February 20, 1886: Holmes returned the missing part of the Beryl Coronet to Alexander Holder. (BERY)
On February 19th…
February 19, 1886: Alexander Holder asked Holmes to find the missing part of the Beryl Coronet. (BERY)
Holmes followed footprints left in the snow made by Arthur Holder and Sir George Burnwell. (BERY)
Mary Holder eloped with Sir George Burnwell. (BERY)
On February 18th…
February 18, 1886: Arthur Holder asked his father for money the third time. (BERY)
Part of the Beryl Coronet was stolen. (BERY)
Weekly Forum #7
In your opinion, who is one of the most tragic figures in the Canon?
Spring Watsonian Deadline is Today!
This is a reminder to anyone who is interested in submitting to the next volume of The Watsonian: Today is the deadline!
If you’re nearly done preparing a submission, please know that late submissions may be considered. However, I ask that you please contact our editor, Pippin (see the e-mail links on the right column on the main page), to see if that might be possible.
A poem to John Watson and his Mary forever
(Based on SIGN)
Tune: Fascination by F. D. Marchetti, arranged and sequenced by Jim Bottorff
When she said, “The treasure is gone,”
I then realized that I now could gain one.
With the gems and gold
Sunken through the cold
Nothing could prevent my heart from saying, “Thank God!”
When she asked me, “Why so say you?”
I confessed my love for her now shown as true.
Drawn against my side without slightest resistance,
Mary whispered, “Thank God,” too!
On February 11th…
February 11, 1886: Arthur Holder asked his father for money the second time. (BERY)
Introducing: Cocoa’s C’animals!
Can you guess which canonical story that this refers to?
The History of C’animals
It was May of 2001 and Sherlockians were gathering for an event at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. Before the big dinner several of us whiled away the afternoon exploring some of local the shops. And that’s where it started; I found an adorable baby gorilla in the guise of a stuffed toy.
Later, when my friends and I were comparing our shopping trophies, I validated my purchase by naming the small gorilla McGinty, the Bodymaster. Little did I know that I was soon to become addicted to collecting stuffed toy versions the many animals mentioned in the Canon. Adding up those that are mentioned as similes, those that are mention as allegories and those that play an actual role (no matter how big or small) there are more than 134 animals in the 60 published stories. And that’s not counting the various breeds of canis familiaris.
Soon I began to haunt local toy stores, the gift shop at the American Museum of Natural History and the internet looking all manner of amphibians and crustaceans, reptiles and rodents. In a relatively short period of time I had acquired a substantial number of stuffed toys. Storage soon became an issue; solved by the purchase of several very large straw baskets. Thankfully stuffed toys are squishable. Of course the collection is incomplete. Apparently there aren’t many requests for toy versions of gudgeon or pilot fish. Searching for stuffed shrimp resulted only in recipes. And then there are species, like slow worms or drag hounds, known only to the denizens of the Canon.
After I retired I finally had the time to “play” with my collection; grouping and photographing them by story. The results are some of the pictures that will be showing up on this website. Some of the adventures have only a few c’animals while others have so many several pictures were necessary to complete the family album. By the way, did you know there is one adventure that doesn’t have any animals at all?
Have fun identifying them all.
Cheers,
Cocoa (aka Judith Freeman)
Weekly Forum #6
I’m back from my trip to New York City and England. The jet lag has mercifully passed and I’m starting to get back into the swing of things. I’d swamp you with vacation photos and stories of the incredible Watsonians I’ve met this past month, but this certainly not a personal blog, so let’s keep the focus on who we really enjoy talking about: Dr Watson.
I went to the Sherlock Holmes Museum and, although I felt quite hesitant, I was too curious not to at least go in and see the contents of the museum. This may be my only visit to London, after all, so why not at least once? I had heard about it (not all particularly positive impressions) and I felt oddly curious about the mixed reactions I’d hear from others.
After, I walked out of the museum feeling dissatisfied, though perhaps not for the same reason as others might (such as due to the high price or the over-reliance on wax figures). The reason for my dissatisfaction was this: despite having the room available of two additional floors in the building, why do we not see Dr Watson’s bedroom? There is Sherlock Holmes’ room and the famous sitting room and… that’s it, the rest of the floors display other things, but no bedroom for Dr Watson?
