Episode 114 - Poetry

“volumes of poetry” [ENGR]  

When we think of poetry, it's a style of writing that transports us, particularly emotionally, to another plane of existence. Poetry is like the rose over which Sherlock Holmes had a moment of reverie in "The Naval Treaty":

"But this rose is an extra. Its smell and its color are an embellishment of life, not a condition of it."

Holmes wasn't known for his poetic moments. In the story that proceeded the excerpt above ("The Greek Interpreter"), Holmes admonished Watson for projecting humility onto Holmes:

"To the logician all things should be seen exactly as they are, and to underestimate one’s self is as much a departure from truth as to exaggerate one’s own powers."

So there wasn't much room for poetry in the Sherlock Holmes stories. We manage to pick out a few of the finer points. They are, as usual, a Trifle...

Download | 11.3 MB, 23:24

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• This episode: ihose.co/trifles114
• The Detective Who Will Never Die

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Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra
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Episode 113 - Villains: Grimesby Roylott

“There has been some villainy here” [COPP]  

A look at some of the villains in the Sherlock Holmes stories, beginning with the first real heavy that we encounter.

Sherlock Holmes said "When a doctor goes wrong, he is the first of criminals." And Dr. Grimesby Roylott did not disappoint: he killed a man and served hard time for it, had a temper, kept wild animals, associated with gypsies, and more.

Perhaps it's just a bit more than a Trifle...

Download | 7.5 MB, 16:24

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Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra
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Episode 112 - Italians and Sherlock Holmes

“Have we any Italians on the staff?” [SIXN] 

Italians seem to surround us in the Sherlock Holmes stories. Restaurants, music, artisans, and of course criminals.

But Sherlock Holmes himself had some familiarity with Italy, both before and after his experience at the Reichenbach Falls. How far does this association with Italy go? Well, it's just a Trifle...

Download | 9.1 MB, 19:54

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• This episode: ihose.co/trifles112
• The Napoleon Bust Business Again
• Italy and Sherlock Holmes
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Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra
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Episode 111 - Boxing

“a straight left against a slogging ruffian” [SOLI] 

Sherlock Holmes, boxer? We don't often consider Sherlock Holmes for his boxing abilities, yet Watson very clearly noted his talent in that field in the very first story.

But Holmes wasn't the only boxer in the Canon. We repeatedly see mentions of the sport made official by the Marquess of Queensbury, as both tangential mentions and more central parts of the stories. But we'll try to keep this discussion of boxers brief. After all, it is a Trifle...

Download | 8.9 MB, 18:19

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Episode 110 - Governesses

“glancing at the governess” [WIST] 

They pop up here and there around the Canon quite infrequently. However, you can be sure that when a governess is featured in a Sherlock Holmes story, she's part of the plot.

What was this profession, and what did the ladies in these roles do? What was their station in life? We explore these questions, which shed light on why they might have found themselves in sticky situations from time to time in this episode of Trifles.

Download | 10.7 MB, 23:19

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Episode 109 - Brands in the Canon

“Look at this advertisement” [STUD] 

For well over 100 years, Sherlock Holmes has been seen in advertisements around the world. The fact is: Sherlock Holmes sells. He's good for brands.

There are a number of instances of brands that were mentioned within the Sherlock Holmes stories themselves. What are they? Well, we enumerate them, plus provide a few "what-ifs" ourselves in this episode of Trifles.

Download | 9.2 MB, 20:08

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Episode 108 - Germans and Sherlock Holmes

“Who were these German people” [ENGR] 

Sherlock Holmes had a number of encounters with German people. Who were they, and how did these interactions reflect on international relations at the time?

This is the first in a new series on Trifles focusing on international elements of the Sherlock Holmes stories.

Download | 7.7 MB, 16:52

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Episode 107 - An Inspector Calls

“the smartest of the Scotland Yarders” [SIGN] 

If you ask anyone familiar with the Sherlock Holmes stories to name a Scotland Yard inspector, they'll invariably answer, "Inspector Lestrade."

But Sherlock Holmes had a healthy respect for a handful of other police inspectors, both from Scotland Yard and from the surrounding areas. Who were they, and in which stories did they appear?

Download | 7.9 MB, 17:08

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Episode 106 - Board Games

“to play games of that sort” [REIG] 

This marks the first in a semi-regular series on Trifles in which we spend time talking about sports and games in the Sherlock Holmes stories.

In this episode, we look specifically at board games that were mentioned in the Canon and discuss their history and origins.

Download | 10.3 MB, 22:35

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• Backgammon
• Draughts / Checkers
• Chess
• The Mansion of Happiness
• The Checkered Game of Life
• The Game of the District Messenger Boy
• Progress and Play: Board Games and the Meaning of History

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Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra
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Episode 105 - Beards in the Canon

“the tall, black-bearded figure” [HOUN] 

We begin our third season with a discussion of facial hair in the Sherlock Holmes stories. Specifically, beards. That's right, hipsters: you've got company. Very, very old company.

Interestingly, we found that many of the more famous bearded characters in the stories shared a similar character trait. Just what was it? It's just a trifle, but you'll have to tune in to find out.

