"it is the only personal introduction" [SUSS]  "Just what the world needs," you tell yourself. "Another biography of Arthur Conan Doyle." Full disclosure: we thought the same thing. Until we read Arthur and Sherlock by Michael Sims. And then our attitudes changed. And then even more so after having a conversation with the author. Fortunately, we recorded that conversation and we're sharing it with you here. Michael shared with us the impact of books on his young mind, his journey to writing, and how his earlier works on E.B. White and Henry David Thoreau inspired his style for this book. From Baring-Gould to Joseph Bell, we touch on many familiar names and go deep into this exploration of the elements that inspired Conan Doyle to create his master detective. And, if you listen carefully, you'll discover how a certain intestinal discomfort prevented Doyle from killing himself.   And please consider joining our . Your support helps us to ensure we can keep doing what we do, covering file hosting costs, production, and this year, transcription services. Sponsors This episode includes our two longtime sponsors. Please support our sponsors by visiting their sites: , where you can find The Illustrated Speckled Band: The Original 1910 Stage Production in Script and Photographs. , which includes the written transcripts of the annual Baker Street Irregulars Distinguished Lecture series. Notes 2:21 Welcome 5:53 Sponsor: Wessex Press 7:37 Welcome Michael Sims 11:47 Michael's uncanny ability to time the market 17:00 Michael's first meeting with Sherlock Holmes 22:31 Beginning a writing career 28:39 Bringing Joseph Bell to life 38:07 Sponsor: Baker Street Journal 39:42 Bell's own mentor 47:40 Doyle and Teddy Roosevelt 51:25 The origin of "Sherringford Hope" 55:09 Why stop now? 57:15 Conan Doyle's fan mail 1:05:47 Interview conclusion 1:12:26 Sherlock Holmes Brand ad 1:13:19 Closing remarks Links (Amazon) (Barnes and Noble) Laurie R. King and Leslie Klinger on . Please , , , or and be kind enough to leave a rating or review for the show. And please tell a friend about us, in any fashion you feel comfortable. Your thoughts on the show? Leave a comment below, send us an email (comment AT ihearofsherlock DOT com), call us at (774) 221-READ (7323). Full transcript available at ihose.co/ihose117.

"not enough to hold her back"  [YELL]     You can't swing a dead cat without hitting a Sherlock Holmes news item these days. Wait — perhaps that's not the best metaphor. How about "you can't turn around without seeing a Sherlock Holmes story." Much better. We decided to pick a handful of news (and non-news) stories related to Sherlock Holmes and go to town. From Stephen Fry's recent audio recordings of the stories to using the Canon as a modern-day text for would-be Joseph Bells in training, to British shows available via a new streaming service in the US, to Sherlock Holmes as a model for writers — these stories and more make up our paean to the great detective. Plus, Lyndsay Faye inspired our Gas-Lamp with her piece "Why We Can't Get Enough of Sherlock Holmes."   Sponsors This episode includes our two longtime sponsors. Please support our sponsors by visiting their sites: , home of the ever-expanding Sherlock Holmes and Conan Doyle in the Newspapers, now at Volume 3. , where we certainly can't get enough of Sherlock Holmes, as the publication continues at the same strong pace since 1946.   Many more links, articles and images are available in our Flipboard magazine at , as well as on the on Google+ (with over 4,100 members), as well as through our accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Please subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Soundcloud, Stitcher or Spreaker and be kind enough to leave a rating or review for the show. And please tell a friend about us, in any fashion you feel comfortable. Your thoughts on the show? Leave a comment below, send us an email (comment AT ihearofsherlock DOT com), call us at (774) 221-READ (7323).

