Mr. Sherlock Holmes the Theorist

"On the very day that I had come to this conclusion" [STUD]&nbsp; It all began with a chance meeting between two medical school colleagues at the Criterion Bar. Stamford then took Watson to St Bartholomew's Hospital (aka "Barts"), where, in a chemical laboratory, he made the acquaintance of one Sherlock Holmes. In Season 6, we're bringing back our monthly series "Mr. Sherlock Holmes the Theorist," in which we use historic Sherlockian scholarship as a discussion point. In this case, we were inspired by William S. Baring-Gould's "The London of Holmes and Watson" in Vol. 9, No. 3 (1959) of The Baker Street Journal. We explore this fateful meeting, delve into the history of its time-honored location, and determine the exact date of its occurrence. It's just a Trifle.  NOTE: Be sure to catch the announcement of two regular drawings courtesy of our sponsor The Baker Street Journal, and how you can qualify.  Full show notes:  Support Trifles:

Great Beginnings

“One A, two B, and&nbsp;so on. You will hear soon.”&nbsp;[REDC]&nbsp;&nbsp;  The secret code that Genarro and Emilia Lucca shared for passing messages to each other in "The Red Circle" was straightforward. Or was it? &nbsp; In 1956, Donald Yates—then a 26 year-old budding Sherlockian—made an observation about the code, the alphabet(s), and the credit that was due to Sherlock Holmes for his invisible but lightning-quick analysis.&nbsp;It's just a Trifle.  &nbsp; &nbsp; ATTENTA: Don't forget: if you're interested in receiving some free back issues of&nbsp;The Baker Street Journal, we hold a drawing every month for our Patreon supporters. To be eligible to participate in this monthly drawing, go to&nbsp;.&nbsp; &nbsp;   Sponsor:&nbsp; Full show notes:  &nbsp; --   &nbsp;

A Final Illumination on the Lucca Code

“this extraordinary league” [REDH]&nbsp;&nbsp;  For fans of sportsball, the concept of fantasy leagues might seem like a modern invention. A late-20th century pastime of creating the ideal lineup of teammates for competition. But what if you could do that with literary characters? &nbsp; The first week of the month means it's time to look back at a piece of old scholarship, and in this case we've chosen Henry D. Scott's "Missing Three-Quarter One-Third Discovered" in&nbsp;The Baker Street Journal, Vol. 2, No. 2, (OS) 1947, in which he did just that. It's just a Trifle. &nbsp; Special note: we have a bonus clip for our Patreon supporters.  &nbsp; &nbsp;  Full show notes:&nbsp;  Thank you to our sponsor, The BSI Press. &nbsp; Please support Trifles on Patreon:  &nbsp;

Missing Three-Quarter One-Third Discovered

“Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small case-book”&nbsp;[SPEC]&nbsp; 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. &nbsp; In this episode, we look at an early piece that Martin Dakin wrote for&nbsp;The Sherlock Holmes Journal, questioning the authenticity of some of the stories in&nbsp;The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes. Which made the passing grade? It's just a Trifle. &nbsp; Don't forget: all of our Patreon supporters&nbsp;are eligible for our monthly and quarterly drawings.  Full show notes:&nbsp;  Thank you to our sponsor, the BSI Press. &nbsp; Please support Trifles on Patreon:  &nbsp;

The Problem of the Case-Book

“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

"some hocus-pocus" [SIGN] &nbsp;  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.  &nbsp; Full show notes:&nbsp;  Thank you to our sponsor,&nbsp;The Baker Street Journal. &nbsp; Please support Trifles on Patreon:  &nbsp;

Hocus Pocus

“one might think that you were afraid of our finding something out”&nbsp;[PRIO]&nbsp; 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&nbsp;Sherlock Holmes: Ten Literary Studies. &nbsp; Hall manages to find a clue buried later in "The Blanched Soldier" and traces it back to "The Priory School." What he found is enough to shock even the most devoted fans of Thorneycroft Huxtable, M.A., Ph.D., etc. It's just a Trifle. &nbsp; &nbsp; Links / Notes  This episode:&nbsp;  by Trevor Hall  by T.S. Blakeney Find us on&nbsp;,&nbsp;,&nbsp;&nbsp;and&nbsp; Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com Support us on&nbsp;&nbsp;and become eligible for our regular giveaways.  &nbsp; Sponsor  &nbsp; Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC:&nbsp; Copyright:&nbsp; &nbsp; -- &nbsp;

