Episode 415 – Battlestations!

“You look like a general who is planning a battle” [HOUN] 

The Battle of Marengo, by Louis-François Lejeune (public domain - Wikimedia Commons)

One simple sentence in "The Abbey Grange" served as the spark to the fuse of this Trifles episode. In one sentence, Sherlock Holmes referenced two of Napoleon's battles — each with a different outcome.

But it made us curious: what other famous battles were mentioned, either outright or by implication, throughout the Canon? We chose to discuss six of them. It's just a Trifle.

Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send you a thank-you gift.

All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and certain tiers receive thank you gifts. Join our community on Patreon or Substack today.

Download | 32.4 MB, 34:22 

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Links / Notes

• Battle of Maiwand
• Battle of Malplaquet
• Battle of Agincourt
• Siege of Khartoum
• Battle of Marengo
• Battle of Waterloo
• Chicken Marengo recipe
• Other episodes mentioned:
• Episode 385 - The Long Road From Maiwand
• All of our social links: https://linktr.ee/ihearofsherlock
• Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra 

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

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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Episode 397 – Clumsiness

“I did it clumsily” [DANC] 

Sherlock Holmes was a man of great precision. We learn about his attention to detail and his preferences for improving the art of detection from the very first time we meet him.

But there were instances of clumsiness — his own and from others — that crop up throughout the Canon. It's just a Trifle.

Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send you a thank-you gift.

All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and certain tiers receive thank you gifts. Join our community on Patreon or Substack today.

Download | 25.4 MB, 18:32 

Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts.

Links / Notes

• All of our social links: https://linktr.ee/ihearofsherlock
• Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com
• Join our community on Patreon or Substack to hear bonus material and be eligible for drawings. 

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra 

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

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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Episode 298 – The British Monarchy

“a regal and stately lady in Court dress” [CHAS] 

With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, we find ourselves in a similar place as Sherlock Holmes did in 1901 with the passing of Queen Victoria: at the end of an age.

What a perfect opportunity then, to reflect on the thirteen British monarchs who appeared in the Sherlock Holmes stories. Who were they? We found thirteen — some were obvious and others were a little tricky to find. Thanks to the help of Chris Redmond, it's just a Trifle.

If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

Our Patreon supporters can listen to our shows ad-free and every one of them is eligible for our monthly and quarterly drawings for Baker Street Journals. And, we have Chris Redmond's booklet A Sherlockian History of England available as a PDF. Join our community of patrons today.

Download | 42.9 MB, 31:16

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Links / Notes

• This episode: ihose.co/trifles298
• Queen Elizabeth II (1926 – 2022)
• British Monarchs in the Sherlock Holmes Stories
• Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube
• Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com
• Listen to us ad-free on Patreon and become eligible for our regular giveaways.

Sponsor

The eBSJ

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

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

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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Episode 274 – Trees, Part 1: Over the Oak / Under the Elm

“grazing the top of the oak” [MUSG] 

I think that I shall never see... a Sherlock Holmes story as lovely as a tree. However, there are plenty of instances of trees in the Canon that make for interesting observation, if only we stop to look at them through the forest.

Inspired by one of Don Jewell's books, we spend some time investigating the instances of oaks and elms in the stories (far more than just "The Musgrave Ritual," we assure you) and comment on the state of these trees in Victorian times.

Are you the winner of our monthly drawing (for a free back issue of the Baker Street Journal) and our quarterly drawing (for a free annual subscription to the BSJ)? All Patreon supporters are eligible.

Download | 13.5 MB, 28:24

Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts:

Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles 

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. 

Links / Notes

• This episode: ihose.co/trifles274
• Inspired by The Botanical Holmes: A Monograph on Plants in the Time of Sherlock Holmes, Volume 6 in The Sherlock Holmes Natural History Series by Donald Girard Jewell.
• Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube
• Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com
• Support us on Patreon and become eligible for our regular giveaways.

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

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Episode 255 – British Birds

“a fierce old bird of prey” [SPEC] 

Birds are part of British life. Such is the reality of living on an island. And there were a great variety of birds we hear about in the Sherlock Holmes stories.

While many of them were commonplace and part of the hunting and dining habits in Victorian England, there were others that were a little more exotic. It's just a Trifle.

We also have an announcement about a special episode only for our Patreon supporters. Be sure you're on board to take part in that.

Download | 12.5 MB, 25:29

Sherlock Holmes: Trifles · British Birds

Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts:

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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. 