"we appeared to be two theatre-goers" [CHAS]  Tim Greer, BSI ("The Ragged Shaw") joins us for this episode in which we explore some of the intricacies and challenges of producing Sherlock Holmes on the stage. For anyone who's been to a major gathering of Sherlockians in the last few years, Tim should be no stranger. From his home base in Memphis to 221B Con and the BSI Weekend, he's been seen in exquisite and faithful costumes inspired by William Gillette, Jeremy Brett an Basil Rathbone. Tim is an award winning Sherlockian, having been honored with the Beacon Award from the Beacon Society and the Morley Montgomery Award for the best article in the Baker Street Journal in 2014. Tim's specialty is the theater, and he shares his inspiration with us, ranging from the difficulty in physically portraying a cerebral character to the proper staging and set decoration of the sitting rooms at 221B Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes has been presented on stage in one way or another for 125 years and there continue to be many interpretations and inspirations ahead. Plus, a new Sherlock Holmes Brand ad and a special Easter egg.   Sponsors This episode includes our two longtime sponsors. Please support our sponsors by visiting their sites: Wessex Press, where you can find the complete Sherlock Holmes Reference Library by Leslie S. Klinger. The Baker Street Journal, where you can find inclusiveness, a repose from the busy world, and connections with like-minded individuals. Notes 1:33 Aging like a fine French wine 2:40 February is the cruelest month 6:40 What's going on over at Trifles 7:34 Wessex Press 8:50 Welcome to Tim Greer 11:20 Early inspirations 16:31 Turning toward the theater 19:15 "This may be controversial..." 29:30 One of the biggest challenges of portraying Sherlock Holmes 33:52 The influence of Jeremy Brett 37:26 The Baker Street Journal 39:34 Set design - from cartonniers to Moroccan tables 46:15 Bringing the sitting room to life on set 53:32 A stage production inspiring one of the original Sherlock Holmes stories 57:35 About that set from The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes... 1:04:04 Sherlock Holmes Brand spot 1:05:03 Other thoughts on Holmes and the theater 1:10:00 The game's afoot! 1:10:47 Frozen Peas, Fish Fingers and Beef Burgers, oh my! Links Trifles, our other show Sherlock Holmes, starring Clive Brook (1932) Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street: A Life of the World's First Consulting Detective by William S. Baring-Gould Frank Langella as Sherlock Holmes Jeremy Brett in Number 10 Sherlockian Ice Bucket Challenge Cartonnier (filing cabinet) Design Decoded (commentary on Smithsonian article) Episode 73: Ken Ludwig Episode 10: The Secret of Sherlock Holmes Orson Welles at his finest

"Has anything escaped me?" [HOUN]  There's a reason Vincent Starrett wrote "Here, though the world explode, these two survive,/ And it is always eighteen ninety-five." Whether it was in the 1940s or today, the world offers a up a variety of stressors and developments that cause one to wish to simply forget about it all for a while. Hence, the concept of escapism. The pastime of Sherlock Holmes is a form of escapism, and we explore what it means, the origin of the phrase, and how it differs from procrastination. And there were a number of individuals in the Canon who were escaping from something or who wished to bury themselves in some sort of distraction or hobby. From Irene Adler to Selden, Hugh Boone to Brunton, J. Neil Gibson to Elsie Cubitt, there were reasons to withdraw and escape; and Stapleton, Baron Gruner, and Sherlock Holmes himself had hobbies that kept them otherwise occupied from time to time. Plus, we wrap up with an escapist Gas-Lamp: Bill Schweikert's "A Long Evening with Holmes."   Sponsors Wessex Press, with The Watson Chronicles by Ann Margaret Lewis. The Baker Street Journal, where you'll find many reasons to escape in every issue.   Notes 1:33 Hello there and a brainstorm 6:25 Wessex Press 7:39 Our other show 10:26 Escapism and the Sherlock Holmes stories 18:48 Hobbies as escapes 22:35 Polyphonic motets of Lassus 23:41 The great hiatus — escapism at its most extreme 29:10 The likelihood of Watson cramming for a Chinese pottery exam 33:45 Conan Doyle's interests and hobbies 35:26 Peter Carey was ahead of his time 39:54 The Baker Street Journal 41:22 The Sherlock Holmes News 57:50 Editor's Gas-Lamp 1:00:33 Listener comment 1:03:49 The game's afoot! 1:04:39 The Procrastination Song   Many more links, articles and images are available in our Flipboard magazine at ihose.co/flipsherlock, as well as on the The Sherlock Holmes Community on Google+ (with over 4,100 members), as well as through our accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Please subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Soundcloud, Stitcher or Spreaker and be kind enough to leave a rating or review for the show. And please tell a friend about us, in any fashion you feel comfortable. Your thoughts on the show? Leave a comment below, send us an email (comment AT ihearofsherlock DOT com), call us at (774) 221-READ (7323). --

