Sherlock Holmes: Trifles

Latest Episodes:

Episode 69 - Occupations in the Canon, Part 1 Apr 25, 2018

Show notes

"Does it not strike you as a strange occupation" [RETI]

In the 60 tales that comprise the complete Sherlock Holmes stories, we come across a variety of jobs. Certainly there are the garden variety: cab drivers, butlers, governesses. But what about the more rare?

Sherlock Holmes billed himself as the world's only unofficial consulting detective, but he interacted with people whose jobs were out of the ordinary - at least by today's standards. So we decided to spend some time talking about what some of these occupations were.

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Links / Notes

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

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

Episode 68 - Unpublished Cases: See What V Has to Say Apr 18, 2018

Show notes

"see what V has to say" [SUSS]

Among the cases that Watson tantalizingly dangles before us, "The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire" offers the Matilda Briggs and the giant rat of Sumatra (one of the tales we mentioned in Episode 55 concerning Weird Animals), one of the most famous of the untold adventures.

But it also offers up a handful of others in quick succession, coming from the 'V' volume of Sherlock Holmes's index, rather than from the tin box mentioned in "Thor Bridge," and they are worthy of discussion. Along the way, we question why some of these cases find their way into this volume.

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Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles68
"The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire"

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

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

Episode 67 - Inside 221B: Chemistry Apr 12, 2018

Show notes

"abstruse chemical analysis" [SIGN]

Along with the deerstalker, Inverness cloak, magnifying glass and curved pipe, Sherlock Holmes is most often associated with chemistry – chemical compounds as well as chemistry equipment.

In this installment of our Inside 221B series, we take a look at Sherlock Holmes's experience with chemistry and other laboratory setups we encounter in the stories.

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Links / Notes

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

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

Episode 66 - Sherlock Holmes's Honorifics Apr 04, 2018

Show notes

"I was overwhelmed by the honour" [BERY]

Sherlock Holmes was a well-known public figure. But he was also a known and sought-after expert specifically by other well-known public figures and entities.

Which notable public figures sought and received Holmes's services and then bestowed upon him some gift other than cash?

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Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles66
The Legion of Honor

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

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

Episode 65 - Time Marches On Mar 28, 2018

Show notes

"I heard you marching about" [SIGN]

From the first cricket match in England in 1877 to the wireless mentioned in 1914, there are numerous things connected to Sherlock Holmes that happened in the month of March.

As the month draws to a close, we reflect on happenings historical and Canonical. Let's see if our bluster lives up to the weather this month is known for.

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Links / Notes

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Episode 64 - Unpublished Cases: The Amateur Mendicant Society Mar 21, 2018

Show notes

"two rather leprous mendicants" [ILLU]

When Watson glances across his notes and teases us with adventures that he and Sherlock Holmes have experienced, but only gives us a topic with only the barest of details, it makes us wonder exactly what happened.

So is the case in this episode as we talk about the Amateur Mendicant Society and its rather unique meeting location — which in this case coincides with a real-life Sherlock Holmes society.

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Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles64
"The Adventure of the Five Orange Pips"
Mendicant (Wikipedia)
The Amateur Mendicant Society of Detroit

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

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

Episode 63 - Inside 221B: Drink Up! Mar 14, 2018

Show notes

"as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street" [REDH]

Step into the sitting room at 221B Baker Street with us again and look around, as we take in the sights, smells and sounds within that most famous of addresses.

This time, we investigate the physical elements that accompany alcoholic drinks within the walls of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson's abode. Namely: the gasogene and tantalus. We explore the origins of those phrases and discuss them in detail.

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Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles63
Tantalus (spirit case)
Tantalus (Greek god)
Gasogene
"A little song, a little dance..."
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 132: Unquiet Spirits (Bonnie MacBird)

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

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

Episode 62 - Reference Sources Mar 08, 2018

Show notes

"a line of books of reference beside the mantelpiece" [NOBL]

In Episode 58, we discussed Sherlock Holmes's index books – those collections in which he tracked criminal cases, looked up necessary trivia, etc. But this time, we reach a little deeper and discuss some of the actual named reference books at 221B Baker Street.

Which publications were these and how did they help Holmes and Watson connect the dots and solve some cases? It's a trifle, certainly, but there's nothing so important as trifles.

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Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles62
"The Noble Bachelor"
"The Red Headed League"
"The Five Orange Pips"
The Valley of Fear
"The Copper Beeches"
"The Retired Colourman"
"Shoscombe Old Place"
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 54: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

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

Image credit: Special Collections Toronto Public Library (Flickr)

Episode 61 - John Watson, Ladies Man Feb 28, 2018

Show notes

"Now Watson, the fair sex is your department." [SECO]

John Watson knew women; Holmes tells us so. And Watson certainly tells us so, in his admiration of Mary Morstan as well as his description of some of the leading ladies of the Canon. He also told us outright in The Sign of Four that he's managed to get around:

"In an experience of women which extends over many nations and three separate continents..."

But three? We know for certain he's been to Europe an Asia. But which of the other five might be the one to round out Watson's travels? We investigate the lively love life of Dr. John H. Watson, MD.

Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles61
The Private Life of Dr. Watson
"Watson Was a Woman"
"That Was No Lady" ("Nuts to Rex Stout")
They Might be Giants

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

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

Episode 60 - Unpublished Cases: James Phillimore Feb 21, 2018

Show notes

"never more seen in this world" [THOR]

In "The Problem of Thor Bridge," Watson treats us to a tantalizing look at the possibilities that lie before us as readers:

"Somewhere in the vaults of the bank of Cox and Co., at Charing Cross, there is a travelworn and battered tin dispatch-box with my name, John H. Watson, M.D., Late Indian Army, painted upon the lid. It is crammed with papers, nearly all of which are records of cases to illustrate the curious problems which Mr. Sherlock Holmes had at various times to examine."

Possibly one of the most intriguing of the untold tales was "that of Mr. James Phillimore, who, stepping back into his own house to get his umbrella, was never more seen in this world," as the setup was so stark, so mysterious, and so final.

What are some possible explanations of what happened? And how does this untold tale rank among the many that were mentioned? In this latest episode in our Unpublished Cases series, we delve into the rich history of the strange disappearance of James Phillimore.

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Links / Notes