsp; Copyright:&nbsp; &nbsp; -- &nbsp;  &nbsp;

Moriarty's Mathematics

“I have my eye on a suite in Baker Street” [STUD]&nbsp;&nbsp;  There is no question that 221B Baker Street is the most famous address in all of fiction. What makes it interesting is its non-existence at the time of the stories' publications, and legions of fans attempting to determine its actual location afterward. &nbsp; Vincent Starrett was a huge fan of this game. So much so that he dedicated a chapter in his book  to it. To celebrate our 221st episode, Scott and Burt read "No. 221B Baker Street" from the book. It's just a Trifle.  &nbsp;   &nbsp;  &nbsp;   Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Have you left us a&nbsp;rating&nbsp;and&nbsp;review&nbsp;on&nbsp;&nbsp;yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show.&nbsp;   And please consider&nbsp;supporting&nbsp;our efforts through&nbsp;&nbsp;or&nbsp;.  &nbsp;   &nbsp;    &nbsp;  Links / Notes  This episode:&nbsp;   &nbsp; Sponsor      &nbsp; Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC:&nbsp; Copyright:&nbsp; &nbsp; -- &nbsp;  &nbsp;

No. 221B Baker Street (Part 1)

“a sharp touch of brain-fever” [MUSG]&nbsp; &nbsp; Inspired by two sources of Sherlockian medical scholarship, we decided to discuss brain fever. What was brain fever, medically speaking?   And why does it only rear its head in Victorian literature? Was it an actual affliction, or just a literary device? It's just a Trifle. &nbsp;  &nbsp; Please consider&nbsp;supporting&nbsp;our efforts through&nbsp;&nbsp;or&nbsp;. &nbsp;   &nbsp;    &nbsp;  Links / Notes  This episode:&nbsp; &nbsp;(JSTOR Daily) Reference: "Brain Fever" by Stephen Tolins, The Baker Street Journal, Vol. 41, No. 2 (1991)  (BSI Press)  &nbsp; Sponsor      &nbsp; Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC:&nbsp; Copyright:&nbsp; &nbsp; -- &nbsp;  &nbsp;

Brain Fever

“It is fortunate for this community that I am not a criminal.” [BRUC]&nbsp; Sherlock Holmes certainly ran with a rough crowd. Burglars, murderers, blackmailers, thieves, spies, kidnappers, and even politicians. Given his store of criminal knowledge, what stopped him from becoming a criminal himself?   Wait just a moment; while his cause was justice, his practice wasn't always on the right side of the law. Thanks to a suggestion from Erik Deckers, we're examining the criminality of Sherlock Holmes. It's just a Trifle.   &nbsp;  And please consider&nbsp;supporting&nbsp;our efforts through&nbsp;&nbsp;or&nbsp;.   &nbsp;  Links / Notes  This episode:   &nbsp; Sponsor      &nbsp; Music credits  Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC:&nbsp; Copyright:&nbsp;  &nbsp;    &nbsp; &nbsp;

The Crimes of Sherlock Holmes

“I am a poor man” [PRIO]&nbsp;&nbsp; Time and again, we find people in the Sherlock Holmes stories who are having money problems. As in money problems drastic enough to cause them to make unfortunate decisions. Who were some of these people, and what hard choices did they make? We have a few of them; it's just a Trifle.&nbsp;     &nbsp; Have you left us a&nbsp;rating&nbsp;and&nbsp;review&nbsp;on&nbsp;&nbsp;yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show.&nbsp;   And please consider&nbsp;supporting&nbsp;our efforts through&nbsp;&nbsp;or&nbsp;.    &nbsp;    &nbsp;  Links / Notes  This episode:&nbsp;  &nbsp; Sponsor      &nbsp; Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC:&nbsp; Copyright:&nbsp; &nbsp; --   &nbsp;  &nbsp;

Money Woes

“I stooped to the eyepiece and focussed for my vision.” [SHOS]&nbsp; Given Arthur Conan Doyle's training in the field of eye medicine, it's no surprise that we find a number of Sherlock Holmes characters who wear glasses. In fact, an entire story is named after a set of eyewear. Who were some of the bespectacled band in the Sherlock Holmes stories? It's just a Trifle. &nbsp; Links / Notes  This episode:&nbsp; &nbsp;(Wellcome Library Blog via Wayback Machine) Arthur Conan Doyle's&nbsp;&nbsp;(Wikipedia)  "" (I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere)   &nbsp; Sponsor       &nbsp; Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC:&nbsp; Copyright:&nbsp; &nbsp;

