Sherlock Holmes: Trifles

Latest Episodes:

The Dates in the Red-Headed League May 04, 2022

Show notes

"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. Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles279 Thank you to our sponsor, the BSI Press. Please support Trifles on Patreon: https://patreon.com/trifles

The Rushed Wedding Apr 27, 2022

Show notes

"Drive like the devil" [SCAN] Call this the case of the overlooked fact. And one that was staring us in the face, too. It concerns the marriage of Irene Adler and Godfrey Norton in "A Scandal in Bohemia." A listener wrote in and asked us just why Irene Adler had to get married in such a rush. We did a little digging, found some material to discuss, and put our own thoughts into it. It's just a Trifle. We're holding the monthly drawing for our Patreon supporters in this episode. Are you the winner? You'll have to tune in to find out. Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles278 Thank you to our sponsor, The BSI Press. Please support Trifles on Patreon: https://patreon.com/trifles

The Tree That Wasn't Apr 20, 2022

Show notes

"There's not a tree in the park" [EMPT] 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. In this episode, we look at Nicholas Utechin's masterful piece from the 1972 Baker Street Journal 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. Don't forget: all of our Patreon supporters are eligible for our monthly and quarterly drawings. Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles277 Thank you to our sponsor, The Baker Street Journal. Please support Trifles on Patreon: https://patreon.com/trifles

Trees, Part 2: Branching Out Apr 13, 2022

Show notes

The Problem of the Case-Book Apr 06, 2022

Show notes

"Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small case-book" [SPEC] 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. In this episode, we look at an early piece that Martin Dakin wrote for The Sherlock Holmes Journal, questioning the authenticity of some of the stories in The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes. Which made the passing grade? It's just a Trifle. Don't forget: all of our Patreon supporters are eligible for our monthly and quarterly drawings. Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles275 Thank you to our sponsor, the BSI Press. Please support Trifles on Patreon: https://patreon.com/trifles

Trees, Part 1: Over the Oak / Under the Elm Mar 31, 2022

Show notes

"grazing the top of the oak" [MUSG] I think that I shall never see... a Sherlock Holmes story as lovely as a tree. However, there are plenty of instances of trees in the Canon that make for interesting observation, if only we stop to look at them through the forest. Inspired by one of Don Jewell's books, we spend some time investigating the instances of oaks and elms in the stories (far more than just "The Musgrave Ritual," we assure you) and comment on the state of these trees in Victorian times. Are you the winner of our monthly drawing (for a free back issue of the Baker Street Journal) and our quarterly drawing (for a free annual subscription to the BSJ)? All Patreon supporters are eligible. Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles274 Thank you to our sponsor, The Baker Street Journal. Please support Trifles on Patreon: https://patreon.com/trifles

Grief Mar 23, 2022

Show notes

"a look of grief and despair" [BERY] Let's face it: when clients arrived to consult Sherlock Holmes, they were rarely in positive spirits. Some were confused, others were concerned, and some were just looking for answers. But some were grief-stricken. Or had cases that ended in grief. It's a sad admission of reality, but there is a strain of grief that starts at the beginning of the stories and continues to the final entry. It's just a Trifle. Reminder: in the next episode we'll be holding both our monthly drawing (for a free back issue of the Baker Street Journal) and our quarterly drawing (for a free annual subscription to the BSJ). All Patreon supporters are eligible. Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles273 Thank you to our sponsor, The BSI Press. Please support Trifles on Patreon: https://patreon.com/trifles

In Memoriam: Muzzafar ad-Din Mar 16, 2022

Show notes

"I want that yellow diamond!" [MAZA]

The Masters Class series continues, and this time, Peter Blau instructs us on some finer points of geology and of geopolitical history.

"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.

Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles272

Thank you to our sponsor, The Baker Street Journal

On the Scent with Sherlock Holmes, Part 3 Mar 09, 2022

Show notes

"the air of London is the sweeter for my presence" [FINA]

We're back with the third and final installment in our series On the Scent with Sherlock Holmes, as we investigate the olfactory elements of the city.

This time, it's a matter of "obnoxious organic waste," and that encompasses pretty much what you think it does. And then some. We might call it just a Trifle.

And you don't want to miss the sound clip at the end.

Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles271

Missing Three-Quarter One-Third Discovered Mar 02, 2022

Show notes

"this extraordinary league" [REDH] 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? 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 The Baker Street Journal, Vol. 2, No. 2, (OS) 1947, in which he did just that. It's just a Trifle. And be sure to listen to the entire episode, as we have a challenge for Trifles listeners. Special note: we have a bonus clip for our Patreon supporters. Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles270 Thank you to our sponsor, The BSI Press. Please support Trifles on Patreon: https://patreon.com/trifles

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