" dancing across the paper" [DANC]  The opportunity to see an original Conan Doyle manuscript up close and to transcribe it word for word is a rare one. Which is why Ray Betzner, BSI ("The Agony Column") jumped at the opportunity and buttonholed David Morrill, BSI ("Count Von Kramm") to assist with the editing Dancing to Death, the latest volume in the Baker Street Irregulars Manuscript Series, which covers "The Adventure of the Dancing Men." Ray tells us about his budding interest in Sherlock Holmes and how it began with his discovery of Vincent Starrett — and a twice-failed driving test. And he continues with the origin story of this long-unseen manuscript, the choice of authors and topics — from an authority in ciphers to the first BSI to see the manuscript, to the role of sound, to the "manuscript police" — and an admiration for the ingenuity, creativity and expertise for their work. But it goes deeper than that: Ray shares his misgivings about this story, which is one that it is actually a failure for Sherlock Holmes. He broke the code, but he also let his client down, ultimately resulting in the Hilton Cubitt's death. Even the story itself is one that focused on the puzzle rather than on the people. Plus, a new Sherlock Holmes brand ad and a very special visit from a longtime favorite of ours.   Sponsors This episode includes our two longtime sponsors. Please support our sponsors by visiting their sites: Wessex Press, with Unmitigated Bleat by Paul Herbert, BSI. The Baker Street Journal, where you'll find many volumes of the BSI Manuscript Series and the BSI International Series. Notes 1:33 Recovering from the recovery from the New Year 3:17 Teasing a new feature: Elementary comic strip, courtesy of Steve and Rusty Mason 4:05 Wessex Press 5:19 For peat's sake! 5:55 Welcoming Ray Betzner, BSI ("The Agony Column") 7:10 A little bit about Vincent Starrett 10:53 The selection of the editors of Dancing to Death 13:43 The backstory on the discovery of the manuscript 18:30 John Jones / Hilton Jones / Hilton Cubitt and a Mary Morstan Watsonism 21:24 Ten essays cover a wide range of topics about the story 25:33 Misgivings about "The Dancing Men" 29:02 A story designed around the puzzle 30:40 Conan Doyle's pin cipher in WWI and the attraction of ciphers to literary types 37:17 Chicago just can't shake its reputation 46:05 Baker Street Journal 47:35 Sherlock Holmes Brand Codemaster 3000 48:34 Wrapping up and an important announcement 51:42 The game's afoot! 52:29 An extra Many more links, articles and images are available in our Flipboard magazine at ihose.co/flipsherlock, as well as on the The Sherlock Holmes Community on Google+ (with over 4,100 members), as well as through our accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Please subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Soundcloud, Stitcher or Spreaker and be kind enough to leave a rating or review for the show. And please tell a friend about us, in any fashion you feel comfortable. Your thoughts on the show? Leave a comment below, send us an email (comment AT ihearofsherlock DOT com), call us at (774) 221-READ (7323).

"their celebrated colleague" [VALL]    It's 2017 and we're back from the BSI Weekend, with tales of friends, listeners, authors and more. Things we learned included Bonnie MacBird's next Sherlock Holmes novel that involves whisky; a future edition of a Sherlock Holmes companion from Cambridge University Press; the Society of Illustrators has a wonderful cafe, where we held the annual meeting of the Three Hours for Lunch Club, and subsequently, we'll be recommending Frederic Dorr Steele as a future Hall of Fame Member at the Society. We debate the possibility of or need for regular electronic updates of the eBSJ archives — or even a concurrent digital option of the Journal — leading to a broader discussion of print versus digital publications.   And of course we touch on the latest goings-on with Sherlock.   The Gas-Lamp this time is made up of the lyrics of the Harvey Officer song "On the Road to Baker Street," with abject apologies to Rudyard Kipling, Frank Sinatra, and anyone with a musical ear.      Sponsors This episode includes our two longtime sponsors. Please support our sponsors by visiting their sites: Wessex Press, with its latest edition of Sherlock Holmes and Conan Doyle in the Newspapers by Mattias Bostrom, BSI and Matt Laffey. The Baker Street Journal, where you can subscribe to the 2017 BSJ and pick up the latest from the BSI Manuscript Series and the BSI International Series.     Notes 1:36 Hello, Happy New Year, and freshly returned 4:07 Wessex Press 5:21 Recap and looking ahead 6:57 The highlights from our latest Sherlockian event 9:00 A view of Sherlock Holmes "from both sides" 12:37 A fascinating tale of Frederic Dorr Steele illustrations 14:30 On the importance of pausing to reflect — particularly in the absence of technology 20:32 Cumulative anniversaries and an electronic future 30:44 LISTENER PARTICIPATION: your favorite Sherlockian publication 32:02 The Baker Street Journal 36:23 Of hotels and reading materials from the BSI Weekend 38:54 News: an update on Sherlock 46:10 The Gas-Lamp 51:15 Stories, links, products and the like in our Flipboard magazine 57:30 The game's afoot!      Please subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Soundcloud, Stitcher or Spreaker and be kind enough to leave a rating or review for the show. And please tell a friend about us, in any fashion you feel comfortable.   Your thoughts on the show? Leave a comment below, send us an email (comment AT ihearofsherlock DOT com), call us at (774) 221-READ (7323).