Eyeglasses in the Canon

“That is very fortunate” [SCAN]&nbsp;&nbsp; Sherlock Holmes didn't believe in superstition, the supernatural, or random guesses. He was a detective who dealt in facts and data. And yet, the canon of Sherlock Holmes stories is littered with coincidences (happy or otherwise) and instances of luck. How did these play into the stories and Holmes's ability to solve them? It's just a Trifle.&nbsp;   &nbsp;  Have you left us a&nbsp;rating&nbsp;and&nbsp;review&nbsp;on&nbsp;&nbsp;yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show.&nbsp;  And please consider&nbsp;supporting&nbsp;our efforts through&nbsp;&nbsp;or&nbsp;.  &nbsp;  &nbsp;  Links / Notes  This episode:&nbsp; &nbsp; (YouTube)  &nbsp; Sponsor      &nbsp; Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC:&nbsp; Copyright:&nbsp; &nbsp; --  &nbsp;  &nbsp;  &nbsp;  &nbsp;  &nbsp;  &nbsp;

Luck in the Canon

“they are pretty sure to ask questions anyhow, so it would be as well to have answers” [RETI]&nbsp;&nbsp; We're doing something a little different for this episode. There are certain elements about the Sherlock Holmes stories that are just too trifling out of which to create an entire episode. So we turned to you. We're answering questions that you have submitted, hopefully providing more clarity than less. If this works well, we'll do it again. It's just a Trifle.&nbsp;    Have you left us a&nbsp;rating&nbsp;and&nbsp;review&nbsp;on&nbsp;&nbsp;yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show.&nbsp;   And please consider supporting our efforts through  or .  &nbsp; Links / Notes  This episode:&nbsp;  by Arthur Conan Doyle  by Robert L. Fish I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere  (Sherlock Holmes quotes) The full I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere archive:   &nbsp; Sponsor      &nbsp; Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC:&nbsp; Copyright:&nbsp; &nbsp; --   &nbsp;  &nbsp;

Your Questions, Answered

“Let me show you the evolution of this case” [WIST]&nbsp;&nbsp; In our last episode, we discussed the subtle yet undeniable change in the nature of the relationship between Sherlock Holmes and Inspector Lestrade. But what about the evolution of Holmes himself? What aspects of his character changed over the course of his career, from a 20-something during his first case at university to his final case four decades later? What remained the same? It's just a Trifle.&nbsp;   &nbsp;  Links / Notes  This episode:&nbsp; Find us on&nbsp;,&nbsp;,&nbsp;&nbsp;and&nbsp; Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com Support us on&nbsp;  &nbsp; Sponsor      &nbsp; Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC:&nbsp; Copyright:&nbsp; &nbsp; --  &nbsp; &nbsp;

The Evolution of Sherlock Holmes

“evolved from his own inner consciousness” [BOSC]&nbsp; In Episode 237, we looked at how Holmes's personality traits changed over the course of his career. We're back for another look using four separate stories, each 10 years apart. What can the Canon tell us about the ways Holmes's interests, tastes, enthusiasms, relationships, reputation, and more changed during his long career? It's just a Trifle.    &nbsp; Have you left us a&nbsp;rating&nbsp;and&nbsp;review&nbsp;on&nbsp;&nbsp;yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show.&nbsp;    &nbsp;  Links / Notes  This episode:&nbsp; Other episodes mentioned:       Find us on&nbsp;,&nbsp;,&nbsp;&nbsp;and&nbsp; Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com Support us on&nbsp;  &nbsp; Sponsor      &nbsp; Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC:&nbsp; Copyright:&nbsp; &nbsp; --  &nbsp; &nbsp;

The Evolution of Sherlock Holmes, Part 2

“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 our series covering old Sherlockian scholarship. It's just a Trifle.

Links / Notes
https://ihose.co/trifles279

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

The Dates in the Red-Headed League

“the finest assorted collection”&nbsp;[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 trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies. &nbsp; In the next episode we'll be holding the drawing for our monthly prize: free back issues of The Baker Street Journal. Every Patreon supporter is eligible to win this random drawing. https://patreon.com/trifles   

Links / Notes  
https://ihose.co/trifles232

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

The Best Sherlock Holmes Stories

“This terrible secret” [FIVE] 
Dr. Watson was a master of inconsistencies. Or perhaps sloppiness. Or, according to Christopher Morley, intentional obfuscation. With a little chronological detective work, he may have figured it out. 

Just what was Watson's secret, and why was he keeping it? He did it so well that not only did he keep it from his readers, but from Sherlock Holmes himself. It's the lastest Masters Class 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 on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies. &nbsp; Our Patreon supporters can listen to our shows ad-free and every one of them is eligible for our monthly and quarterly drawings for Baker Street Journals. https://patreon.com/trifles

Full show notes:

Dr. Watson's Secret

“We traveled by the Underground” [REDH]

We're kicking off a new monthly series for Season 8: travel. Highly appropriate, as we travel to New York for the BSI Weekend. 

In this case, our travel is local within London. That is, the Underground. For as much as we associate Sherlock Holmes and London, his travel on the Underground was a bit limited. 

The late John Baesch, BSI helps us explore it. 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 on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies. 

