I Hear Of Sherlock Everywhere

"He has nerve and he has knowledge." [SPEC]   If you're a regular listener of our show, you may remember that in Episode 76: Out of the Abyss, we chatted with Steve Rothman, BSI ("The Valley of Fear"), Bob Katz, BSI ("Dr. Ainstree") and Andy Solberg, BSI ("Professor Coram") about the BSI Manuscript Series entry about "The Empty House." During that conversation, Bob and Andy excitedly told us about their next project — a then-unnamed book about medicine in the Sherlock Holmes stories. Well, this January their book made its debut: the BSI Press unveiled Nerve and Knowledge: Doctors, Medicine and the Sherlockian Canon. Naturally, we invited Bob and Andy to join us on IHOSE for a fourth time to talk about their remarkable experiences putting such a book together. [Previous episodes include episodes 50, 63 and 76.]   As any good editor would, both Bob and Andy proudly discuss just about every article in their work (try as we might to make them choose a favorite), but Andy made a valid point in mentioning that many

"dreaming of the bright green fields" [CROO]   Mid March means it's time for the wearing of the green, as St. Patrick's Day approaches. Accordingly, we grab our shillelaghs and affect a brogue as we discuss some of the Irish connections in the Sherlock Holmes stories.   While there are many Irish references, both subtle and overt, we concentrate primarily on two of the stories where the Irish connection is a central plot point. And interestingly enough, both involved some sort of Irish secret society and the need to go undercover.   We also include a bit of history of some musical instruments, discuss a handful of news items that have come to our attention, and welcome Al Gregory, BSI ("The Grimpen Postmaster") to the show as a contestant on Mental Exaltations. We of course wrap things up with another Editor's Gas-Lamp, this time "The Fortunate Ones" from Vol. 2, No. 3 of The Baker Street Journal (OS).   Easter is later this month, and we've got another Easter egg for you.     Our special thanks go out to M

"it is a likely ruse" [ENGR]     February is a shorter month, so the latest episode of I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere comes to you a day earlier.   We're joined by Maria Konnikova, whom you may remember as the author of Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes. She first appeared on I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 54 to discuss that very book. Maria is a contributing writer for The New Yorker, where she writes a regular column with a focus on psychology and culture, and her work has appeared in The Atlantic, The New York Times, Scientific American MIND, and Smithsonian, among numerous other publications.   Maria's latest book is The Confidence Game: Why We Fall for It... Every Time. While cheats and swindlers may be a dime a dozen, true con men are elegant, outsized personalities, artists of persuasion and exploiters of trust. How do they do it? Why are they successful? And what keeps us falling for it? The Confidence Game not only asks why we believe con artists; it also examines the very act of

"I loved with such a love as comes once in a lifetime" [PRIO]   We're aware of the quotes "to Sherlock Holmes, she was always the woman," and "I have never loved, Watson," but what was Sherlock Holmes's relationship with love? Was he truly "an automaton — a calculating machine," or was he more familiar with the emotion than we've previously considered.   In honor of Valentine's Day (yesterday), we discuss this and the various relationships in the Sherlock Holmes stories that involved couples, whether they were husbands and wives, intended spouses or spurned lovers. There is a good deal of love that runs through the Canon, some of it good and decent, some of it passionate and infatuated, and some of it selfish. But it all adds up to some fascinating situations that we're left with.   We have our monthly news update, listener comments, and an Editor's Gas-Lamp taken from the March 1991 (Vol. 41, No. 1) issue of The Baker Street Journal, titled "Women," in a nod to the holiday and to the last episode. And be sur

"the cleverness of women" [SCAN]    When the Baker Street Irregulars finally made the watershed decision to admit women to its membership in 1991, Evelyn Herzog, BSI ("The Daintiest Thing Under a Bonnet"), ASH ("Violet Hunter") and Susan Rice, 2s., BSI ("Beeswing"), ASH ("A Practical Handbook of Bee Culture, with Some Observations Upon the Segregation of the Queen") were there. And yet the history of what led up to that moment is not widely known.    From Evy's and Susan's perspectives, it began some three decades or more earlier, gaining momentum as they entered their college years in the Northeast and Midwest, respectively. And from the BSI's perspective, it was rooted in the traditionalism of a longtime leader. How the two vastly different outlooks clashed and eventually collaborated is what we discuss.   We've had the pleasure of knowing Evy and Susan for—well, let's just say for longer than any of us can remember. Together we explore the history of their journeys and uncover exactly what it was like to b

