Exemplary Sherlockian scholarship from years past.

Masters Class

The 25 (or so) episodes we chose as our favorite from the first 400 episodes of Trifles

Favorites from the Great 400

“men of such a different type” [SOLI]
We're beginning a new monthly series focused on some of the best scholarship over the years. The kind of articles that highlight the creativity and ingenuity of Sherlockians and Holmesians as they consider some of the minutiae in the stories. The best of the best. We're calling this series "Masters Class." 

In this inaugural episode, we look at an award-winning article from Baker Street Irregular and legendary science fiction writer Poul Anderson, on the archetype of Sherlock Holmes. From Archimedes to Merlin to Tolkien and a little farther into the future, it's just a Trifle.  

Don't forget: Patreon supporters are eligible for&nbsp;two&nbsp;regular drawings, courtesy of our sponsor The Baker Street Journal. Go to https://patreon.com/trifles.  

Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles264

The Archetypical Sherlock Holmes

“the source of these outrages is known” [VEIL]&nbsp;&nbsp;  The Masters Class series continues, and this time, we delve into the active mind of Nicholas Utechin, who presents a well-reasoned and well-researched explanation for what happened in one of the unpublished cases. &nbsp; We find ourselves focusing on the opening paragraph of "The Veiled Lodger," which took place in 1896 but was published in early 1927. Somewhere between those dates lies the truth, and it may be more than just a Trifle.  &nbsp; Full show notes:   Thank you to our sponsor, The Baker Street Journal. &nbsp;

The Politician, the Lighthouse, and the Trained Cormorant

"I want that yellow diamond!” [MAZA] The&nbsp;Masters Class series continues, and this time, Peter Blau instructs us on some finer points of geology and of geopolitical history.&nbsp; "The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone" featured a yellow diamond, and yet, the Crown Jewels don't contain a diamond of that color. So what was the gem and where did it originate? It's just a Trifle. &nbsp;    Full show notes:&nbsp; Thank you to our sponsor,&nbsp;

In Memoriam: Muzzafar ad-Din

“There’s not a tree in the park”&nbsp;[EMPT]&nbsp; The third week of the month means it's time for Master's Class: a look at an exemplary piece of Sherlockian scholarship from over the years.&nbsp; &nbsp; In this episode, we look at Nicholas Utechin's masterful piece from the 1972&nbsp;Baker Street Journal&nbsp;in which he deduced exactly where Colonel Moran was when he shot the Hon. Ronald Adair in "The Empty House." Or was it Moran at all? It's just a Trifle. &nbsp; Don't forget: all of our&nbsp;&nbsp;are eligible for our monthly and quarterly drawings. &nbsp;  Full show notes:&nbsp;  Thank you to our sponsor,&nbsp;The Baker Street Journal. &nbsp; Please support Trifles on Patreon:  &nbsp;

The Tree That Wasn't

"a remarkable cow" [PRIO] The third week of the month means it's time for Master's Class: a look at an exemplary piece of Sherlockian scholarship from over the years.&nbsp; &nbsp; In this episode, we turn to an award-winning article in&nbsp;The Baker Street Journal. S. Tupper Bigelow pondered the patterns of hoof-marks as laid out in various editions of the Canon, and won the Morley-Montgomery Award in 1962 for it. It's just a Trifle. &nbsp; &nbsp;  Full show notes:&nbsp;  Thank you to our sponsor,&nbsp;The Baker Street Journal. &nbsp; Please support Trifles on Patreon:  &nbsp;

The Hoof-Marks in "The Priory School"

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

"The chain of events is certainly one of extraordinary interest." [NAVA]&nbsp; Nepotism, bullying, carelessness and a locked room mystery&nbsp;— "The Naval Treaty" has it all. A young government employee is given a top secret assignment that keeps him at his desk late at night, but the document he was working on goes missing. And it's up to Sherlock Holmes to find the culprit. &nbsp; Clocking in at 12,701 words, this story is the longest of the 56 short stories in the Sherlock Holmes canon. But should it really have taken Holmes that long to figure out the mystery? We discuss some of the finer points of the story, including glaring plot point that you may have missed before. &nbsp; Please&nbsp;leave us a rating and review&nbsp;on the podcast player of your choice, and consider supporting our efforts through&nbsp;Patreon&nbsp;or&nbsp;PayPal. &nbsp; Links  Please nominate us for a&nbsp;People's Choice Award&nbsp;or in the&nbsp;Arts&nbsp;category in the&nbsp;2017 Podcast Awards "The Naval Treaty" "Bob's your uncle"   &nbsp; Music credits    Performers:&nbsp;Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra&nbsp;   Publisher Info.:&nbsp;Washington, DC:&nbsp;United States Marine Band&nbsp;   Copyright:&nbsp;Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 &nbsp;

A Lengthy Treaty

"there was peace in our hearts" [SIGN]&nbsp; &nbsp;  Peace in the canon. Reading the Sherlock Holmes stories to find peace is something like going to Casablanca for the water.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"But there are no waters in Casablanca."&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"I was misinformed." &nbsp; Regardless, during this season of peace, we reflect on moments — even if they're glimpses — of bucolic, peaceful moments we find scattered throughout the Sherlock Holmes canon. They're there, if you look for them — trifling as they may be. &nbsp;  Have you&nbsp;left us a rating and 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; Links / Notes  Christmas Peace&nbsp;(Wikipedia)   &nbsp; Music credits    Performers:&nbsp;Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra&nbsp;   Publisher Info.:&nbsp;Washington, DC:&nbsp;United States Marine Band&nbsp;   Copyright:&nbsp;Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 &nbsp;

Peace in the Canon

"applying his tape to the walls" [STUD]&nbsp;  There's quite a bit we know about the inner sanctum of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson at 221B Baker Street. The cozy sitting room with its fireplace and windows at once beckons us in to look around. &nbsp; Upon glancing at the walls, though: what do we see? Is it typical of Victorian bachelor decor? Or is there hidden meaning behind any of the wall hangings? We investigate the trifling matter of the walls of the sitting room at 221B. &nbsp; Have you left us a rating and review on the podcast player of your choice yet? We could really use your help. &nbsp; And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. &nbsp; Links / Notes  This episode: ihose.co/trifles59 "The Cardboard Box"  &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; -- &nbsp;

Inside 221B: On the Wall

A weekly program about details in the Sherlock Holmes stories.

The Hoof-Marks in "The Priory School"

Sherlock Holmes: Trifles