All of our Patreon supporters are eligible for our monthly and quarterly drawings for Baker Street Journals and certain tiers receive thank you gifts.
https://patreon.com/trifles

Links / Notes   
https://www.sherlockholmespodcast.com/2024/01/episode-367-underground-adventures-of.html

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

The Underground Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

“You’ll be interested to hear that I am engaged.” [CHAS]

The name of this show was inspired in part by William Hyder, BSI ("A Most Valuable Institution"), who includes a half sheet of a trifling matter in the dinner packet of the Baker Street Irregulars each year. And as has become our tradition, each January, we use his Trifle. 

Our attention turns to Hosmer Angel / James Windibank from "A Case of Identity," who led on Miss Mary Sutherland with whiskers, tinted glasses, a whispery voice, and a typewriter, before abandoning her. Holmes had no patience for a man who'd treat a woman this way. Until... And that'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 send you some Sherlockian goodies.

All of our Patreon supporters are eligible for our monthly and quarterly drawings for Baker Street Journals and certain tiers receive thank you gifts.
https://patreon.com/trifles

Links / Notes
https://www.sherlockholmespodcast.com/2024/01/episode-369-hosmeric-hypocrisy.html

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

Hosmeric Hypocrisy

“There is nothing in which deduction is so necessary as in religion” [NAVA]&nbsp;   &nbsp;  The Morley-Montgomery Award-winning article this month is "My Biblical Knowledge is a Trifle Rusty" by Henry T. Folsom, BSI ("The Golden Pince-Nez"), from The Baker Street Journal, Volume 15, No. 3.&nbsp; Rev. Folsom took the opportunity as a practitioner of the faith to examine the religious beliefs (or lack thereof) of Sherlock Holmes. Was he an atheist? Was he a believer? And if so, what form did it take? It's just a Trifle.  All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for&nbsp;Baker Street Journals&nbsp;and bonus content.&nbsp;Join our community on&nbsp;&nbsp;or&nbsp;&nbsp;today. &nbsp; This season, we've added "Trifling Trifles" — short-form content that doesn't warrant a full episode — as an additional channel of content&nbsp;exclusively for our paying subscribers. Check it out (&nbsp;|&nbsp;). &nbsp; &nbsp;  Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send you a thank-you gift.     Leave&nbsp;Trifles&nbsp;a five-star rating&nbsp;on&nbsp;&nbsp;and&nbsp;;&nbsp;listen to us&nbsp;.  &nbsp; Links / Notes    All of our social links:&nbsp; Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com&nbsp;  &nbsp;  &nbsp; Music credits    Performers:&nbsp;Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra&nbsp; Publisher Info.:&nbsp;Washington, DC:&nbsp;&nbsp; Copyright:&nbsp;   &nbsp;

My Biblical Knowledge Is a Trifle Rusty

“preoccupied with business matters” [COPP]&nbsp;  If you came across the name of a business in the Sherlock Holmes stories, do you think you could identify which story it came from? What about the type of business it was? &nbsp; We put your Canonical skills to the test in this episode as we quiz you (and each other!) on some familiar and not-so-familiar business names from the Great Britain of Sherlock Holmes. It's just a Trifle. &nbsp; All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for&nbsp;Baker Street Journals&nbsp;and bonus content.&nbsp;Join our community on&nbsp;&nbsp;or&nbsp;&nbsp;today. &nbsp; This season, we've added "Trifling Trifles" — short-form content that doesn't warrant a full episode — as an additional channel of content&nbsp;exclusively for our paying subscribers. Check it out (&nbsp;|&nbsp;). &nbsp; &nbsp;  Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send you a thank-you gift. &nbsp;  &nbsp;  &nbsp;| 24.4 MB, 26:00       Leave&nbsp;Trifles&nbsp;a five-star rating&nbsp;on&nbsp;&nbsp;and&nbsp;;&nbsp;listen to us&nbsp;.  &nbsp; Links / Notes    (YouTube)  Previous episodes mentioned:       All of our social links:&nbsp; Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com&nbsp;  &nbsp;  &nbsp; Music credits    Performers:&nbsp;Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra&nbsp; Publisher Info.:&nbsp;Washington, DC:&nbsp;&nbsp; Copyright:&nbsp;   &nbsp;