"a malicious and abominable smile" [DYIN]    You've likely seen the online chatter and either managed to see the episode or miss the spoilers for Sherlock: The Abominable Bride to date. Before listening to this episode, we recommend watching (or even re-watching) it, for you'll have better context around some of our references.   We're pleased to bring you some of our observations and even some conjecture about the intent and direction of the show based on our viewings. We even throw in nods to Alfred Hitchcock and Orson Welles And don't be surprised if a few musical references manage to weave themselves into the narrative [don't miss Scott's favorite clip at 38:45].   We're currently at the BSI Weekend as we post this, and we talk about some of the people we'll see and have on the show soon. We also mention bringing IHOSE on the road this autumn, we read listener comments, welcome a new sponsor, and include an audio trailer to a new Dr. Who crossover.   We of course manage to squeeze in a Gas-Lamp, this t

"with the big book under my arm" [STOC]       If you've been with us for a while, you'll have heard about Otto Penzler, BSI ("The King of Bohemia") before. He was our guest on Episode 17 when we talked about book collecting.   Otto is back with us to talk about the genesis of The Big Book of Sherlock Holmes Stories, the largest anthology of stories about Sherlock Holmes to date, as well as the rest of his enterprises. We learn about what goes into selecting (and discarding) stories that make up the nine Big Book anthologies under the Vintage Crime/Black Lizard label from Random House.   As if Otto's considerable and copious editing doesn't keep him busy enough, the additional Otto Penzler Enterprises include the Mysterious Press and the Mysterious Bookshop. From a dozen books a year via the Press, an epublishing platform, and proprietary publishing just for the bookstore. What impressed is that that Otto's business acumen, timing and good fortune tend to converge across his enterprises, making him quite s

"an extraordinarily astute couple" [VALL]    Anyone who has been following Sherlock Holmes on television and in popular culture over the last five years or so should be familiar with the names Steven Moffat and Sue Vertue. Steven is showrunner, writer and producer for Sherlock and Doctor Who, and Sue is a producer of a number of programs, including Doctor Who and Sherlock, as well as of numerous British television comedies.   Steven and Sue met at the Edinburgh Television Festival in 1996 and joined Hartswood Films, where Steven wrote a comedy based on their budding relationship, which became Coupling. And it is their coupling on Sherlock that we speak with them.   On January 1, 2016, the world premiere of Sherlock: The Abominable Bride happens on BBC One and PBS. This is the first time the show has aired on the same day in both countries, and the excitement is palpable. The setting is London in 1895 and the trailers have shown a dark and mysterious atmosphere.   We take the time to discuss the making of show

  "its neat morroco case" [SIGN] Those Sherlockians who came to the hobby from the 1970s onward will be familiar with the name Nicholas Meyer, BSI ("A Fine Moroccan Case"). His book The Seven Per-Cent Solution became a runaway hit in 1974 and 1975, eventually becoming a movie for which Meyer himself wrote the screenplay. The 2015 Baker Street Journal Christmas Annual Together Again for the First Time, which celebrates the four decades since the book and film appeared.   A master storytelling, Nick Meyer brings us behind the scenes of becoming a Sherlockian at the tender age of 11, followed closely with his first film, the influence of music, musicals and film in his budding career and how he lost Sherlock Holmes and found him again. We hear all about what it was like to take a manuscript from concept to publication and the challenges of agents, publishers, the Conan Doyle Estate and others along the way. And then the thrill of casting selections and adapting the book for the screen, even though writing for t

As the holiday shopping season nears, we thought it was a great time to create a shopping guide for the Sherlock Holmes fan in your life.   If you're into Sherlock Holmes in any way, it's likely that you have a wish list. Whether it's an early edition of the stories, a complete collection of Arthur Wontner films, a Sherlock Holmes chess set, or something else.   We recently asked your assistance in creating the ultimate Sherlockian gift guide, and you responded in force. We took those suggestions and ran with them, and created a show to highlight some of the many things for the Sherlock Holmes fanatic in your life, whether it's you or a loved one.   Of course, we cover the latest Sherlock Holmes news and enjoy a little banter to boot. We also mention a contest — leave us a review on iTunes and show us the proof (screenshot or similar) — and we'll enter you for a chance to win a 1950s-era Baker Street Journal Christmas Annual.   Listen closely and you may hear who our next interview guest is. And remain on t