A Note on The Priory School

“As to your dates, that is the biggest mystification of all.” [CREE]&nbsp;&nbsp; With Season 4, we're starting a new monthly series that we're calling "Mr. Sherlock Holmes the Theorist." Each month, we'll be taking a look at what some early Sherlockian scholars had to say about certain trifling elements in the Sherlock Holmes stories. In this case, we're looking at "The Date of&nbsp;The Sign of Four" from H.W. Bell's&nbsp;, first published in 1934.&nbsp; It's more than a trifle.   &nbsp; Have you left us a&nbsp;rating&nbsp;and&nbsp;review&nbsp;on&nbsp; yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show.&nbsp;   We're available everywhere you listen to podcasts, including&nbsp;,&nbsp;,&nbsp;,&nbsp;, and&nbsp;.   &nbsp;  And please consider supporting our efforts through&nbsp;&nbsp;or&nbsp;. &nbsp;  Links / Notes  This episode:&nbsp; &nbsp;by H.W. Bell &nbsp;from the BSI Press   &nbsp;  Sponsor       &nbsp;  Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC:&nbsp; Copyright:&nbsp;  &nbsp;   --   &nbsp;

The Date of the Sign of Four

“I saw the American stamp” [DANC]&nbsp; For all of his familiarity with American cities, American police forces, American language and attire, Sherlock Holmes may very well have been American. A number of scholars have taken up the argument, including Christopher Morley in his famous essay. Even President Franklin Roosevelt tried his hand at it. It's just a trifle.  &nbsp;    Have you left us a&nbsp;rating&nbsp;and&nbsp;review&nbsp;on&nbsp; yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show.&nbsp;   We're available everywhere you listen to podcasts, including&nbsp;,&nbsp;,&nbsp;,&nbsp;, and&nbsp;.   And please consider supporting&nbsp;our efforts through&nbsp;&nbsp;or&nbsp;.  &nbsp;  Links / Notes  This episode:&nbsp; &nbsp;(Abebooks.com)  &nbsp; Sponsor       &nbsp;  Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC:&nbsp; Copyright:&nbsp;  &nbsp;   --   &nbsp;

Was Sherlock Holmes an American?

“Watson, the fair sex is your department” [SECO]&nbsp;&nbsp; There was a scandal in Sherlockian circles in the early 1940s. Author Rex Stout, BSI ("The Boscombe Valley Mystery"), creator of Nero Wolfe, after careful research, determined that Watson was a woman. He presented his facts in the&nbsp;Saturday Review of Literature&nbsp;and let them sit. They didn't sit well with all Sherlockians, and Julian Wolff, BSI ("The Red-Headed League") took up his pen to offer a retort in "That Was No Lady." Both essays appeared in Edgar W. Smith's&nbsp;, and we discussed them in our monthly feature "Mr. Sherlock Holmes the Theorist" episode. It's just a Trifle.&nbsp; &nbsp;  Have you left us a 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; We're available everywhere you listen to podcasts, including ,&nbsp;,&nbsp;,&nbsp;, and&nbsp;.    And please consider 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;

Watson Was a Woman

“Your hand stole towards your own old wound” [CARD]&nbsp; Watson returns from Afghanistan, recovering from a wound in the shoulder and the aftereffects of disease. But we later discover that he had a leg wound as well.&nbsp; Could it be the delirium that caused him to misstate his injuries? Or was there another reason for his error? Two old pieces of Sherlockian scholarship&nbsp;– one from the 1940s and another from the 1950s&nbsp;– each have a different theory. Which is correct? 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;  Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts:   &nbsp;  &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 Mystery of Watson's Second Wound

“Billy advanced and drew away” [MAZA]&nbsp;&nbsp; We're used to reading about Mrs. Hudson ushering clients in and out, and providing various domestic services for Sherlock Holmes. But now and again, we find ourselves in the presence of young Billy, the page. What was a page? And was Billy the only one at 221B Baker Street? In Vol. 2, No. 3 of&nbsp;The Sherlock Holmes Journal, G.B. Newton made an assessment of who served and when in his article "Billy the Page," and in our monthly "Mr. Sherlock Holmes the Theorist" feature, we test his hypothesis. 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;     Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts:   &nbsp;  &nbsp;  And please consider&nbsp;supporting&nbsp;our efforts through&nbsp;&nbsp;or&nbsp;.  &nbsp;  Links / Notes  This episode:&nbsp; &nbsp;- Wikipedia    &nbsp;  Sponsor       &nbsp;  Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC:&nbsp; Copyright:&nbsp;  &nbsp;   --   &nbsp;

Billy the Page

“an historical curiosity” [MUSG]&nbsp; It's the third week of the month, which means it's our regular feature in Season 4: Mr. Sherlock Holmes the Theorist, the episode in which we investigate an old piece of Sherlockian scholarship and offer our commentary. This month, we feature "The Historicity of Sherlock Holmes" by Prof. Dirk J. Struik. Presented to the Speckled Band of Boston, it first appeared in print in the 1947 publication&nbsp;The Second Cab. Professor Struik's own association with the Band is just as interesting as his paper.&nbsp; It's just a Trifle.   &nbsp;    Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts:  &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;/&nbsp;&nbsp;(AbeBooks)   &nbsp; Sponsor      &nbsp; Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC:&nbsp; Copyright:&nbsp; &nbsp; -- &nbsp;