British Businesses

“As to your dates, that is the biggest mystification of all.” [CREE]&nbsp;   &nbsp; It's not often that we get a piece of Sherlockian scholarship that had its origin in a mainstream publication. And in this case, it's from one of the original Sherlockians. &nbsp; In 1932, Ronald Knox set out to review two new Sherlockian books, but he managed to turn it into an essay that was a master class in chronology. It's just a Trifle. &nbsp; And stay tuned, as we have some bonus content on Ronald Knox for our supporters. &nbsp; All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for&nbsp;Baker Street Journals&nbsp;and bonus content.&nbsp;Join our community on&nbsp;&nbsp;or&nbsp;&nbsp;today. &nbsp; This season, we've added "Trifling Trifles" — short-form content that doesn't warrant a full episode — as an additional channel of content&nbsp;exclusively for our paying subscribers. Check it out (&nbsp;|&nbsp;). &nbsp; &nbsp;  Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send you a thank-you gift.     Leave&nbsp;Trifles&nbsp;a five-star rating&nbsp;on&nbsp;&nbsp;and&nbsp;;&nbsp;listen to us&nbsp;.  &nbsp; Links / Notes      All of our social links:&nbsp; Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com&nbsp;  &nbsp;  &nbsp; Music credits    Performers:&nbsp;Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra&nbsp; Publisher Info.:&nbsp;Washington, DC:&nbsp;&nbsp; Copyright:&nbsp;   &nbsp; &nbsp;

The Mathematics of Mrs. Watson

“the great North American Continent” [STUD]&nbsp;   &nbsp; Picking up where we left off in Episode 428 ("British Businesses"), we're moving to the other side of the pond and doing a survey of businesses in North America that were mentioned in the Sherlock Holmes stories. &nbsp; Since there are decidedly fewer scenes and stories that took place in North America, we have far fewer to choose from. But not so few as to leave us without something interesting to say! It's just a Trifle. &nbsp; All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for&nbsp;Baker Street Journals&nbsp;and bonus content.&nbsp;Join our community on&nbsp;&nbsp;or&nbsp;&nbsp;today. &nbsp; This season, we've added "Trifling Trifles" — short-form content that doesn't warrant a full episode — as an additional channel of content&nbsp;exclusively for our paying subscribers. Check it out (&nbsp;|&nbsp;). &nbsp; &nbsp;  Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send you a thank-you gift.     Leave&nbsp;Trifles&nbsp;a five-star rating&nbsp;on&nbsp;&nbsp;and&nbsp;;&nbsp;listen to us&nbsp;.  &nbsp; Links / Notes   Previous episodes referenced:       All of our social links:&nbsp; Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com&nbsp;  &nbsp;  &nbsp; Music credits    Performers:&nbsp;Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra&nbsp; Publisher Info.:&nbsp;Washington, DC:&nbsp;&nbsp; Copyright:&nbsp;   &nbsp;

North American Businesses

“you are mistaken about my alleged agents” [MAZA]&nbsp;   &nbsp; &nbsp; Along with the calabash pipe, deerstalker cap, and Inverness cape, one of Sherlock Holmes's traits is the use of cocaine. But should it be? &nbsp; William H. Miller, M.D. F.A.C.P. won the Morley-Montgomery Award for his article in Vol. 19, No. 3 of The Baker Street Journal in which he asserted that we're mistaken in believing that Sherlock Holmes used cocaine. Don't believe us? Well, it's just a Trifle. &nbsp; All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for&nbsp;Baker Street Journals&nbsp;and bonus content.&nbsp;Join our community on&nbsp;&nbsp;or&nbsp;&nbsp;today. &nbsp; This season, we've added "Trifling Trifles" — short-form content that doesn't warrant a full episode — as an additional channel of content&nbsp;exclusively for our paying subscribers. Check it out (&nbsp;|&nbsp;). &nbsp; &nbsp;  Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send you a thank-you gift.     Leave&nbsp;Trifles&nbsp;a five-star rating&nbsp;on&nbsp;&nbsp;and&nbsp;;&nbsp;listen to us&nbsp;.  &nbsp; Links / Notes     Previous episodes referenced:       All of our social links:&nbsp; Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com&nbsp;  &nbsp;  &nbsp; Music credits    Performers:&nbsp;Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra&nbsp; Publisher Info.:&nbsp;Washington, DC:&nbsp;&nbsp; Copyright:&nbsp;   &nbsp;

The Alleged Use of Cocaine by Mr. Sherlock Holmes

“I would read as easily as I do the apocrypha” [VALL]  The second in our series on the Apocrypha of Sherlock Holmes — stories that are not in the original Canonical 60 but that have some relevant interest. In this case, we have a story written by Arthur Conan Doyle in 1898 and set in 1892 involving the mysterious death of a passenger on a train. The murderer is nowhere to be found and the man has an unusual number of watches on his person. A "well-known criminal investigator" writes a letter to the press with an explanation. We briefly discuss the story and the many theories as to the authorship of those letters over the years by numerous Sherlockians. It's just a Trifle. &nbsp;  This season, we've added "Trifling Trifles" — short-form content that doesn't warrant a full episode — as an additional channel of content&nbsp;exclusively for our paying subscribers. Check it out (&nbsp;|&nbsp;). &nbsp; &nbsp;  Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send you a thank-you gift.   &nbsp; Leave&nbsp;Trifles&nbsp;a five-star rating&nbsp;on&nbsp;&nbsp;and&nbsp;; listen to this episode here or  &nbsp;  Please&nbsp;leave us a rating and review&nbsp;on&nbsp;&nbsp;or&nbsp;, and consider supporting our efforts through&nbsp;&nbsp;or .     Links    (Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia)  (Doings of Doyle) All of our social links:&nbsp;  Email us at trifles @&nbsp;&nbsp;    &nbsp;   Music credits Performers:&nbsp;Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.:&nbsp;Washington, DC:&nbsp;. Copyright:&nbsp;  &nbsp;  &nbsp;  &nbsp;