"the sister of Vernet, the French artist" [GREE]     Did you ever have a chance to talk with someone with whom you immediately felt a connection? That's exactly how Bonnie MacBird impressed us when we chatted with her about her new book Art in the Blood in this latest interview episode of I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere.   From her most amazing experience on her recent book tour to her first meeting with Sherlock Holmes (at a remarkable age!), to how she found her inspiration for the novel, Bonnie shares her very considered and unique perspective on the immortal detective. Listen in to hear about an artist's temperament and how it affects the craft, including her other mediums, and how she intended to bring Sherlock Holmes to her readers through her own personal Sherlockian inspirations.   Our Gas Lamp is inspired by a comment from Nick Martorelli and is taken from The Baker Street Journal Vol. 6, No. 3 (1956), in which Edgar Smith wrote "On Canonicity."   Listen closely and you may hear who our next inter

"Holmes was accessible upon the side of flattery" [REDC]   We all know that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Sherlock Holmes is no stranger to either, and with a growing database that includes some tens of thousands of work, it's easy to think that Sherlock Holmes is probably the most imitated literary character in history.   We take the time in this show to explore some of the motivations behind pastiches — as well as the cliched ingredients in so many pastiches (Mrs. Hudson, Mycroft Holmes, Professor Moriarty, cocaine, the Baker Street Irregulars, Jack the Ripper, real historical figures, etc.) and what makes them work — or in many cases, not.   But more than that, we announce a new format to I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere episodes. Beginning with Episode 82, we're going to be splitting the show into two episodes per month. One show will be a featured interview and Gas-Lamp, while the other will be a show with the news, the quiz, and commentary related to the interview show that it precedes.

"Some of my most interesting cases have come to me in this way through Mycroft." [GREE] If asked, who would you say is the biggest Sherlock Holmes fan? Prior to January 2015, we would not have said Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. But when he made a surprise appearance at the 2015 BSI Dinner and we had a chance to speak with him we discovered it was in fact he.   Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Anna Waterhouse have written a new book called Mycroft Holmes, due out next week. We won't give too much away, but it chronicles the early career of Sherlock Holmes's older brother, at the age of 23. You'll find the classic Oxford-Cambridge boat race, the grimy streets of London, cigars, a sea voyage and much more. It's a very interesting, insightful and surprising look into what went into the beginnings of this mystical figure from the original Sherlock Holmes stories.   We've got a couple of listener comments to share before getting to "Mental Exaltation," in which we welcome a listener to the show to play.   And please be sure to check

"this exhibition of the great detective" [VALL]   If you were tasked with writing about the significance of Sherlock Holmes in popular culture, how would you go about it? After all, it's been a topic of numerous books throughout the years and we're currently awash in Sherlock Holmes books, shows, websites and the rest.   Journalist Zach Dundas took a very unconventional approach with his book The Great Detective: The Amazing Rise and Immortal Life of Sherlock Holmes. It's a combination travelogue, memoir and cultural biography that brings us through the Sherlock Holmes chronologically. Zach joins us to talk about the writing process and the Sherlock Holmes bug that bit him so many years ago. Along the way, you might even encounter a familiar name or two.   We examine the dual nature of Arthur Conan Doyle and the striking differences - and similarities - between him and his unfortunate father, Charles Altamont Doyle. But more than that, we discuss the enigmatic nature of the legendary author and examine his in

Glen Miranker, BSI, 2s ("The Origin of Tree Worship") is one of the foremost Sherlockian and Doylean collectors in the world. To see his collection in person would send chills up even the most austere Sherlockian's spine.   We asked Glen to join us, not solely because of the depth and breadth of his Sherlockian collection, but because he has many personal stories that effectively illustrate what it means to be a collector. From his first real collectible book to the individuals who mentored him along the way, Glen learned a great deal and is more than willing to share his passion with the world.   From Sherlockian giants like Dan Posnansky, Marv Epstein and Bliss Austin, we hear of Glen's encounters with them and what they passed along to him. We literally step into Glen's library on a tour (audio-only, although we do have a few photos of what lies within), including some original Conan Doyle letters and even trench warfare magazines - just the tip of the iceberg of his collection.        We also have a roun

