Sherlock Holmes: Trifles: June 2017

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

26 - The Plot Device of The Three Garridebs

"Saw through my game, I suppose" [3GAR]

Once again, we have a con man at work, eager to enrich himself. He finds his mark, manages to get him away from the scene where his work needs to happen, and is eventually caught red-handed by Sherlock Holmes. Does this plot device sound familar? It should. Or at least it did, once we got the names of the minor characters straight...

This tale has been recognized as sharing the plot of "The Red-Headed League" and "The Stock-Broker's Clerk". If indeed the plot is strong enough to be employed three times, which story makes the best use of it, and why?

Download | 7.7 MB, 16:47

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Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

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

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

25 - An Unbelievable Case of Identity

Scott Monty 1:56 PM 0

"she will not believe me" [IDEN]

In the early stories in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson was admittedly new to the bio-docu-drama genre that he was creating. And while we've gotten comfortable with putting "The Adventure of..." in front of nearly every short story about Sherlock Holmes, a handful of these early stories were not titled that way. "A Scandal in Bohemia" and "A Case of Identity" were the first and third stories to be published in The Strand and did not carry that title.

But aside from that difference, "A Case of Identity" stands out. Not because it was devoid of a crime, but because its premise seemed inherently unbelievable. A young lady not recognizing her own stepfather? How is it that Watson (and Arthur Conan Doyle) managed to pull this off?

Download | 7.1 MB, 15:35

Please leave us a rating and review on the podcast player of your choice, and consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal.

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

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

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

24 - Heads of Household

Scott Monty 8:25 AM 0

"He had described his household" [WIST]

We're acutely aware of some of the fathers in the Sherlock Holmes stories, and the dastardly deeds associated with them. Individuals such as Jephro Rucastle and Grimesby Roylott spring to mind.

But what about figures who occupied a position as head of the household who weren't necessarily fathers themselves? With Fathers Day coming up this weekend, we thought this was an excellent time to take a moment and reflect on who these individuals are and what their role in the Canon was.

Download | 7.2 MB, 15:50

Please leave us a rating and review on iTunes or Google Play, and consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal.

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

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

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

23 - Married Life with Dr. Watson

Scott Monty 7:16 AM 0

"not long after my marriage" [ENGR]

In this episode, we look at how married life was treating Dr. Watson in "The Adventure of the Boscombe Valley Mystery." William S. Baring-Gould placed this at June 6 or June 8, 1889. It was published as the fourth short story in the collection known as The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.

In the opening scene, Holmes sends for the recently married Watson to accompany him on a case, and Mary Watson, far from nagging her husband about his penchant for dashing off with his friend, actually urges Watson to go. Watson gives her a charming compliment in return by alluding to their romantic meeting in The Sign of Four. The affectionate circle is completed when Holmes gives Watson very gracious thanks for agreeing to come along on the trip.

What are we to make of Watson's home life? Is he simply using a literary technique by making his marriage seem able to weather the storm of Holmes? Or was Mary genuinely understanding of the push-pull relationship between the doctor and the detective?

A tribute to the late Peter Sallis, an appearance by Felix Unger and Oscar Madison, and more surprises await.

Download | 6.8 MB, 14:49