The Man with the Watches (The Apocrypha Part 2)

“before my biographer had come to glorify me” [GREE]   Once again, we find ourselves in a "Mr. Sherlock Holmes the theorist"-themed episode, where we look at a piece of old scholarship. This time, we share a chapter from William S. Baring-Gould's groundbreaking biography of Sherlock Holmes.  Chapter V "On Stage and Off in England and America: 1879–1881" finds us in the two years leading up to Holmes and Watson meeting each other, while Holmes was beginning to run low on funds. His decision would mean a remarkable set of experiences ahead. It's just a Trifle.&nbsp; And we have some bonus content related to a particular footnote of Baring-Gould's in this chapter. It's available exclusively for our supporters. &nbsp; Another "Trifling Trifles" episode — short-form content that doesn't warrant a full episode — is coming your way in a few days. As a reminder, this is&nbsp;exclusively for our paying subscribers. Check it out (&nbsp;|&nbsp;). &nbsp; Leave Trifles&nbsp;a five-star rating&nbsp;on  and ;&nbsp;listen to this episode here or&nbsp;   Links    by William S. Baring-Gould (Abebooks) Other episodes mentioned:      All of our social links:&nbsp;  Email us at trifles @&nbsp;&nbsp;    &nbsp;   Music credits Performers:&nbsp;Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.:&nbsp;Washington, DC:&nbsp;. Copyright:&nbsp; &nbsp;  &nbsp;  &nbsp;  &nbsp;

On Stage and Off

“general resemblance to an itinerant” [VALL]&nbsp;   A term we don't hear as frequently these days is "gypsy." Unless you're headed to see a Sondheim musical, which is about an entirely different Gypsy (and one with Sherlockian connections too). Anyway, our focus here is on stories in which gypsies are mentioned (there are two; can you name them?) and a bit of historical context of gypsies in the Victorian era, including the documented experience of one exalted person. It's just a Trifle.&nbsp; &nbsp; Another "Trifling Trifles" episode — short-form content that doesn't warrant a full episode — is coming your way in a few days. As a reminder, this is&nbsp;exclusively for our paying subscribers. Check it out (&nbsp;|&nbsp;). &nbsp; Leave&nbsp;Trifles&nbsp;a five-star rating&nbsp;on&nbsp;&nbsp;and&nbsp;;&nbsp;listen to this episode here or&nbsp;  &nbsp; &nbsp;  Links    (Victorian Web)  (Romani) All of our social links:&nbsp;  Email us at trifles @&nbsp;&nbsp;    &nbsp;   Music credits Performers:&nbsp;Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.:&nbsp;Washington, DC:&nbsp;. Copyright:&nbsp; &nbsp;  &nbsp;  &nbsp;

Gypsies

“a strange, loud whiz” [EMPT]&nbsp;   &nbsp; We came across a quite unusual observation — a Trifle, if you will — in an old issue of The Baker Street Journal. An article by Antony Boucher called "An Aborted Avatar." Boucher discovered a turn of the century play called The King of Gee-Whiz that involved Sherlock Holmes in a quite unusual setting. The play was co-written by L. Frank Baum, of The Wizard of Oz fame. It's just a Trifle.&nbsp; &nbsp; Another "Trifling Trifles" episode — short-form content that doesn't warrant a full episode — is coming your way in a few days. As a reminder, this is&nbsp;exclusively for our paying subscribers. Check it out (&nbsp;|&nbsp;). &nbsp; Leave&nbsp;Trifles&nbsp;a five-star rating&nbsp;on&nbsp;&nbsp;and&nbsp;;&nbsp;listen to this episode here or&nbsp;  &nbsp;  Links    (Wikipedia)  (Project Gutenberg) All of our social links:&nbsp;  Email us at trifles @&nbsp;&nbsp;    &nbsp;   Music credits Performers:&nbsp;Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.:&nbsp;Washington, DC:&nbsp;. Copyright:&nbsp; &nbsp;  &nbsp;  &nbsp;

