Monographs – The John H Watson Society

29 April, 2016

Watching the Mailbox

The Spring 2016 publications have been printed and are being bound as I write this, and are due to mail next week. We intended to have these out in April, and we apologize for the delay. We believe it’s worth the wait, but we will strive to have the October publications ship on schedule!

I’ll be watching my mailbox eagerly for my print copies, but those who ordered electronic editions don’t have to wait any longer. The digital versions of the Spring 2016 Watsonian, The Adventure of the Doctor and the Duellist, and Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Blank Page are now available in the Shop. If you pre-ordered, you may now download your PDF document, and new purchases are available for instant download. If you experience any technical issues, please let me know!

26 March, 201628 March, 2016

Start the Presses!

The Spring 2016 issue of The Watsonian and the newest edition of the Fiction Series, “The Adventure of the Doctor and the Duellist” (written by Elinor Gray, JHWS “Misty” and illustrated by Basil Chap, JHWS “Bee”), are headed to press. The print run for each is limited, so if you would like a copy of either or both for your shelves, the time to order is now!

Members of the John H Watson Society as of Sunday, 3 April, will receive a copy of each as part of the membership dues, so there is no need to place a separate order (unless you would like a second copy, of course). If you are not currently a member, now is an excellent time to join!

Non-members wishing to order print editions must do so by Sunday, 3 April to ensure availability. After that date, electronic (PDF) copies will still be available for purchase, but there may not be extra print copies.

The newest volume of the Monograph Series, “Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Blank Page”, by Leah Guinn, JHWS “Amber”, is also headed to press. This book is not included with Society membership, and the print run will be limited, so anyone wishing to order a print copy must do so by Sunday, 3 April. As with the other titles, the electronic (PDF) version will remain available for purchase after that date.

12 May, 201513 May, 2015

Weekly Forum 2015: #19

This week, let’s discuss the newest publications from the John H Watson Society!

Our Spring 2015 volume of The Watsonian was special to us for a number of reasons. Not only is it the largest volume to date (over 200 pages of content) but it was also one of the last great works from our dear Buttons before going beyond the terrace. I will always treasure this book for its literary and emotional significance to me.

The Adventure of the Duke’s Study by Luca Sartori “Victor” is the first in The Fiction Series and has received a good deal of praise from readers. I personally enjoyed it as it was not only a well-written story, but it also taught me about art and history in the process of reading. Wonderful work, “Victor”!

Some Observations Upon the Early Writing of John H Watson, MD, 1887-1894 by James C O’Leary “Pippin” is the second work to be featured in our Monograph Series and it is one of my favorite pieces of Watsonian scholarship. Pippin put a great deal of thought and effort in his endeavor, which makes it a lovely read. I hope this work will spark further conversations on Dr Watson’s early writings and what we can learn about the dear doctor in the process.

(Please note: Although the books were mailed out in late April and many of you received your books by now, a few of you may not have gotten them in the mail yet, particularly for some of you overseas. If you do not receive your package in the course of the next week or so, please contact me and I can look into this for you.)

28 April, 201528 April, 2015

A New Phonebook Moment!

A few days ago, some very special parcels started making their way to the mailboxes of JHWS members, and Greg Ruby, “Robin”, wrote from Maryland yesterday to say:

Hello all!

I am pleased to report that The Watsonian plus two other pamphlets arrived in today’s post.

The video in the attached link mimics my reaction at the mailbox –

Hope everyone has a great day.

Greg aka Robin

As that movie just happened to be a favourite of our dear Buttons, that clip is extremely apropos.

We on the West Coast tend to get everything a few days after folks out East, so I’m still eagerly waiting!

24 April, 201524 April, 2015

New Publications from the John H Watson Society

Hello Everyone!

As we are nearing the end of April, you may be wondering if the Spring edition of The Watsonian will be delayed. The circumstances were certainly not ideal for us and there were some surprises along the way… but I’m very happy to say that the latest Watsonian is being mailed out just as you’re reading this!

I think everyone is in for quite a treat. Our dear Buttons was very ambitious this volume and I believe the hard work and warmth he put into this edition can truly be felt. It’s over 200 pages of content and filled with fascinating contributions from our fellow John H Watson Society members.

This volume features a heartfelt memorial from Don Yates “Pal” concerning our friend and mentor beyond the terrace. I really believe that Button’s influence can be found throughout the book and it is all of the more lovely as a result.

