Sherlock Holmes plots trifles

Dr. Watson

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

"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

"not long after my marriage" [ENGR]&nbsp;  In this episode, we look at how married life was treating Dr. Watson in "The Adventure of the Boscombe Valley Mystery." William S. Baring-Gould placed this at June 6 or June 8, 1889. It was published as the fourth short story in the collection known as The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. In the opening scene, Holmes sends for the recently married Watson to accompany him on a case, and Mary Watson, far from nagging her husband about his penchant for dashing off with his friend, actually urges Watson to go. Watson gives her a charming compliment in return by alluding to their romantic meeting in The Sign of Four. The affectionate circle is completed when Holmes gives Watson very gracious thanks for agreeing to come along on the trip.&nbsp; &nbsp; What are we to make of Watson's home life? Is he simply using a literary technique by making his marriage seem able to weather the storm of Holmes? Or was Mary genuinely understanding of the push-pull relationship between the doctor and the detective? &nbsp; A tribute to the late Peter Sallis, an appearance by Felix Unger and Oscar Madison, and more surprises await. &nbsp; Links   Remembering Peter Sallis "A Married Man" IHOSE Episode 26: A Musical Stroll Down Baker Street The Odd Couple   &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

Married Life with Dr. Watson

"Now Watson, the fair sex is your department." [SECO]
John Watson knew women; Holmes tells us so. And Watson certainly tells us so, in his admiration of Mary Morstan as well as his description of some of the leading ladies of the Canon. He also told us outright in The Sign of Four that he's managed to get around:  "In an experience of women which extends over many nations and three separate continents..."  
But three? We know for certain he's been to Europe an Asia. But which of the other five might be the one to round out Watson's travels? We investigate the lively love life of Dr. John H. Watson, MD.

John Watson, Ladies Man

"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;

Unpublished Cases: The Sign of Four

"the good doctor took us to the yew alley" [HOUN]&nbsp;&nbsp;   &nbsp; &nbsp; John H. Watson, M.D., late of the Army Medical Department, had a number of medical practices throughout the Sherlock Holmes stories. He waffled between being a flat-sharing colleague of Holmes and a doctor with his own thriving practice. &nbsp; From Paddington to Queen Anne Street, we follow Watson's rise. But what of his methods? Did he dispense reasonable medical care of the age? Or was he too far removed from the practice of medicine by the time he took on his own practice in the mid- to late-Eighties?&nbsp;   &nbsp;&nbsp;Have you&nbsp;left us a&nbsp;rating&nbsp;and&nbsp;review&nbsp;on the podcast player of your choice yet? Every review helps more people find the show.&nbsp;  &nbsp;  And please consider supporting our efforts through&nbsp;Patreon&nbsp;or&nbsp; PayPal.   &nbsp;  Links / Notes  This episode:&nbsp;ihose.co/trifles87  &nbsp; &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

The Good Doctor

A weekly program about details in the Sherlock Holmes stories.