The 15th of every month brings a new episode, and our latest is chock full of Sherlockian nuggets. There's a legal case afoot, in case you haven't heard. We cover the latest broadside from the Conan Doyle Estate, Ltd. - the #FreeMrHolmes saga - and discuss the movie starring Sir Ian McKellen. We ponder Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's epitaph if written under the present clouds of the estate's business dealings.   We also take a moment to pause and reflect on the screening of the William Gillette 1916 film, our 1,000th post and the Scintillation of Scions event. It's been a busy month!   Burt takes us on an audio journey to Roslyn in the Hoboken-Free State to celebrate the 125th birthday of Christopher Morley, founder of the Baker Street Irregulars. There we hear from Morley scholar and Baker Street Journal editor Steven Rothman, BSI ("The Valley of Fear") and Terry Hunt, BSI ("The Something Hunt"), as well as two grandchildren of Morley.    Mental Exaltation Another installment of our successful quiz program, writt

"It is a nice household" [SPEC]   It's been exactly one month since our last episode, as as is our tradition on the 15th of every month, we bring you another episode of our show. In this episode, come with us to Boston as we investigate the Speckled Band of Boston - the oldest scion society of the Baker Street Irregulars, which was founded in 1940.   In addition to a recap of some of the main Sherlock Holmes news of the last month, we bring you a number of special audio features. Burt and Scott both attended the 75th annual dinner of the Speckled Band of Boston and captured some audio of the evening, to give you a sense of what goes on at this august institution.   We ran into James O'Leary, a contributor of this site, and he presented us with copies of his entry in the John H. Watson Monograph Series, Some Observations Upon the Early Writings of John H. Watson, MD, 1887-1894. We have an extra copy to give away - please listen in to the show around the 12-minute mark to hear how you might win it.   Another tr

"a tremendous abyss" [FINA]   The BSI Manuscript series continues to churn out remarkable books on an annual basis. In 2015, we're pleased to see the manuscript for "The Empty House" printed, analyzed and opined in Out of the Abyss, edited by Robert Katz, BSI ("Dr. Ainstree"), Steven Rothman, BSI ("The Valley of Fear") and Andrew Solberg, BSI ("Professor Coram").   The trio of editors joined us for a discussion of how this project came about - including getting access to the MS from the famed Rosenbach Museum and Library in Philadelphia. The inimitable Dr. A.S.W. Rosenbach (who is most decidedly NOT a physician), rare book dealer and bibliophile, owned the original manuscript and it has remained with his collection in the museum and library. Of course, seeing the story in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's own handwriting is illuminating - particularly as one can look at the corrections (or lack thereof) and get a sense of the author's thought process. Seeing that in light of Holmes's resurrection in "The Empty Hous

"she loved the Prince" [SHOS]       For our diamond jubilee episode - our 75th - we're pleased to welcome Sonia Fetherston, BSI ("The Solitary Cyclist"), author of the latest entry in the Baker Street Irregulars Biography Series, Prince of the Realm: The Most Irregular James Bliss Austin.     Bliss Austin, BSI ("The Engineer's Thumb") was among the first class that was given titular investitures to the Baker Street Irregulars. But he was more than that, as we discovered. He was an accomplished researcher and industrialist who rose to the executive ranks of U.S. Steel; he was a collector of and expert on Japanese art; he was a Sherlockian who was most generous with his time and collection; he was a family man.     Sonia does a fine job of describing the influences on Bliss's life and the many lives that Bliss influenced as well. From budding collectors and Sherlockians to veteran scholars - including the aprocryphal Helene Yuhasova story. She also shared Bliss Austin's firsthand experience with a female inter

  The #BSIWeekend 2015 is in the history books. As usual, it was a reminder of the richness of friendship and fun that are the side effect - and in some cases, the driver - of our interest in Sherlock Holmes. And it is the subject of this episode of I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere.   As you know, the Baker Street Irregulars (and Friends) Weekend is a gathering of some hundrends of interested Sherlockians that is always full of food, fun and friends, and this year was no exception. In fact, this year it coincided with the 125th anniversary of the birth of Christopher Morley, the founder of the BSI, and the 100th anniversary of the publication of The Valley of Fear.   One of the highlights for us was the Lunch of Steele at the Salmagundi Club, honoring the memory of Frederic Dorr Steele, one of the great illustrators of the Sherlock Holmes stories. Burt has hosted this luncheon for the last 12 years, and he tells us why he decided to bring back the tradition of Morley's Three Hours For Lunch Club under the topic