I could tell you more about its contents, but I’d rather you experience reading it for yourself. You’ll find this special package in the mail in the course of the next few weeks, depending on the post. I hope it will arrive safely and in good speed.

However, that isn’t going to be the only book to enjoy. We are also sending our members the first volume of a series that Buttons had inspired and cultivated over the course of the past year. The first installment of The Fiction Series will be a pastiche that draws a great deal from Italian art and history: “The Adventure of the Duke’s Study” by Luca Sartori “Victor”

Our dear “Victor” put a great deal of thought and effort into his tale and his hard work shows. His mentor, Alessandra Calanchi “Bianca”, asked for me to convey this message to everyone:

“I am overwhelmed with emotion since I wish I could thank Don for this gift he has made to my student and myself. I do miss him… I would like everyone know my gratitude. Thanks a lot to everybody and congratulations for the wonderful work you all make.”

Also, you will find one more volume in the package once it arrives. Due to the difficult challenges we’ve had to face this past month, this particular book had not gone out nearly as early as originally intended and for that I apologize deeply. However, I think this work is well worth the wait, as it is a very carefully thought-out piece and an absolutely wonderful read. I’m speaking, of course, of the latest edition of our Monograph Series: “Some Observations Upon the Early Writing of John H Watson, MD, 1887-1894” by James C O’Leary “Pippin”

If you are intrigued by the title of this Monograph, you will be even more interested to know that our friend James “Pippin” shall be the new Editor-in-Chief of the Watsonian. We have assembled a talented editorial team around him composed of (but not limited to): Stephan “Dalton,” Elinor “Misty,” and Harrison “Dash,” in addition to helpful advisers such as Bob “Willow,” Andrea “Asta,” and Joanne “Sandy.” (I will continue to do design and layout for all JHWS publications.)

I would like to thank “Pippin” and the new JHWS Editorial team for their willingness to take up such a momentous task. Also, if anyone has ideas to contribute for the next Watsonian (coming this October!), then please contact our new Editor-in-Chief at pippin[at]johnhwatsonsociety.com

Now you may have noticed that I said the Monograph is one more volume in the package heading your way. Yes, that’s a total of three books! Although the Monograph Series is meant to be sold and distributed separately, we have been blessed with an incredibly generous gift for this one very special occasion. For this one time, all current members will receive a free copy of the latest volume in the Monograph Series.

In a sense, this is the final gift from our good friend Don “Buttons” as well as a heartfelt act of generosity from the lovely Andrea “Asta.”

I don’t have words powerful enough to express the full extent of my gratitude to you, “Asta,” but I hope you understand how much this amazing gift means to me. I hope my fellow members will join me in thanking you for going above and beyond to ensure the prosperity and happiness of the John H Watson Society.

I hope all of you will enjoy the new publications!

With Love,

“Carla Buttons”

A Boy in Buttons

8 April, 201525 April, 2019

Coin of the Canonical Realm by Nicholas Utechin “Rex.”

Coin of the Canonical Realm by Nicholas Utechin
Published in December 2013.
58 pages, perfect bound.
Price: $9.00 USD
US Postage: $3.00 USD
International Postage: $5.00 USD

In this, the first monograph published by the John H Watson Society, Nicholas Utechin sets out to make 21st century sense of all the 19th century mentions of money in the Sherlock Holmes stories.

Have you ever stopped to wonder exactly what a ‘half-sovereign’ would buy today? Find out what Mary Morstan stood to gain if the Agra treasure had not been hurled out of the Aurora. How much in dollars – then and now – would Neville St. Clair’s daily begging takings have amounted to? Could Sir Henry Baskerville’s $6 boots be bought for an equivalent sum in 2014?

Coin of the Canonical Realm is an important work whose validity might not survive all-engulfing world inflation, but currently provides the first ever detailed snapshot of the practicalities of Holmes’s financial world.

The Society is covering its printing and postage costs with $1.50 remaining to contribute to future publishing projects. Please support the Society’s efforts to further original research in Canonical topics. Payment may be made via PayPal or credit card.

About the author: NICHOLAS UTECHIN is a Director-at-Large of the John H. Watson Society (‘Rex’), a Baker Street Irregular (‘The Ancient British Barrow’) and an Honorary Member of The Sherlock Holmes Society of London (having edited “The Sherlock Holmes Journal” from 1976-2006). He is a freelance journalist and worked for many years as a producer and presenter on BBC radio. He lives in Oxford, U.K.