Sherlock Holmes: Trifles

Latest Episodes:

The Date of the Sign of Four Jan 15, 2020

Show notes

"As to your dates, that is the biggest mystification of all." [CREE]

With Season 4, we're starting a new monthly series that we're calling "Mr. Sherlock Holmes the Theorist." Each month, we'll be taking a look at what some early Sherlockian scholars had to say about certain trifling elements in the Sherlock Holmes stories.

In this case, we're looking at "The Date of The Sign of Four" from H.W. Bell's Baker Street Studies, first published in 1934. It's more than a trifle.

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Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles159
Baker Street Studies by H.W. Bell
The Grand Game from the BSI Press

Sponsor

The BSI Press

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

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

British Food Jan 08, 2020

Show notes

"cuisine is a little limited" [NAVA]

We find a smattering of food references throughout the Sherlock Holmes stories. But which can be considered consummate British dishes?

We don't come across toad in the hole, bubble and squeak, or cock-a-leekie soup, but there are other meals that are considered British. And by more than the virtue of appearing in British stories. Which food might this be? It's more than a trifle.

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Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles158
Episode 42: A Noble Supper
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 103: Al and Julie Rosenblatt
Superb English Plum Pudding (Epicurious)
William Banting (Wikipedia)
Food Timeline: Sandwiches
Dining With Sherlock Holmes by Julia Carlson Rosenblatt
The Sherlock Holmes Cookbook by John Farrell and Sean Wright

Sponsor

The Baker Street Journal

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

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

Fog Jan 01, 2020

Show notes

"befogged in mind" [SIGN]

Weather conditions not only play a part in the settings of the Sherlock Holmes stories, but in some cases, they determine the plots as well.

Fog, London and Baker Street seem to go hand in hand in 1890s London, but London's fogs are more than weather conditions. How did fog color Sherlock Holmes's view of the criminal world, and which stories saw an impact from this misty and mysterious phenomenon? It's just a trifle.

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Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles157
Great Smog of London (Wikipedia)
Pea-souper (Wikipedia)

Sponsor

The Baker Street Journal

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

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

Sherlock Holmes, Sportsman Dec 25, 2019

Show notes

"I am a born sportsman" [LAST]

In a lifetime crammed with high adventure, his brilliant achievements in crime detection obscured his remarkable skills as an athlete. He was an expert with singlestick and foil, a fine boxer, equally accomplished with rifle and small arms and had a knowing eye for horseflesh.

In this final installment in our 2019 series on games and sports, we turn to William S. Baring-Gould, the subject of this year's Baker Street Journal Christmas Annual, and talk through his landmark article for Sports Illustrated article from 1963. It's just a trifle.

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Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles156
"Sherlock Holmes, Sportsman" by William S. Baring-Gould from May 25, 1963, pp. 34-46 (Sports Illustrated)
William S. Baring-Gould (Wikipedia)
The Baker Street Journal Christmas Annual
Get your own "Signs of Four" merchandise from our store. Over 20 designs to choose from on mugs and a variety of colored t-shirts. This store closes at the end of 2019.

Sponsor

The Baker Street Journal

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

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

Bohemians and Sherlock Holmes Dec 18, 2019

Show notes

"his whole Bohemian soul" [SCAN]

The last in our series of episodes on international interactions with Sherlock Holmes brings us to the now-defunct kingdom of Bohemia. It was so important that it got its own scandal. What do we know about this land from which the masked king came? And of the adjective "Bohemian"? How did Bohemians come to signify the unconventional? It's just a trifle.

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Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles155
Bohemia (Wikipedia)
Get your own "Signs of Four" merchandise from our store. Over 20 designs to choose from on mugs and a variety of colored t-shirts. HURRY! Get your holiday orders in now. This store closes at the end of 2019.

Sponsor

The BSI Press

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

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

Minus Watson, Part 2 Dec 11, 2019

Show notes

"I was alone." [BLAN]

Sherlock Holmes was occasionally without his Boswell. Watson was married at least twice – some scholars even claim there was a third Mrs. Watson.

Was Holmes truly affected by Watson's absence? There is a subtle time lapse that may give away how Holmes dealt with a matrimonial Watson. And a look at how Holmes dealt with solitude earlier in his life. It's just a trifle.

Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show.

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Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles154
Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street: A Life of the World's First Consulting Detective by William S. Baring-Gould
Get your own "Signs of Four" merchandise from our store. Over 20 designs to choose from on mugs and a variety of colored t-shirts. HURRY! Get your holiday orders in now. This store closes at the end of 2019.

Sponsor

The Baker Street Journal

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

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

Minus Watson, Part 1 Dec 04, 2019

Show notes

"the only selfish action which I can recall in our association" [BLAN]

Sherlock Holmes was a loner. An independent consultant. An automaton. But he also shared rooms with Dr. Watson off and on for over 20 years.

When Watson went off and got married, how did this affect Holmes, really? And Watson had how many wives? It's just a trifle.

Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show.

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Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles153
Baker Street Elementary – One Is the Loneliest Number
Get your own "Signs of Four" merchandise from our store. Over 20 designs to choose from on mugs and a variety of colored t-shirts. HURRY! Get your holiday orders in now. This store closes at the end of 2019.

Sponsor

The Baker Street Journal

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

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

Hats Nov 27, 2019

Show notes

"his strange headgear" [SPEC]

Sherlock Holmes is synonymous with a certain type of hat. We don't need to mention the kind. You know what it is.

But he never wore one in the stories, which you probably also know. But what about some of the other hats that were mentioned by name in the Canon? It's kind of a hat check name check in this episode. And it's just a trifle.

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Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles152
Bowler hat
Wideawake hat
Get your own "Signs of Four" merchandise from our store. Over 20 designs to choose from on mugs and a variety of colored t-shirts. HURRY! This store closes at the end of 2019.

Sponsor

The Baker Street Journal

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

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

Asians and Sherlock Holmes Nov 20, 2019

Show notes

"from their East Indian colonies" [RESI]

"Asian" isn't a term that pops up in the Sherlock Holmes canon. And yet we meet a handful of individuals who lived in or interacted with residents of the largest continent on the planet.

We hear of Asian countries such as Japan, China, Afghanistan, Andaman Islands, Ceylon, the Dutch East Indies, India, Tibet, Nepal, Persia, Siam, Malay, Singapore, Turkey, and Syria. Who were some of these people and why do so many of their stories involve something nefarious? It's just a trifle.

Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show.

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Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles151
Before the East India Company (Lapham's Quarterly)
Get your own "Signs of Four" merchandise from our store. Over 20 designs to choose from on mugs and a variety of colored t-shirts. HURRY! This store closes at the end of 2019.

Sponsor

The BSI Press

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

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

Swimming Nov 13, 2019

Show notes

"Going for a swim, I see." [LION]

How many swimmers do we encounter in the Sherlock Holmes stories? Given that only one story is centered around an ill-fated swim, you might think you know the answer.

Then again, you might be mistaken. Allow us to turn over the Canon in our minds for other references to swimming. And what do we know about swimming habits in the late Victorian / early Edwardian era? It's just a trifle.

Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show.

We're available everywhere you listen to podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, and RadioPublic.

And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal.

Links / Notes