As far as I’m aware, Dr Watson never spares time to describe his own room at 221B Baker Street, though he took time to describe Holmes’ room and their sitting room. So, my question is: What do you think Dr Watson’s bedroom would look like? What do you think we might find in his bedroom? Could you describe how it might look?
Ode to Dr. Watson
Of all the many entertaining authors
Whose published books by some are fondly kept,
Have any matched your subtle pawky humor?
Were any at descriptions as adept?Of course you had the great unique advantage
Of having such a gifted friend to know,
And living at a time we view as charming,
From those quaint glimpses that your stories show.But still, the manner of your stories’ tellings
Stirs up imaginings more than a guess.
We’ve shuddered at portrayals of the villains.
We’ve warmed to view the damsels in distress.And as for Holmes, you’ve made him such a hero,
We’d no doubt swarm to get his autograph,
And search his face to sense the egotism
That never fails to make our spirits laugh.Then cheers from all for sturdy Dr. Watson!
The one fixed point within all changing scenes.
His writings cause some pilgrimage to London
Or shorter jaunts to local silver screens.
I found this tribute to our beloved Dr Watson on the site listed below. I may still be down but the Doctor and you all have always supported me.
Take care, all.
Chips
81 Sherlockian Poems and Songs
lyrical praise and humor by John McDonne
On February 4th…
February 4, 1875: Jack McMurdo arrived in Vermissa Valley. (VALL)
Charlie McCarthy, Detective
I found one of these spoons in a junk shop. I researched the history. The spoon was put into cans of Chase San-born Coffee to advertise a movie being released.
The Movie was titled “Charlie McCarthy, Detective”. I never saw the movie but I would like to if anyone knows of how to get a copy.
Weekly Forum #5
You may remember some lovely fellows I spoke to about Sherlock Holmes on the radio: Lawrence Albert (JHWS “Bertie”) and John Patrick Lowrie, who play Dr Watson and Mr Holmes in Imagination Theatre.
I’m happy to mention that our dear friends and their clever cohorts have accomplished quite an astounding feat! The Imagination Theatre is the first North American English speaking audio drama company to perform every story in the Canon! They’ve collected their long, impressive project in a complete set, found HERE.
So, do you ever listen to Holmes and Watson on the radio? Do you have any particular Sherlockian productions or portrayals of Dr Watson that you personally enjoyed listening to as an audio drama?
Dean Turnbloom, JHWS “Stoker”: Sherlock Holmes and The Adventure of The Raven’s Call
Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Raven’s Call follows Holmes into retirement, where shortly after he arrives in Sussex Downs he becomes aware that a reported accidental death may have been murder. Holmes uses his gifts for observation and deduction to discover the identity of the murderer and teams up with a new partner to get the guilty party’s confession. A pastiche of the first order, Raven’s Call will delight the Holmes enthusiast as it shows the consulting detective may retire, but is never retiring.
Weekly Forum #4
I’m in London right now! For the very first time in my life!
(Note: I’m not counting the time in my early twenties where I got rerouted through Heathrow Airport during a very hectic Madrid-to-Seattle trip, where I then got rudely yelled at, and then had my check in luggage lost for three weeks…. that one time doesn’t count. This is a proper do-over. And instead of Heathrow, I flew in through Gatwick. So there. Ha!)
If you live around London, or ever visit London, what are some of your favorite places to go?
If you’ve never been, but you want to go to London one day, what would you like to go see?
Dean Turnbloom, JHWS “Stoker”: Sherlock Holmes and The Return of The Whitechapel Vampire
Bodies washing up along the eastern coast of New England and the mysterious grounding of a “ghost ship” near Manhattan combine to bring Sherlock Holmes out of retirement to resume his pursuit of the villainous Baron Antonio Barlucci-the Whitechapel Vampire. But when he arrives in London to enlist the assistance of Dr. Watson, the good doctor has reservations.
It’s been twenty-five years since Holmes and Watson hunted Barlucci, twenty-five years since they learned the baron was buried beneath a mountain of ice and snow.
Has Holmes’ preoccupation with Barlucci driven him to see connections where none exist? Have his powers of deduction gone stale while in retirement? Has Watson’s worst fear, that Holmes’ obsession with the baron has unbalanced his finely tuned psyche, come true?
