The Open and Inclusive Worldwide Online Sherlockian Society (Really, We're about Having Fun)
Mr. Holmes, starring Ian McKellen and based of the book A Slight Trick of the Mind by Mitch Cullin, has arrived at many theaters around the world at this point, so if you have seen the movie, I would love to discuss it with you. (Yes, there will likely be spoilers in the comments, so fair warning if you haven’t seen the film.)
Did you like it? What did you think of Ian McKellen’s portrayal?
We are very pleased to announce that the electronic (PDF) edition of the Society’s first monograph, “Coin of the Canonical Realm”, by Nicholas Utechin (JHWS “Rex”), is now available in the Shop. Simply select “PDF Download” in the “Format and Postage” options. You will receive the download link as soon as payment is completed.
If you encounter any problems with the shop (or anywhere else on the site), please let Selena know!
Hello– I’m jumping in here on the news page to send some info (and encouragement) to our 3rd Annual Treasure Hunt participants. As a participant in TH1 and TH2, I know that the third week can feel a bit discouraging and frustrating. More than likely at this point, those working on the hunt are now down to their final 1/3 of the questions–the 1/3 that seem too ambiguous or mostly hopeless. I know time is short, and frustration leads to thoughts of abandoning the thing entirely. I hope you will not! I also know at this point it is easy to forget that you’ve had some fun working on thing– the joy of getting lost in Holmes’s and Watson’s world, and from playing the game with your team members. I offer a reminder of a few strategies–we saw some of this in the warm-up questions– for working the questions this year:
1) Almost every question has a searchable phrase or word to help you find the answer. Some are really evident (‘alive and well’); others require a bit more thought, ie: another word for ‘single man’ is ‘bachelor’; ‘three’ could be third or thrice, etc.;
2) Punctuation matters: a lower-case ‘j’ in the word jack; an upper-case ‘Y’ in the word yellow;
3) Be sure to consider the section headings–“The problem has always been not to find but to choose” will mean you are looking for answers concerning the untold tales, as Watson is referencing some of them when he made that statement.
A full 15 days remain to work on the hunt. Should you find yourself a few answers short on September 1, please submit your answers anyway. The hunt will be scored on a point system; each question has a point value (i.e.: ‘who’ = 1 pt; ‘who’ and ‘where’ = 2 pts., etc.). With the exclusion of question #27, there are 156 available points. [ If your answer gets ‘who’ correct but misses ‘where’, you still earn 1 of 2 points.] Even if you are a few answers short, your total points could still equal High Honors!
Ok, I will stop going on and on. Thanks for your time and interest.
Your 2015 Treasure Hunt master who fully expects to be cursed profoundly over the next 15 days…
Margie
In a recent interview, Martin Freeman spoke of his role in BBC Sherlock and while answering a question about portraying characters who are “ordinary people dragged into the extraordinary,” he had a fascinating thing to say about Dr Watson (emphasis mine):
“Sometimes it’s forgotten… you know, I know what you’re saying about John and Bilbo both being ordinary people dragged into the extraordinary but sometimes it’s forgotten that before John Watson meets Sherlock he’s already an extraordinary man. He is a soldier, he is an army surgeon who saves lives, who can take lives. He is certainly a lot more capable than I am in real life. It’s just that he meets someone who’s even more extraordinary – you know, in a normal room of people John Watson would be the guy, ‘cause he can do stuff that hardly anybody else can do. But he just happens to meet his flatmate – he’s a genius. So a really impressive bloke meets a fantastically impressive bloke and together they make magic.”
That is certainly how Freeman presents him in the BBC adaption. Through the Canon, we can give examples of how Dr Watson saw himself and we know how Mr Holmes viewed his friend, but how did other people view Dr Watson? Was he “the guy”? What moments from the Canon can you find to support or refute that?
Today’s topic is from our fellow JHWS member “Dash.” Thank you!
Each of us has been given a JHWS moniker through mysterious means. Some, like Asta, are well-known; most are not as obvious. What do you feel is the background story or hidden meaning behind your moniker?
I’m happy to announce that we now have a Shop available for anyone to purchase new membership, renewals, publications, and other items from the John H Watson Society. Simply click the “Shop” text on the upper right of the web page and feel free to browse through for anything you wish to purchase.
