Exemplary Sherlockian scholarship from years past.

Masters Class

Alcohol

“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mind of Nicholas Utechin, who presents a well-reasoned and well-researched explanation for what happened in one of the unpublished cases.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"

“a nice taste in wines”&nbsp;[LAST]&nbsp;    &nbsp;  In this month's Masters Class, we turn for the final time to a work of Edgar W. Smith's, "Up From the Needle," as featured in Vol. 2, No. 1 (1947) of The Baker Street Journal.&nbsp; &nbsp; Edgar takes us away from the canard of Sherlock Holmes as a drug addict and gives us an oenophile's assessment of Sherlock Holmes as a wine fancier. It's just a Trifle. &nbsp; 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&nbsp;Baker Street Journals.&nbsp;. &nbsp; And we have , where the conversation continued.      &nbsp;   &nbsp; Links / Notes  This episode:&nbsp; Soundcloud playlist:   Find us on&nbsp;,&nbsp;,&nbsp;&nbsp;and&nbsp; Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com Listen to us ad-free 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;   &nbsp;  &nbsp;

Up From the Needle

"gone to the nearest public house" [SOLI]&nbsp; We owe the entire Canon to Watson's drinking habits. Because he found himself at the Criterion Bar, he eventually found his way to Holmes. And just as importantly, public houses, taverns and bars play a role throughout the Sherlock Holmes stories. These locations are where they gathered intelligence, and met clients, or simply refreshed themselves. In the spirit of British pubs, we'll treat you to a bit of a pub quiz. Let's see how you do. &nbsp; Please leave us a rating and review on iTunes or Google Play, and consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. &nbsp; Links  Academic Festival Overture by Johannes Brahms Gaudeamus igitur Bright College Days by Tom Lehrer   Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band. Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 &nbsp;

Pubs and Taverns, Part 1

"back to the same establishment" [GOLD]&nbsp; The last time we met, we were in the middle of a pub quiz. How were you doing? We're going to pick up where we left off, talking about various public houses, bars, taverns and inns that were mentioned in the Sherlock Holmes stories. Each played an important role in the story in which it was set. And as a bonus, we'll get you inside some of the real-life establishments* that you might stroll past the next time you're in London.  *We're pleased to report that the Criterion is open, but under the name Savini at Criterion. &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;  Links  Episode 21 - Pubs and Taverns, Part 1 The Criterion - now Savini at Criterion The Criterion as seen in The Dark Knight The Sherlock Holmes Pub  &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; &nbsp;

Pubs and Taverns, Part 2

"as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street" [REDH]&nbsp; &nbsp; Step into the sitting room at 221B Baker Street with us again and look around, as we take in the sights, smells and sounds within that most famous of addresses.&nbsp; &nbsp; This time, we investigate the physical elements that accompany alcoholic drinks within the walls of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson's abode. Namely: the gasogene and tantalus. We explore the origins of those phrases and discuss them in detail. &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;  And please consider supporting our efforts through&nbsp;Patreon&nbsp;or&nbsp; PayPal.&nbsp;&nbsp;  &nbsp; Links / Notes   This episode:&nbsp;ihose.co/trifles63 Tantalus&nbsp;(spirit case) Tantalus&nbsp;(Greek god) Gasogene "A little song, a little dance..."  I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere&nbsp;Episode 132: Unquiet Spirits&nbsp;(Bonnie MacBird)  &nbsp; Music credits&nbsp;    Performers:&nbsp;Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra&nbsp;     Publisher Info.:&nbsp;Washington, DC:&nbsp;United States Marine Band Copyright:&nbsp;Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Inside 221B: Drink Up!

"any other spirit but rum" [BLAC]&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; We're accustomed to thinking about Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson being associated with whiskey and brandy. But there are plenty of other kinds of alcohol in the Canon. &nbsp; More than the infamous Imperial Tokay of "His Last Bow," or the ancient and cobwebby bottles, there are some curious references to wine and spirits that warrant your attention. Even if they're a trifle.   &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/trifles86    &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

Wine & Spirits

"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.

Up From the Needle

Sherlock Holmes: Trifles