Sherlock Holmes: Trifles

"you have been caught in the act" [BERY]

One of the general bits of enjoyment of the Sherlock Holmes stories is the denouement in which Sherlock Holmes apprehends the criminal. In some instances, he does so after the crime has been committed; in other instances, no crime has been committed.

But what about those delicious times when the criminals are caught in the act? Or even better, those instances when they greeted with sweet, swift justice. It's just a Trifle.

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Links / Notes

• "The Dying Detective"

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

"to mar the contentment of their family life" [VALL]

Family. For many, it's a part of the holiday season. And with Thanksgiving coming up tomorrow in the United States, it's a perfect opportunity to reflect on families in the Sherlock Holmes stories.

And in doing so, we come to a rather sad conclusion: that many of the families in the Canon were not happy ones at all. Just what was it about these familial situations that caused things to go awry? We explore that question in this episode of Trifles.

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Links / Notes

• I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 58: Thankful for Sherlock Holmes

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

"observing the dint of a pince-nez" [IDEN]

For many of us, the first time we encounter the word "pince-nez" is in the Sherlock Holmes stories. But for many of us, we very likely saw pince-nez on characters in movies, cartoons or the theater before we knew exactly what they were called.

Mentioned in three separate stories (do you know which three?), the eyewear is most closely associated with the adventure that contains its name. But what about the history of these peculiar glasses? We explore the various forms of pince-nez and how Sherlock Holmes came to make his deductions from a pair.

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Links / Notes

• Pince-nez (Wikipedia)
• "The Golden Pince-Nez"
• Colonel Ross in a monocle in "Silver Blaze"

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

"his military challenge" [STUD]

November 11 marks Veterans Day in the United States, when we honor our men and women who have served in the military. From the very first Sherlock Holmes story, we're exposed to the military: A Study in Scarlet opens with "(Being a reprint from the reminiscences of John H. Watson, M.D., late of the Army Medical Department.)"

And from there, we find other members of the military who make questionable decisions in their lives. We explore some of the more notable cases, and we give you a trivia question that might possibly stump your Sherlockian friends at your next meeting.

Links / Notes

• A Study in Scarlet
• The Sign of Four
• "The Crooked Man"
• "The Empty House"

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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"The world is big enough for us." [SUSS]

With Halloween just behind us, it's natural to reflect on the supernatural. The Hound of the Baskervilles and "The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire" loom large in our consciousness as stories whose central premise was focused on spectral occurrences.

But what of other references? And of the most curious case of all: Arthur Conan Doyle's belief in otherworldly things (such as spiritualism) juxtaposed with his most famous creation, who was steeped in facts and logic.

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And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

• The Hound of the Baskervilles
• "The Sussex Vampire"

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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"Why do you not write them yourself?" [ABBE]

Aside from the untold tales which are hinted at occasionally by Watson, the most intriguing writings in the Canon are those penned by Sherlock Holmes himself. We of course refer to his famous monographs.

In his earliest published cases, Holmes himself admits "in fact, I have written a monograph on the subject" [STUD] and "I have been guilty of several monographs" [SIGN], seemingly qualifying himself in the good doctor's (and our) eyes.

How many monographs were there and what were they? We sum them up and categorize them, with the help of T.S. Blakeney and S.C. Roberts.

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Links / Notes

• Sherlock Holmes: Fact or Fiction by T.S. Blakeney (1932, John Murray)
• Dr. Watson by S.C. Roberts (1931, Faber & Faber)

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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"a quite epicurean little cold supper" [NOBL]

In "The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor," Lord Robert St. Simon assumed that Holmes was going up in the world by taking him on as a client; Holmes replied that he was actually descending, as his previous client was something of a king. But it was still a royal feast set out at 221B Baker Street for Lord Robert and the assembled guests.

Just what was in that supper for five, and what did it say about Holmes and his guests?

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Links / Notes

• "The Noble Bachelor"
• "221B Baker Street: Certain Physical Details" by Paul McPharlin, The Baker Street Journal, Vol. 2, No. 2 (OS) 1947, pp. 180-194
• Dining with Sherlock Holmes by Julia Carlson Rosenblatt and Fritz Sonnenschmidt
• I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 103: Al & Julie Rosenblatt

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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"several successful voyages" [BLAC]

The second week of October marks the remembrance of Christopher Columbus in the U.S.. Long thought to be the individual who "discovered" America, we've come to understand that claim to be overblown and his tendencies less than flawless.

Still, he was a brave voyager. What about some of the great voyages we know that took place in the Sherlock Holmes stories? From traversing the Atlantic and Indian oceans to travel to the deepest regions of Africa, we find ourselves among adventurers, tourists and immigrants alike.

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Links

• Queen Mary 2
• IHOSE Episode 122: Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce
• A Study in Scarlet
• "The Gloria Scott"
• Trifles Episode 27 - Rebellion!
• "The Priory School"
• "The Devil's Foot"
• "The Sussex Vampire"
• "The Empty House"
• "His Last Bow"
• Sherlock Holmes and the Titanic Tragedy by William Seil

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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"Sarasate plays at St. James's Hall this afternoon" [REDH] We know Sherlock Holmes enjoyed music. From his own violin playing to a few mentions of concerts he attended, he often escaped from the woes of the world and the problems he was trying to solve through music. In "The Adventure of the Red Headed League," he says "Sarasate plays at St. James's Hall this afternoon," and he and Watson make their way to the concert, where Holmes clearly enjoyed himself, "wrapped in the most perfect happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the music." But what do we know about Sarasate? Who was this performer who was able to distract Holmes for a few hours? Have you left us a rating and review on the podcast player of your choice yet? We could really use your help. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links

• Pablo de Sarasate (Wikipedia)
• Anthony Burgess's Murder to Music
• A recording of Sarasate playing Zigeunerweisen from 1904 in Paris

Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 --

"this terrible secret society" [FIVE]

The Ku Klux Klan famously plays a role in "The Adventure of the Five Orange Pips." To British audiences, the 'K.K.K.' note would have seemed mysterious - something along the lines of a Dancing Men code. But to American audiences, it was a known entity.

The KKK was a secret society founded in the southern United States following the Civil War, which committed many outrages. But the KKK as portrayed in this particular Sherlock Holmes story: was it true to life? Or was it a case of literary license?

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Links

• "The Adventure of the Five Orange Pips"
• "Two Southern Exposures of Sherlock Holmes," Manly Wade Wellman, The Baker Street Journal, Vol 2. No. 4 (1947) - available on the eBSJ.

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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