Links / Notes

• This episode: ihose.co/trifles255
• Inspired by Donald Jewell's A Few Hours to the Birds: A Monograph on Birds and Birding in the Time of Sherlock Holmes, Volume 2 in The Sherlock Holmes Natural History Series (Pinchin Lane Press, 1991)
• Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube
• Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com
• Support us on Patreon

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

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Episode 254 – Was Sherlock Holmes Crazy?

“You’re crazy!” [DANC] 

Sherlock Holmes had his eccentricities, without a question. Many scholars over the years have debated his mental health, with a wide variety of diagnoses.

But there has been a suggestion that a physical condition in Holmes and its treatment may very well have masked another disorder—one of the mind rather than the body. It's just a Trifle.

Download | 9.5 MB, 20:29

Sherlock Holmes: Trifles · Was Sherlock Holmes Crazy?

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Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles 

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. 

Links / Notes

• This episode: ihose.co/trifles254
• Inspired by "Was Sherlock Holmes Crazy?" by Gideon Hill, BSI ("Dr. Hill Barton") in 70 Years By Gaslamp - The Illustrious Clients' Sixth Casebook
• Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube
• Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com
• Support us on Patreon

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

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Episode 252 – Some Freaks of Atavism

“hereditary tendencies of the most diabolical kind” [FINA] 

Source: YouTube

Family matters a great deal in the Sherlock Holmes stories, although we don't discover anything about Holmes and his family background until halfway through the stories that make up The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, where we meet Mycroft.

And yet, there were many instances in which family bloodlines gave Holmes an indication of what he was looking for. It's just a Trifle.

Download | 10.6 MB, 21:21

Sherlock Holmes: Trifles · Some Freaks of Atavism

Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts:

Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles 

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. 

Links / Notes

• This episode: ihose.co/trifles252
• Inspired by "Pooled Resources" on I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere
• Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube
• Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com
• Support us on Patreon

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

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Episode 208 – Handwriting

“Have you ever had occasion to study character in handwriting?” [SIGN] 

More than once, Sherlock Holmes used someone's handwriting to guide him toward a solution. Whether it was a hastily-scribbled legal document or a red herring of a note, he was able to discern certain facts by observing the handwriting. 

But was this a mere fiction, a literary license to make his powers seem more impressive? Or was it more practical in nature? It's just a Trifle.

Only one more episode left in Season 4. Stay tuned for that and for what's coming in 2021!

Download | 11.1 MB, 22:06

Sherlock Holmes: Trifles · Handwriting

Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts:

Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles 

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. 

And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal.

Links / Notes

• This episode: ihose.co/trifles208
• Graphology (Wikipedia)

Sponsor

• The BSI Press

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra
Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band
Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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Episode 201 – Spare No Expense

 “I desire you to spare no expense and no pains” [WIST] 

Sherlock Holmes had to go places, see people, investigate things. And doing so meant that he incurred expenses. If we itemized what some of these were—absent the specific amount—what would that tell us about Sherlock Holmes?

Where did he go? How did he travel? Where did get get the funding when there wasn't a well-off client behind his cases? It's just a Trifle.

Download | 10.9 MB, 22:01

Sherlock Holmes: Trifles · Spare No Expense

Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts:

Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles 

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. 

And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal.

Links / Notes

• This episode: ihose.co/trifles201
• Related episodes: 
• Episode 74 - The Administrative Side of Baker Street
• Episode 75 - Nummi in Arca, or The Fiscal Holmes

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

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Episode 174 – A Colonel of Truth

“the Colonel’s manner has been just a trifle cavalier” [SILV]  

Having spent the last episode discussing the unusual setting and Holmes and Watson's friendship as displayed in "The Reigate Squires," our minds turned toward their host, Colonel Hayter. Or rather, of his fellow ranking military officers in the Canon.

In fact, we realized that in the Sherlock Holmes stories, the title “Colonel” usually means bad news. Consider with us the various colonels and see how it strikes you. It's just a Trifle.

Download | 11.9 MB, 26:06

         

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. 

Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts:

Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles 

And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal.

Links / Notes

• This episode: ihose.co/trifles174
• Episode 45 - Military Morality

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

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Episode 173 – Squiring Around

“the fellows are still at large” [REIG]  

In "The Reigate Squires," we find Sherlock Holmes ill and uprooted — staying in a country house — which, although it's a bachelor establishment, isn't quite what he's accustomed to. Although it may not be one of Holmes’s truly great cases, there is much to love in this story.

Watson was right there to back up Holmes in every way: reacting in horror to Holmes’s fainting fit, taking the blame for the overturned table, and even rescuing Holmes from the clutches of the murderers. It's just a Trifle.

Download | 12.9 MB, 24:51

        

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. 

Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts:

Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles 

And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal.

Links / Notes

• This episode: ihose.co/trifles173

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

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