I wish to thank Selena for all of her hard work in putting this new feature on the website together.
For those of you who make a purchase on Paypal, please do not be alarmed by the Merchant account being under Don Libey’s name. The account is now handled by his partner and our treasurer, Asta, so we are safely handling your orders. The reason it is still in his name is simply because it is very difficult to have that information changed. If you have any further questions or suggestions about the new Shop site, please direct them to both me and Beth Gallego (JHWS Selena). We will help in any way possible.
I hope you will enjoy the new Shop! This is a wonderful time to renew membership (if it is time for you to renew) or to simply pick up previous publications that you don’t have in your library yet.
(The Society presents reviews and recommendations on books by its members on these pages. We hope you will enjoy hearing of new books furthering our Sherlockian, Holmesian and Watsonian interests. On this occasion, Harrison Hunt, JHWS “Dash,” would like to share his thoughts on a recent publication by the Baker Street Irregulars:)
Out of the Abyss
Edited by Andrew Solberg, BSI, Steven Rothman, BSI and Robert Katz, BSI.
Baker Street Irregulars Press, 2014.
Out of the Abyss, the latest entry in the Baker Street Irregulars Manuscript Series, gives a multi-faceted look at one of the most significant stories in the Canon, “The Empty House.” As with the previous volumes in the series, Abyss features a facsimile of Arthur Conan Doyle’s manuscript of the story presented with a page-by-page transcription. It also offers extensive notes about textual variations in the early printings of the tale, annotations based on up-to-the-minute scholarship and a bibliography for further study. The manuscript itself is a telling insight into ACD’s abilities as a writer: there are almost no corrections to his neatly written text. It reminded me of an exhibit I saw at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London in 1970 that contrasted two of Charles Dickens’s manuscripts; that for one of his early books had extensive crossings-out and re-writes, while the one for a later book had almost none. Both Dickens and Doyle had become masters of their craft.
In addition to the manuscript, Abyss includes a fascinating series of essays examining “The Empty House” that reflect the full spectrum of the writings about the writings. These chapters range from an overview of the history of the manuscript and its conservation to a short biography of the book collector and dealer Dr. ASW Rosenbach to a short pastiche by Lyndsay Faye. Other essays examine the location of the empty house, period methods of cheating at cards, the roles of Mycroft and Colonel Moran, SH as international spy and the story’s religious symbolism. Of particular significance to members of The John H. Watson Society is Ray Betzner’s contribution, which muses about Watson and the Great Hiatus. It offers an interesting contrast to Betzner’s highly regarded talk on the subject at the 2015 BSI Annual Dinner; both items are well worth reading, and among other things uphold Emerson’s views about hobgoblins.
This is an excellent volume that should be in every serious Sherlockian’s library. The John H. Watson Society can be proud that all three editors – “Herbie”, “Duke” and “Willow” – are Charter Members.
— Harrison Hunt “Dash”
Note from Carla: You can find out more about Out of the Abyss on it’s web page HERE.
Hi All: Taking up a bit of space here on the news page today to remind our Treasure Hunters about the forum that is open on the Quiz page. Since we have some new teams competing this year, I’m worried not everyone knows to check the comments on the Quiz page forum from time to time for changes/clarifications to the Treasure Hunt. Today, for example, Question #27 was removed from the hunt tally due to a question construction issue. I hope everyone working on the Treasure Hunt receives the message–I would hate for anyone to spend time searching for an answer that is not going to be included in the scoring. Thanks for your time and interest.
Now…back to your regular programming…
JHWS “Gwen” read a review of Mr. Holmes in The New Yorker (July 20 issue). The film is reviewed by Richard Brody. The writer made two statements that Gwen wishes to discuss – the first one we discussed last week and the second one is this week.
Since this discusses the movie Mr. Holmes, I’ll but this under a Continue Reading link for those of you who do not wish stumble upon any spoilers.
(I was absent yesterday and thus failed to share this lovely sentiment from our dear friend “Bobbie.” I apologize that this is a day late. However I feel it is better late than never at all, so now I am honored to present this message from him to all of you. – Carla Buttons)
“May I offer you a glass of Chianti, Miss Morstan? Or of Tokay? I keep no other wines.”
