Sherlock Holmes: Trifles

Latest Episodes:

A Seven-Per-Cent Solution Feb 23, 2022

Show notes

"Would you care to try it?" [SCAN] It's the sixth season of Trifles and we realized we hadn't covered a central yet sensitive topic related to Sherlock Holmes: cocaine. Thanks to a helpful article from a listener, we decided to delve into the history of medicinal cocaine and Victorian England's attitude toward it. It's just a Trifle. Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles269 Thank you to our sponsor, The BSI Press. Please support us on Patreon at https://patreon.com/trifles

The Politician, the Lighthouse, and the Trained Cormorant Feb 16, 2022

Show notes

"the source of these outrages is known" [VEIL] 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mind of Nicholas Utechin, who presents a well-reasoned and well-researched explanation for what happened in one of the unpublished cases. 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. Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles268 Thank you to our sponsor, The Baker Street Journal.

On the Scent with Sherlock Holmes, Part 2 Feb 09, 2022

Show notes

"dropping from branch to branch" [CREE] The London in which Sherlock Holmes lived gave off its own scents. Whether the roads were paved or covered in mud, they would have played into Holmes's identifications. And the transportation, whether mechanical or animal, was also part of this potpourri of aromas. The reality is that the city's smells, as pungent as they may have been, were for many people of the time, just a Trifle.

Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles267

Support Trifles: https://patreon.com/trifles

Sponsor: The Baker Street Journal

A Final Illumination on the Lucca Code Feb 02, 2022

Show notes

"One A, two B, and so on. You will hear soon." [REDC] The secret code that Genarro and Emilia Lucca shared for passing messages to each other in "The Red Circle" was straightforward. Or was it? In 1956, Donald Yates—then a 26 year-old budding Sherlockian—made an observation about the code, the alphabet(s), and the credit that was due to Sherlock Holmes for his invisible but lightning-quick analysis. It's just a Trifle. ATTENTA: Don't forget: if you're interested in receiving some free back issues of The Baker Street Journal, we hold a drawing every month for our Patreon supporters. To be eligible to participate in this monthly drawing, go to patreon.com/trifles. Sponsor: The BSI Press Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles266 --

Roll Out the Beryl Jan 26, 2022

Show notes

"Halloa, Beryl!" [HOUN] In The Hound of the Baskervilles, Sir Henry falls for Stapleton's sister, who was said to be "a young lady of attractions." However, Stapleton clearly didn't like the idea of the two of them together. At the conclusion of the story, with Stapleton out of the picture, what was there to stop her and Sir Henry from becoming romantically involved? It's just a Trifle. ATTENTA: In this episode, we hold the drawing for free back issues of The Baker Street Journal, available to all Patreon supporters. To be eligible to participate in this monthly drawing, go to patreon.com/trifles. Sponsor: The Baker Street Journal Full show notes: ihose.co/trifles265

The Archetypical Sherlock Holmes Jan 19, 2022

Show notes

"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 two regular drawings, courtesy of our sponsor The Baker Street Journal. Go to patreon.com/trifles. Sponsor: The Baker Street Journal Full show notes: ihose.co/trifles264

On the Scent with Sherlock Holmes, Part 1 Jan 12, 2022

Show notes

"I am one of the hounds" [STUD] On two occasions in the Sherlock Holmes stories do we find Holmes employing a dog to help him track a scent. But beyond those two, Holmes himself displays canine-like properties. While Conan Doyle does a wonderful job exposing us to so much of the late Victorian era, there's one area that doesn't come through: smells. What were some of the scents that attracted Holmes's attention on these cases, and why were they important? It's just a Trifle. NOTE: Be sure to catch the announcement of two regular drawings courtesy of our sponsor The Baker Street Journal, and how you can qualify.

Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles263

Support Trifles: https://patreon.com/trifles

Sponsor: The eBSJ

Great Beginnings Jan 05, 2022

Show notes

"On the very day that I had come to this conclusion" [STUD]

It all began with a chance meeting between two medical school colleagues at the Criterion Bar. Stamford then took Watson to St Bartholomew's Hospital (aka "Barts"), where, in a chemical laboratory, he made the acquaintance of one Sherlock Holmes.

In Season 6, we're bringing back our monthly series "Mr. Sherlock Holmes the Theorist," in which we use historic Sherlockian scholarship as a discussion point. In this case, we were inspired by William S. Baring-Gould's "The London of Holmes and Watson" in Vol. 9, No. 3 (1959) of The Baker Street Journal.

We explore this fateful meeting, delve into the history of its time-honored location, and determine the exact date of its occurrence. It's just a Trifle.

NOTE: Be sure to catch the announcement of two regular drawings courtesy of our sponsor The Baker Street Journal, and how you can qualify. Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles262

Support Trifles: https://patreon.com/trifles

The Friendship Club Dec 29, 2021

Show notes

"nothing but a welcome for my friend and colleague" [TWIS] The great heroes of literature are frequently teamed up with a sidekick: Don Quixote with Sancho Panza, Robinson Crusoe with Friday, Huckleberry Finn with Tom Sawyer. But the key to these pairings is an underlying friendship. In the final episode of Season 5, we take a look at one of the most obvious features of the Sherlock Holmes canon: the friendship between Holmes and Watson. It's just a Trifle. Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles260
"The Friendship Club" by Charles E. Lauterbach, The 1958 Baker Street Journal Christmas Annual
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Sponsor The Baker Street Journal Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 --

Reptiles & Amphibians Dec 22, 2021

Show notes

"a curiously reptilian fashion" [FINA] Aside from vipers, cobras, and adders, there are other reptiles in the Sherlock Holmes stories that either have a bearing on cases or are mentioned in passing. We're even able to find an amphibian or two. In this final episode of our Exotic Animals series in Season 5, we visit the Reptile House and explore what the Victorians knew (or didn't know) about these creatures, hoping not to rouse anyone's snakish temper. It's just a Trifle. Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles260
Frog (fastening)
Previous episodes mentioned:
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Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com
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