The Historicity of Sherlock Holmes

“accomplished, a wonder woman in every way” [ILLU]&nbsp;&nbsp; Each month, we look at a piece of Sherlockian or Holmesian scholarship that might be outside of your ken, and discuss its merits or faults. This month, we look at Mollie Hardwick's "Women of the Canon: 1 - Women of Influence" from&nbsp;The Sherlock Holmes Journal, Vol. 10, No. 1 (Summer, 1972).  Hardwick thought it was worth delving into who some of the powerful women were who were not Irene Adler. Is one of your favorites discussed? It's just a Trifle. &nbsp; &nbsp;    Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: &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; Also by Mollie Hardwick:  (with Michael Hardwick)  &nbsp; Sponsor      &nbsp; Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC:&nbsp; Copyright:&nbsp; &nbsp; -- &nbsp;

The Women of Influence

"in the capacity of governess" [SIGN]&nbsp; Sherlock Holmes had a number of clients who were women, and in certain cases, they were gainfully employed. In her article in&nbsp;The Sherlock Holmes Journal, Vol. 10, No. 2, Patsy Dalton takes us through some of these clients. &nbsp; What was the status of the "working girl" at the time, and what range of professions do we see from them? How do these roles bear on their consideration in society? It's just a Trifle.    &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 Working Girls

&nbsp;&nbsp;"Title and money—who could carry them better&nbsp;than she?" [ABBE]&nbsp; &nbsp;  We've investigated which women were influential in their own right in the Sherlock Holmes stories, and then those who had to work for a living. Next up, we look at women with titles. In her article in&nbsp;The Sherlock Holmes Journal, Vol. 10, No. 3, Pat Dalton reviewed some such ladies. &nbsp; Of course the term "lady" is a title granted to a certain class, but in late Victorian times it was becoming a title based on behavior and deportment as well. Which characters might we be talking about here? It's just a Trifle.     &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;     &nbsp; Sponsor      &nbsp; Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC:&nbsp; Copyright:&nbsp; &nbsp; -- &nbsp;

Ladies of Title

&nbsp;“You have been cruelly used” [SPEC]&nbsp; We're at the end of our four-part series on Women in the Canon from The Best of the Sherlock Holmes Journal, Vol. 2. This time we look at "The Victims." &nbsp; That may seem a broad topic for a 20-something minute podcast. And it is. But we hit some of the highlights on which women were the most cruelly used and Conan Doyle's take on women's rights.&nbsp; It's just a Trifle.    &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;  Previous episodes in this series:&nbsp;          &nbsp; Sponsor      &nbsp; Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC:&nbsp; Copyright:&nbsp; &nbsp; -- &nbsp;

The Victims

&nbsp;“we made our way back to Baker Street” [3GAR]&nbsp;  &nbsp;  The address is legendary. Synonymous with its famous inhabitant, just as the deerstalker and meerschaum pipe. But it may be just as fanciful as those two accoutrements. &nbsp; This is the first in a two-part discussion of Baker Street of the Victorian era, and where Sherlock Holmes was supposed to have lived. What was different then? 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;  Links / Notes  This episode:&nbsp;  by Vincent Starrett "The Street and the Detective" by A.J. Hearn from the 1957 Baker Street Journal Christmas Annual (available via the )   &nbsp; Sponsor      &nbsp; Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC:&nbsp; Copyright:&nbsp; &nbsp; -- &nbsp;

The Location of 221B, Part 1

&nbsp;&nbsp;“I have my eye on a suite in Baker Street”&nbsp;[STUD]&nbsp;  &nbsp;  In the first part of this two-episode series, we looked at the Baker Street area of Victorian London and the changes that it has seen in the century and a half since that time. &nbsp; This time, we sharpen our powers of observation and search for the specific address that must have stood in for 221B Baker Street in Holmes's time. Many Sherlockian scholars have attempted to identify it. Who was right? 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;  Links / Notes  This episode:&nbsp;  (The BSI Archival Series)    &nbsp; Sponsor      &nbsp; Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC:&nbsp; Copyright:&nbsp; &nbsp; -- &nbsp;

The Location of 221B, Part 2

“Holmes smiled and rubbed his hands” [WIST]&nbsp;  &nbsp;  Sherlock Holmes enjoyed breakfast. But it was often interrupted. He had a variable knowledge of botany but knew enough to feel chagrined for missing green peas at 7:30.  What can we tell about Sherlock Holmes's food habits from Earle Walbridge's essay from 1940 titled "The Care and Feeding of Sherlock Holmes"? It's the monthly installment of our "Mr. Sherlock Holmes the Theorist" theme, and 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;  Links / Notes  This episode:&nbsp; "The Care and Feeding of Sherlock Holmes" by Earle F. Walbridge in&nbsp; Previous episodes mentioned in this show:         &nbsp; Sponsor      &nbsp; Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC:&nbsp; Copyright:&nbsp; &nbsp; -- &nbsp;

The Care and Feeding of Sherlock Holmes

A weekly program about details in the Sherlock Holmes stories.

Mr. Sherlock Holmes the Theorist

Sherlock Holmes: Trifles