An Aborted Avatar

“so ardent a bicyclist must be full of energy” [SOLI]&nbsp;   &nbsp; The latest installment in our review of Morley-Montgomery Award-winning articles is by Andrew Jay Peck, BSI ("Inspector Baynes"): "The Solitary Man-Uscript" from Vol. 22, No. 2 of The Baker Street Journal in 1972. Just who was the Solitary Cyclist? There are two cyclists in the story, and one is a young lady simply trying to get to her train safely; the other is a bearded man with sunglasses hunched over his handlebars. Only one of them can be our cyclist. It's just a Trifle.&nbsp; &nbsp; Don't forget to check out our "Trifling Trifles" series -- shorter content that didn't warrant a full episode, available exclusively for our paying subscribers. Check it out (&nbsp;|&nbsp;). &nbsp; Leave&nbsp;Trifles&nbsp;a five-star rating&nbsp;on&nbsp;&nbsp;and&nbsp;;&nbsp;listen to this episode here or&nbsp; &nbsp;   Links    (Best of Sherlock) &nbsp;  The Morley-Montgomery Award series of episodes ( | ) All of our social links:&nbsp;  Email us at trifles @&nbsp;&nbsp;    &nbsp;   Music credits Performers:&nbsp;Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.:&nbsp;Washington, DC:&nbsp;. Copyright:&nbsp; &nbsp;  &nbsp;  &nbsp;

The Solitary Man-Uscript

“You have done your best to get an innocent man hanged.” [NORW]&nbsp;   &nbsp; Capital punishment in the United Kingdom evolved over a period of time. From the mid-17th century through 1820, the Bloody Code tracked some 200 crimes punishable by death. In which Sherlock Holmes stories do we hear about capital punishment, and under England's laws of the late Victorian period, who would have been eligible for death by hanging? It's just a Trifle.&nbsp; &nbsp; Don't forget to listen to "Trifling Trifles" — short-form content that doesn't warrant a full episode. This is a benefit&nbsp;exclusively for our paying subscribers. Check it out (&nbsp;|&nbsp;). &nbsp; Leave&nbsp;Trifles&nbsp;a five-star rating&nbsp;on&nbsp;&nbsp;and&nbsp;;&nbsp;listen to this episode here or&nbsp; &nbsp;  &nbsp;  Links    (Wikipedia)  (Ranker) Other episodes mentioned:   - Sherlock Holmes and Australians&nbsp;  All of our social links:&nbsp;  Email us at trifles @&nbsp;&nbsp;    &nbsp;   Music credits Performers:&nbsp;Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.:&nbsp;Washington, DC:&nbsp;. Copyright:&nbsp; &nbsp;  &nbsp;  &nbsp;

Capital Punishment

“put £100 down in front of him” [BLUE]&nbsp;   &nbsp; Humans are suckers for round numbers. And 100 seems like a perfectly reasonable one to settle on. It's the first three-digit number (in Arabic numbers, that is; Romans were happy to hit a C note). When it comes to £100 in the Sherlock Holmes stories, it's a figure often associated with some sort of scam — enough to get attention and secure the trust of the mark. Which stories feature&nbsp;£100 and what were the circumstances? It's just a Trifle. If you have a question for us, please email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your inquiry on the show, we'll send you a thank you gift. &nbsp; Don't forget to listen to "Trifling Trifles" — short-form content that doesn't warrant a full episode. This is a benefit&nbsp;exclusively for our paying subscribers. Check it out (&nbsp;|&nbsp;). &nbsp; Leave&nbsp;Trifles&nbsp;a five-star rating&nbsp;on&nbsp;&nbsp;and&nbsp;;&nbsp;listen to this episode here or&nbsp;  &nbsp;  Links    Related:  All of our social links:&nbsp;  Email us at trifles @&nbsp;&nbsp;    &nbsp;   Music credits Performers:&nbsp;Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.:&nbsp;Washington, DC:&nbsp;. Copyright:&nbsp; &nbsp;  &nbsp;  &nbsp;

£100

“entirely mistaken” [CHAS]&nbsp;&nbsp;   &nbsp; The Morley-Montgomery Award-winning article we're discussing this month is by the legendary Jack Tracy, author of The Encyclopedia Sherlockiana and founder of Gaslight Publications. "St. Saviour's, Near King's Cross" appeared in Vol. 27, No. 4 of the Baker Street Journal&nbsp;in 1977 and looked specifically at the church where Mary Sutherland was supposed to marry Hosmer Angel. Previous Sherlockian scholars were unaware of some hidden London history that Tracy was able to uncover. And it's just a Trifle.&nbsp; If you have a question for us, please email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your inquiry on the show, we'll send you a thank you gift. &nbsp; Don't forget to listen to "Trifling Trifles" — short-form content that doesn't warrant a full episode. This is a benefit&nbsp;exclusively for our paying subscribers. Check it out (&nbsp;|&nbsp;). &nbsp; Leave&nbsp;Trifles&nbsp;a five-star rating&nbsp;on&nbsp;&nbsp;and&nbsp;;&nbsp;listen to this episode here or&nbsp;  &nbsp;  Links     The Morley-Montgomery Award series of episodes (&nbsp;|&nbsp;) All of our social links:&nbsp;  Email us at trifles @&nbsp;&nbsp;    &nbsp;   Music credits Performers:&nbsp;Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.:&nbsp;Washington, DC:&nbsp;. Copyright:&nbsp; &nbsp;  &nbsp;  &nbsp;