"Yes, Mr. Holmes, I teach music." [SOLI]    It's our final show of 2016, we welcome Karen Wilson to the program to discuss a variety of musical associations of hers with Sherlock Holmes. From teaching to composing to performing, she does it all, and incorporates that into her Sherlockian pursuits.   We're treated to one of the best toasts of the year, "Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street," performed for us by Karen. It was inspired by "Alexander Hamilton" from the hit musical Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and it does not disappoint.   Karen shares with us her muse, the creative process, her other inspirations and more in this memorable interview. Plus, a solution for getting kids to put down those pesky electronic devices. Burt and Scott mention some Sherlockian resolutions for 2017; what are yours? And do you have suggestions for guests for 2017? Let us know with a call, a comment, or an email.       And please consider becoming a regular supporter of ours on . Your support helps us to meet production costs.   Sponsors This episode includes our two longtime sponsors. Please support our sponsors by visiting their sites: , which is debuting Unmitigated Bleat by Paul Herbert, BSI at the BSI Weekend. , where you can subscribe to the 2017 BSJ.    Would you care to become a sponsor? You can find .   Notes 1:35 Hello and introduction 2:21 Sherlockian resolutions for 2017 6:30 Wessex Press 7:45 A quick Doctor Who aside 9:22 Karen Wilson joins the show 14:30 Burt discovers Karen's hidden talent with a Hamilton-inspired toast 23:15 The creative process 26:57 Looking back at other Sherlockian music, including Harvey Officer and his contributions 33:42 Gilbert and Sullivan parodies are typically well-received, such as "He Is the Very Model of the Modern Major Medico" 36:02 Flanders and Swann inspire 42:42 Appearing at the Gaslight Gala 47:55 A new Sherlockian society idea 51:09 Sherlock Holmes Brand  52:06 The Baker Street Journal 53:40 Final thoughts for 2016     Links  by Tom Lehrer recording  by Anna Russell Ralph Vaughn Wiliams' by Carey Blyton , inspired by his    Many more links, articles and images are available in our Flipboard magazine at  , as well as on the  on Google+ (with over 3,900 members), as well as through our accounts on  , , ,   and .     Please , , ,  or  and be kind enough to leave a rating or review for the show. And please tell a friend about us, in any fashion you feel comfortable.   Your thoughts on the show? Leave a comment below, send us an email (comment AT ihearofsherlock DOT com), call us at (774) 221-READ (7323).

"It is for the convenience of these that the Diogenes Club was started" [GREE]  Sherlockian societies are literally everywhere.  — we'll wait. And just as there are many things that make them unique, there are just as many that bind them together. Whether it's traditions, geography, frequency, or program style, Sherlock Holmes is at the center of it all. And while Sherlock and his brother Mycroft felt right at home at the Diogenes Club, which was created for the most unsociable and unclubbable men around, Sherlockian gatherings exist for just the opposite reason. We band together because we're gregarious people and we have a common love of all things related to the Sherlock Holmes stories. Burt's recent travels have taken him to a number of Sherlock Holmes groups, and he reflects on what's special about each. You might find some confluence with groups you belong to; or perhaps there are stark differences. Leave us a comment and let us know what you think other interested Sherlockians should know about your local group's traditions.   Listen along to hear about these and other discoveries, including Scott's revelation that there's a difference between the and the Hoboken-free state. Top it off with our Gas-Lamp, the poem "" by Charles E. Lauterbach, which appeared in the 1958 Baker Street Journal Christmas Annual.     Please consider becoming a regular supporter of ours on . Your support helps us to meet production costs.   Sponsors This episode includes our two longtime sponsors. Please support our sponsors by visiting their sites: , which is debuting Sherlock Holmes and Conan Doyle in the Newspapers, Volume 3 at the BSI Weekend. , where you can purchase the eBSJ.    Would you care to become a sponsor? You can find .     Notes 1:32 Hello and introduction 2:49 Wessex Press 4:15 There's another podcast out there 6:54 The people and the groups related to our hobby 11:01 The Grillparzer Club of the Hoboken Free State 15:28 The Christopher Morley Walk at the Baker Street Irregulars and Friends Weekend 18:56 Frequency, traditions and creativity galore mean unique experiences 33:55 Let's hear about your area's Sherlockian society's traditions 34:52 The News! 38:15 Tribute to Andrew Sachs 43:52 The Baker Street Journal 45:23 The Editor's Gas-Lamp 52:23 Your help needed   Links podcast podcast A globally website , after a slight issue of IHOSE Find events at the Remembering and Our   Many more links, articles and images are available in our Flipboard magazine at  , as well as on the  on Google+ (with over 3,900 members), as well as through our accounts on  , , ,   and .   Please , , ,  or  and be kind enough to leave a rating or review for the show. And please tell a friend about us, in any fashion you feel comfortable. Your thoughts on the show? Leave a comment below, send us an email (comment AT ihearofsherlock DOT com), call us at (774) 221-READ (7323).