Download | 10 MB, 21:52

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• This episode: ihose.co/trifles105
• E.J. Wagner in I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere: Episode 159
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Episode 104 - Sherlock Holmes's Dining Habits

“he had invariably breakfasted and gone out before I rose” [STUD] 

The holidays typically bring a bounty of food, followed by solemn pledges to exercise and take better care of ourselves in the new year.

What do we know about Sherlock Holmes and his eating habits? He was thin, but did that mean he didn't have an appreciation for food? From fast food to fine dining, Sherlock Holmes displayed a wide range of culinary appreciation. And it's our topic for the final episode of Trifles for 2018.

Do you have any special requests for 2019? Let us know what additional topics you'd like us to discuss in the coming year.

Download | 7.7 MB, 16:49

Sherlock Holmes: Trifles · Sherlock Holmes's Dining Habits

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• Dining with Sherlock Holmes by Julia Carlson Rosenblatt and Frederich Sonnenschmidt

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Episode 103 - Unpublished Cases: A Very Commonplace Little Murder

“if it turns red, it means a man's life” [NAVA] 

We often fixate on the famous cases like the Giant Rat of Sumatra, James Phillimore and his umbrella, or Wilson, the notorious canary trainer. But there are times when some trifling detail escapes our notice.

In this, the final episode of our Unpublished Cases series, we look at the tiniest bit of detail around a chemistry experiment that had to do with a man's life in the balance...

And we need your help for 2019! Let us know what additional topics you'd like us to discuss.

Download | 9.4 MB, 20:32

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• RadioPublic

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Episode 102 - Inside 221B: On the Floor

“he slipped down upon the floor” [PRIO] 

It's not often that we have our eyes cast downward at 221B Baker Street. There are so many interesting things to see at eye-level: the Persian slipper, the chemistry set, the patriotic 'VR' on the wall. But there were floor coverings in the famous flat.

In this, the final episode of our Inside 221B series, we look at what was on the floor and the care that must have gone into them. They are just a Trifle...

And we need your help for 2019! Let us know what additional topics you'd like us to discuss.

Download | 8.2 MB, 17:54

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Episode 101 - You're So Hansom

“In the morning you will send for a hansom” [FINA] 

The Sherlock Holmes canon is a wonderful snapshot of the times. In particular, we get a good sense of the kinds of transportation that conveyed citizens around London and its environs.

The hansom cab is probably the most well-known, but there are a number of other types of horse-drawn vehicles that we find in the stories. What are they? Well, it's just a Trifle.


And we need your help for 2019! Let us know what additional topics you'd like us to discuss.

Download | 11.6 MB, 22:39

 

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• Hansom cab
• Four-wheeler / Clarence
• Transport and Carriages in the Victorian Era

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Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra
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Episode 100 - Telephonically, My Dear Holmes

“Did you tell him of our telephone appointment?” [3GAR] 

From the Gramophone to the telephone, November seems to be quite the month of technology here on Trifles.

Yes, even though Holmes did most of his work in the late 19th century, there were opportunities to use the newfangled voice-to-voice communications device known as the telephone. We explore just when and where, as well as certain supporting clues.

And we need your help for 2019! Let us know what additional topics you'd like us to discuss.

Download | 6.7 MB, 14:39

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Episode 99 – Unpublished Cases: The Ferrers Documents

“I am retained in this case of the Ferrers Documents” [PRIO] 

The arrival of Dr. Thorneycroft Huxtable on the doorstep (and hearth rug!) of 221B Baker Street was dramatic. He collapsed like a beached whale, and Sherlock Holmes was able to infer a great deal about the reason for his visit.

And yet, Holmes gave an excuse for potentially turning down the case: he was involved with the Ferrers Documents. We're not told what that is, but we think it may just be a Trifle...

Download | 7.3 MB, 15:57

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• This episode: ihose.co/trifles99
• RadioPublic
• Les Klinger on Episode 155 of I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere
• The Alternative Sherlock Holmes: Pastiches, Parodies and Copies by Peter Ridgway Watt and Joseph Green

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Episode 98 – Inside 221B: The Gramophone

“modern gramophones are a remarkable invention” [MAZA] 

When you glance across the Sherlock Holmes stories, there really aren't that many instances of children. Some of the tales are just not suitable for little ears, after all.

But there were key instances in which children played a vital role in the plot or moving the action forward. We explore some of those, as well as the warning signs that you might want to spend a little more (or less) time with the young ones. It is just a Trifle...

Download | 6.5 MB, 14:07

 

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• RadioPublic
• Trifles Episode 80

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Episode 97 – Sherlock Holmes and Children

“Children, my dear boy, children.” [GREE] 

When you glance across the Sherlock Holmes stories, there really aren't that many instances of children. Some of the tales are just not suitable for little ears, after all.

But there were key instances in which children played a vital role in the plot or moving the action forward. We explore some of those, as well as the warning signs that you might want to spend a little more (or less) time with the young ones. It is just a Trifle...

Download | 10 MB, 21:56

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• RadioPublic
• The Four Stages of Cruelty - William Hogarth

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