St. Saviour's, Near King's Cross

“There are the originals” [LAST]&nbsp;&nbsp;   &nbsp; Sherlockians go to great pains to "play the game," meaning that Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson were real. If we can drop the mask for a moment, we all know they were creations of one Arthur Conan Doyle. We also know that every author is inspired by people, names, and places around them. So too was Conan Doyle when he created certain characters. Who were some of the characters in the Canon who were inspired by real people? It's just a Trifle.&nbsp; If you have a question for us, please email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your inquiry on the show, we'll send you a thank you gift. &nbsp; Don't forget to listen to "Trifling Trifles" — short-form content that doesn't warrant a full episode. This is a benefit&nbsp;exclusively for our paying subscribers. Check it out (&nbsp;|&nbsp;). &nbsp; Leave&nbsp;Trifles&nbsp;a five-star rating&nbsp;on&nbsp;&nbsp;and&nbsp;;&nbsp;listen to this episode here or&nbsp;  &nbsp; &nbsp;  Links   &nbsp;by Irving Wallace  by Earle Walbridge&nbsp; All of our social links:&nbsp; Email us at trifles @&nbsp;&nbsp;    &nbsp;   Music credits Performers:&nbsp;Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.:&nbsp;Washington, DC:&nbsp;. Copyright:&nbsp; &nbsp;  &nbsp;  &nbsp;

The Fabulous Originals

“took to the stage” [TWIS]&nbsp;     When faced with four months of an empty theater in a six-month lease in 1910, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle did the only thing he could on a moment's notice: he turned to Sherlock Holmes. The Stonor Case (later renamed The Speckled Band) went into production and is considered part of the group of stories categorized as apocryphal. While the name was the same as the short story, there were departures from the original. This and many tales about this play are all a Trifle.&nbsp; If you have a question for us, please email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your inquiry on the show, we'll send you a thank you gift. &nbsp; Don't forget to listen to "Trifling Trifles" — short-form content that doesn't warrant a full episode. This is a benefit&nbsp;exclusively for our paying subscribers. Check it out (&nbsp;|&nbsp;). &nbsp; Leave&nbsp;Trifles&nbsp;a five-star rating&nbsp;on&nbsp;&nbsp;and&nbsp;;&nbsp;listen to this episode here or&nbsp; &nbsp;  &nbsp;  Links    (Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia)  (Wikipedia)  (Wikipedia) All of our social links:&nbsp; Email us at trifles @&nbsp;&nbsp;    &nbsp;   Music credits Performers:&nbsp;Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.:&nbsp;Washington, DC:&nbsp;. Copyright:&nbsp; &nbsp;  &nbsp;  &nbsp;

The Stonor Case

“lumbering upon its way” [DEVI]&nbsp;     Across the Sherlock Holmes stories, we find a few mentions of what seems to be a strange and magical place in English residences: the lumber room. &nbsp; In old country houses and in the city at 221B Baker Street, as well as in descriptions of the mind, the lumber room is a place that deserves a little exploration. And it's just a Trifle. &nbsp; Thanks to Kaj for the suggestion for this episode. If you have a question for us, please email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your inquiry on the show, we'll send you a thank you gift. &nbsp; Don't forget to listen to "Trifling Trifles" — short-form content that doesn't warrant a full episode. This is a benefit&nbsp;exclusively for our paying subscribers. Check it out (&nbsp;|&nbsp;). &nbsp; Leave&nbsp;Trifles&nbsp;a five-star rating&nbsp;on&nbsp;&nbsp;and&nbsp;;&nbsp;listen to this episode here or&nbsp; &nbsp;   Links   All of our social links:&nbsp; Email us at trifles @&nbsp;&nbsp;    &nbsp;   Music credits Performers:&nbsp;Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.:&nbsp;Washington, DC:&nbsp;. Copyright:&nbsp; &nbsp;  &nbsp;  &nbsp;