Sherlock Holmes and the Return of the Whitechapel Vampire is the exciting finalé to the Whitechapel Vampire Trilogy. In this final chapter, Holmes must face more than evil. He must face his own mortality-the only certainty in an uncertain world.
Reviews:
“Right from the opening paragraphs, I was overjoyed because I felt I was reading a brand new Conan Doyle mystery. Being a die- hard fan of the original, I then became wary: could a modern author be successful in this tremendous undertaking? The answer is a resounding yes! SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE RETURN OF THE WHITECHAPEL VAMPIRE is more than an homage to Conan Doyle: Mr. Turnbloom essentially captures everything that is Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson but makes it his own, without the reader ever having the impression of the author “trying”; never does the author endeavour to copy, but he in fact prolongs the formidable legacy of Conan Doyle.” – Monique Daost
Facts about the Stories
One benefit of being laid up with a traumatic Brian injury is I have always had 1895 to fall back on and concentrate my memory and ability to enjoy the world that Watson and Doyle created.
Even the basic information I had read before has an enchanting New feeling about it. For example, Sherlock Holmes stories are thought of as murder mystery stories. A check of the wealth of information in the volume Sherlock Holmes for Dummies by Steven Doyle and David Crowder reveals facts like:
- 263 dead bodies in the cases
- 119 were murders
- 3 can be classified as locked room mysteries such as the Speckled Band, The Empty House and the Valley of Fear
- 3 can be crime prevention as The Red-Beaded League, Solitary Cyclist, The Three Garridebs
- 4 Espionage – The 2nd Stain, The Bruce Partington plans, Last Bow, Naval Treaty.
- 4 missing persons as in A Case of Identity, The Noble Bachelor, The Man with a Twisted lip. The Priory School.
- 3 weird tales – The Yellow Face, The Crooked Man, Veiled Lodger.
Long stories: Watson and Doyle went a different way in adding a tale with a section explaining the background of what happened before. The three long stories are great tales yet the best one has no background – The Hound of the Baskervilles.
Thanks Steve and David in helping me mend.
Would any of my fellow Watsonians like to suggest any changes?
Chips
A Limerick
Note from Carla Buttons: I am pleased to reintroduce Tid Bits, written by our dear friend Ron “Chips” Lies as he now works to improve his health and continue his Sherlockian studies.
This a limerick I found and I enjoyed the picture that was created. I hope you enjoy it also.
Oh give me a home where Sherlockians roam
Where Watson is faithful and true,
Where seldom is heard a non canonical word
And anything could be a clue.
The author is the illustrious scholar, Christopher Redmond from his book, A Sherlock Holmes Handbook, second edition, page one.
So. Write and let Chips what you might think of it
Weekly Forum #3
In New York last week, there was a series of special events known as BSI Weekend!
This was my first opportunity to attend events such as the William Gillette Luncheon and the Gaslight Gala. Did you attend this year’s BSI Weekend? Any interesting stories to share?
If not this year, have you made the trip in the past? Or do you plan to go one day?
Dean Turnbloom, JHWS “Stoker”: Sherlock Holmes and the Body Snatchers
With Baron Barlucci escaping London on his way to New York with Abigail Drake, Dr. Watson is certain they’ve seen the last of the Whitechapel Vampire; Sherlock Holmes isn’t so sure. They soon learn the Animus Lacuna, barque of the now infamous Barlucci, was reported lost at sea and a longboat carrying the body of Abigail Drake was recovered by Newfoundland fishermen. But when Inspector Andrews of Scotland Yard arrives to retrieve her remains, the body suddenly disappears and Sherlock Holmes is called in to investigate.
“Sherlock Holmes and the Body Snatchers” takes up the story of the Whitechapel Vampire in New York, where Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson meet, work with, and sometimes work against, New York detectives Mylo Strumm and Michael Murray. Holmes and Watson are on a quest to find the missing body of Miss Abigail Drake, while Strumm and Murray are investigating a string of unusual murders that bear a striking resemblance to the ‘Ripper’ murders in London.
Reviews:
“Sherlock Holmes and the Body Snatchers is a complex, well-plotted, well written novel. So many plot threads are woven throughout the book’s pages, and each one is nicely wrapped up in the finale. Turnbloom takes his subject matter incredibly seriously, even when he’s writing about vampires in New York City. Along with the fine plot are the excellent characters. Each character is developed in depth and you will emphatise with them as you read.” – The Consulting Detective