"Holmes crouched down behind the screen" [HOUN]   Every four years, the Baker Street Irregulars host a conference of sorts. We shared with you some of our impressions from the Chautauqua conference in .   This time, we step back to the conference immediately preceding it - Behind the Canonical Screen, which took place in Los Angeles at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television in 2012. We're joined by Lyndsay Faye, BSI ("Kitty Winter"), ASH and Ashley Polasek, ASH, who co-edited the book containing the papers and presentations from the conference, , published by the BSI Press.   They tell us about the goings-on at the conference, of watching the screenings while attending an academic symposium, the power of symbolism, costume and more. We have two sponsors, plus a bonus Sherlock Holmes Brand ad, for your listening pleasure.   Please consider becoming a regular supporter of ours on . Your support helps us to meet production costs.   Sponsors This episode includes our two longtime sponsors. Please support our sponsors by visiting their sites:     Links (for sale at bakerstreetjournal.com) Lyndsay Faye is  on Twitter and can be found at Ashley Polasek is  on Twitter. Many more links, articles and images are available in our Flipboard magazine at  , as well as on the  on Google+ (with over 3,900 members), as well as through our accounts on  , , ,   and .   Please , , ,  or  and be kind enough to leave a rating or review for the show. And please tell a friend about us, in any fashion you feel comfortable.   Your thoughts on the show? Leave a comment below, send us an email (comment AT ihearofsherlock DOT com), call us at (774) 221-READ (7323).

"If a man has a hobby, he follows it up" [ILLU]  One of the perennially favorite sets of episodes is the Sherlockian 101 series we did (originally Episode 4 and Episode 5). Many of our longtime listeners may have heard these, but some may not have listened to them in a while. And we recognize that we may have new listeners who may not have gone through our extensive back catalog. Therefore, we decided to resurrect and combine these episodes into one larger show to help you understand just what goes in to this little hobby of ours. From the original stories, to the advent of Sherlock Holmes as a pop culture figure, our love of all things Victorian and just getting started, you'll get a good grounding in the language and customs of our hobby. Then, we'll help you understand the community of people that we call Sherlockians (or is that Holmesians?) who have been at this for over 100 years. From the publications they produce to the meetings they hold, we'll give you a grounding of the language, names and even traditions at some of these groups. We'll cap it off with a tribute to none other than Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who got this whole party started. We hope you enjoy it.   Notes Listener mail - how do I get into a Sherlockian society? What do we mean by Canonical? Which are the best Sherlock Holmes stories to read? Where should I begin? Holmes and Watson as real people - the beginnings of Sherlockian scholarship Some details about Baker Street - particularly 221B How we use short-hand to refer to the stories Close connection with and nostalgia for the Victorian/Ewardian era when the Baker Street Irregulars was founded in 1934 You say Sherlockian / I say Holmesian The Baker Street Irregulars and the origins of Sherlock Holmes societies The Baker Street Journal Christmas Annuals Some society proceedings Overview of the past and present heads of the Baker Street Irregulars Why the "Baker Street Irregulars"? Some international groups, including the U.K., Canada, Japan, Australia, Denmark, Germany, Italy and France How to join a Sherlockian society / what goes on at meetings How to find out when the meetings are Answering the age-old question: "How can I become a member of the BSI?" The BSI Weekend activities Other online resources for your edification And some offline resources The Editor's Gas Lamp, from Vol. 9, No. 4, 1959   Sponsors This episode includes our two longtime sponsors. Please support our sponsors by visiting their sites:     Links  (William S. Baring-Gould)  (Andrew Jay Peck) Ronald A. Knox's  Jay Finley Christ's  Writings about the writings -   (Stanford University)  (Leslie S. Klinger) , from Randall Stock and originally in the  The Baker Street Journal  A list of  The entire   and the   by p.j. Doyle What goes on at    Many more links, articles and images are available in our Flipboard magazine at  , as well as on the  on Google+ (with over 3,900 members), as well as through our accounts on  , , ,   and .   Please , , ,  or  and be kind enough to leave a rating or review for the show. And please tell a friend about us, in any fashion you feel comfortable. Your thoughts on the show? Leave a comment below, send us an email (comment AT ihearofsherlock DOT com), call us at (774) 221-READ (7323).   Image source: --