The Lumber Room

“What good are you going to get out of your diamond?” [MAZA]&nbsp;       We're back in the theater for another Sherlock Holmes story in our series on the Apocrypha of Sherlock Holmes. It seems that Conan Doyle saw great potential in other mediums (not just the seance type, either). The Crown Diamond: An Evening With Sherlock Holmes is clearly a rehash of the short story "The Mazarin Stone." Or was thought to be, anyway. That is, until James Montgomery, BSI ("The Red Circle") discovered it in an exercise book and&nbsp;determined the publication order. And it's just a Trifle.&nbsp; If you have a question for us, please email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your inquiry on the show, we'll send you a thank you gift. &nbsp; Don't forget to listen to "Trifling Trifles" — short-form content that doesn't warrant a full episode. This is a benefit&nbsp;exclusively for our paying subscribers. Check it out (&nbsp;|&nbsp;). &nbsp; Leave&nbsp;Trifles&nbsp;a five-star rating&nbsp;on&nbsp;&nbsp;and&nbsp;;&nbsp;listen to this episode here or&nbsp;  &nbsp;  Links   &nbsp;(Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia)  (Toronto Public Library)  (I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere) All of our social links:&nbsp; Email us at trifles @&nbsp;&nbsp;    &nbsp;   Music credits Performers:&nbsp;Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.:&nbsp;Washington, DC:&nbsp;. Copyright:&nbsp; &nbsp;  &nbsp;  &nbsp;

The Crown Diamond

“the smartest of the Scotland Yarders” [SIGN]&nbsp; &nbsp; If you ask anyone familiar with the Sherlock Holmes stories to name a Scotland Yard inspector, they'll invariably answer, "Inspector Lestrade." &nbsp; But Sherlock Holmes had a healthy respect for a handful of other police inspectors, both from Scotland Yard and from the surrounding areas. Who were they, and in which stories did they appear?  &nbsp;  &nbsp;  &nbsp; Have you left us a&nbsp;rating&nbsp;and&nbsp;review&nbsp;on&nbsp;iTunes&nbsp;yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show.&nbsp;  And please consider&nbsp;supporting&nbsp;our efforts through&nbsp;Patreon&nbsp;or&nbsp;PayPal.     &nbsp;   Links / Notes  This episode:&nbsp;ihose.co/trifles107 RadioPublic   &nbsp;  Sponsor   The Baker Street Irregulars Press    &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

An Inspector Calls

“His life as been academic” [CREE]&nbsp; &nbsp;  Sherlock Holmes and academic affairs are, well, elementary. [Sorry] But have you considered those who hold the title "professor" when it comes to the stories? &nbsp; Of course you know Professor Moriarty. But there are only two others, which is a tad surprising, given the stories that involved the academy. It's just a Trifle.  &nbsp;   &nbsp;   &nbsp;    Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Have you left us a&nbsp;rating&nbsp;and&nbsp;review&nbsp;on&nbsp;&nbsp;yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show.&nbsp;   And please consider&nbsp;supporting&nbsp;our efforts through&nbsp;&nbsp;or&nbsp;. &nbsp;  Links / Notes  This episode:&nbsp;  &nbsp; Sponsor      &nbsp; Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC:&nbsp; Copyright:&nbsp; &nbsp; -- &nbsp;

The Three Professors

“shoes, but no socks.” [PRIO] &nbsp; Over the course of our first four seasons, we covered a wide variety of haberdashery: , , , and , to name a few. But we haven't covered anything related to footwear (unless you count that fleeting reference to tennis shoes in ). &nbsp; Shoes, boots, and slippers are a few of the kinds of footwear we come across in the Sherlock Holmes stories, and they all help Sherlock Holmes in some way. Which way is that, you ask? It's just a Trifle.  &nbsp;  &nbsp;   &nbsp;    &nbsp; Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Have you left us a&nbsp;rating&nbsp;and&nbsp;review&nbsp;on&nbsp;&nbsp;yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show.&nbsp;   And please consider&nbsp;supporting&nbsp;our efforts through&nbsp;&nbsp;or&nbsp;.  &nbsp;       &nbsp;  Links / Notes  This episode:&nbsp; Soundcloud playlist:   by Chris Redmond  &nbsp; Sponsor      &nbsp; Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC:&nbsp; Copyright:&nbsp; &nbsp; -- &nbsp;  &nbsp;

Footwear in the Canon

“I return with an excellent appetite” [BLAC]&nbsp;  &nbsp; The Sherlock Holmes stories are a cornucopia of content. A smorgasbord of smarts. A full menu of fulfillment. So it shouldn't be terribly surprising that we find buffets mentioned in the Canon. &nbsp; Perhaps you skipped over the Canonical buffet line. We can't blame you. The references are fleeting, at best. As we say, it's just a Trifle.   &nbsp;   &nbsp;    &nbsp; Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts:&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Have you left us a&nbsp;rating&nbsp;and&nbsp;review&nbsp;on&nbsp;&nbsp;yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show.&nbsp;   And please consider&nbsp;supporting&nbsp;our efforts through&nbsp;&nbsp;or&nbsp;.  &nbsp;   &nbsp;    &nbsp;  Links / Notes  This episode:&nbsp;  (Wikipedia)  Previous food-related episodes:           &nbsp; Sponsor      &nbsp; Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC:&nbsp; Copyright:&nbsp; &nbsp; -- &nbsp;  &nbsp;

Buffets

A weekly program about details in the Sherlock Holmes stories.

Sherlock Holmes: Trifles

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