– Sherlock Holmes asks Mary Morstan in The Sign of Four
Kumar Bhatia
John H Watson Society “Bobbie”
Sherlock Holmes Society of India
Sherlock Holmes Society of London
Sherlock Holmes Fan Club of Hungary
Hello 2015 Treasure Hunters! You will find this year’s hunt attached below. It is attached as a Word document (.docx) and, again, as a PDF for those without software to open a Word document. As noted earlier today, a forum for discussing the treasure hunt is now open on the Quiz page. Any questions / requests for clarification can also be sent to treasurehunt@johnhwatsonsociety.com. The competition will be open through September 1, 2015; no submissions will be accepted after that date.
Good luck!
JHWS “Gwen” read a review of Mr. Holmes in The New Yorker (July 20 issue). The film is reviewed by Richard Brody. The writer made two statements that Gwen wishes to discuss – the first one will be this week’s discussion and the second one will be next week’s.
Since this discusses the movie Mr. Holmes, I’ll but this under a Read More link for those of you who do not wish stumble upon any spoilers.
Hello Watsonians! This time next week, the 3rd Annual JHWS Treasure Hunt will be posted and hopefully our hunters will be busy seeking answers. We’ve had two previous warm up questions: an easier question with just a bit of pawky-ness, and a harder question requiring some associative thinking and rereading of several stories. The final warm up question is a medium-level straight forward one. On we go:
Two men died in July: one in 1944, and the other in 1967. Their visionary work greatly influenced the world’s perception of Sherlock Holmes in their respective generations—in deed, their influence continues to resonate today. Who and who?
Hello! It is now a mere ten days until the 3rd Annual John H Watson Treasure Hunt posts, and I’m thinking it is time for another warm up question. And here we go:
Without becoming too terribly preoccupied, determine the missing name to complete the series:
Helen::Grimesby
Victor::Elise
Percy:: ___________
John::Sherlock
Sherlock::Adelbert
Sherlock::Jacky
Sherlock::Josiah
This weekend, the local group I belong to will hold an annual John H Watson Picnic. Do you or your own local society have any traditions involving our dear Doctor? Please share them with us!
A special message from Megan, the daughter of Donald “Buttons” Libey, to everyone:
I just wanted to thank all who have written good words about my daddy, the comments are treasured to me. I express my gratitude to all, and I’m fine with him living in all of your hearts. Andrea will have great memories, and those will be treasured.
Thank you and best regards,Megan Libey
Hello! It is now only 17 days until the 3rd Annual JHWS Treasure Hunt posts. I thought a warm up question might be in order: In the course of their adventures together, when and where did Holmes introduce the good Dr Watson by the doctor’s full first and last name?
The Baker Street Babes recently released “Always 1895: Translating Starrett’s 221B” on their website for free. It’s a e-book of the Vincent Starrett sonnet “221B” translated into song and numerous different languages. You can download it on THIS page.
Every month, at the end of the meeting, everyone in my local scion society listens to a recitation of Vincent Starrett’s “221B.” How does the sonnet resonate for you? Why does it have such a lasting impact on generations of Sherlockians?
221B
by Vincent Starrett
Here dwell together still two men of note
Who never lived and so can never die:
How very near they seem, yet how remote
That age before the world went all awry.
But still the game’s afoot for those with ears
Attuned to catch the distant view-halloo:
England is England yet, for all our fears–
Only those things the heart believes are true.
A yellow fog swirls past the window-pane
As night descends upon this fabled street:
A lonely hansom splashes through the rain,
The ghostly gas lamps fail at twenty feet.
Here, though the world explode, these two survive,
And it is always eighteen ninety-five.
Just as a remind to everyone (and myself!), the deadline for the October Fall issue of The Watsonian is July 15, which is this coming Wednesday.
CORRECTION: It seems that the deadline is August 1st, as originally set by our dear Buttons earlier this year. The website will be updated to reflect that change. Hopefully, this will give some of you more time and opportunity to submit your work for The Watsonian.
Submissions should be up-to-date Word documents and sent via email attachment to: publisher@johnhwatsonsociety.com
As a special event at San Diego Comic Con today, PBS gave fans a sneak peek at the upcoming BBC Sherlock Christmas special:
What are your first impressions of this take on Holmes and Watson? (Personally, I fear that Dr Watson’s mustache is going to steal every scene. It’s epic.)