About the library and how to borrow items, by Hon. Librarian, Dennis J. Duggan, click here
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Four Sherlock Holmes plays, dramatised by Michael and Molly Hardwick. Paperback, first published 1964, reprinted 1972. The plays are: The Speckled Band, Charles Augustus Milverton, The Mazarin Stone, The Blue Carbuncle. This book was donated by Michael Winter.
The Infernal Device, by Michael Kurland. Holmes and Moriarty become reluctant allies in pursuit of a fiend in human form. Paperback
Reader’s Digest – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes. Of interest because the foreword gives details of ACD and the book has several illustrations by New York-based artist Richard Lebenson. Hardback.
Watson’s Last Case, a large-print paperback by Ian Alfred Charnock. Stanford reveals what happened after Watson had joined up with his old service in 1914. He also tells about his own youthful adventures and indiscretions, and gives details of those fascinating aspects of Holmes’s life which so intrigue students of the world’s first consulting detective.
THE COMPLETE SHERLOCK HOLMES
A large hardback, published 2002. All the stories in 480 pages
‘The Sherlock Holmes Encyclopedia– A Complete Guide To The World Of The Great Detective’ This hardback book has 326 pages packed with information. 1,500 entries are arranged alphabetically; synopses, character profiles, place names, details of film and TV productions, details of actors and actresses etc.
THE CONAN DOYLE STORIES This book is from my own collection. It does not contain any Sherlock Holmes stories, but I believe it warrants a place in the Deerstalkers library because the author is ACD. There are 76 short stories, split into categories: Tales Of The Ring; Tales Of The Camp; Tales Of Pirates; Tales Of Blue Water; Tales Of Terror; Tales Of Mystery; Tales Of Twilight And The Unseen; Tales Of Adventure; Tales Of Medical Life; Tales Of Long Ago. This is a thick book, with over 1200 pages.
SHERLOCK HOLMES – FACT OR FICTION by T S Blakeney. This is an interesting little book which attempts to address some of the contradictions and discrepancies in the canon, and discusses certain hypothetical matters. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, and would make a good bedtime read over a couple of nights. This book is also from my collection.
SHERLOCK HOLMES OF BAKER STREET by William S Baring-Gould. Another of my books. In effect it is a biography of Holmes (and to a certain extent Watson) including his early life. This one is a must for any serious Sherlockian. 336 pages.
FIFTY FAMOUS DETECTIVES Another large book (almost 700 pages) which does what it says on the tin. Just one Holmes story, The Adventure Of The Three Students, but that is sufficient to justify its inclusion in the Deerstalkers library. It is very old (I would guess 1930’s) and contains several lovely period line drawings. Almost every fictional detective up to that period is represented here. I am happy to donate this book to the library.
The Canary Trainer, by Nicholas Meyer. A missing manuscript by Dr Watson found in a university. Holmes pits his wits against a musical maniac in Paris.
Great Cases Of Sherlock Holmes. One of four assorted novels in a Reader’s Digest condensed book.
The Singular Adventures Of Mr Sherlock Holmes, by Alan Stockwell. 15 new cases from Dr Watson’s dispatch box.
Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street, by W S Baring-Gould. More previously untold Holmes stories, and a reconstruction of his life.
The Secret Cases of Sherlock Holmes, by Donald Thomas. 7 more new cases, these being released by the Public Records Office.
The Case Book Of Sherlock Holmes. A Penguin paperback published in 1987 containing twelve cases.
Sherlock Holmes At The Varieties, by Val Andrews. Holmes and Watson solve a mystery set in the land of Varieties and Vaudeville.
Sherlock Holmes And The Titanic Tragedy, by William Seil. Holmes and Watson board the Titanic on government business.
The Sherlock Holmes Crossword Puzzle Book 2. Read the condensed stories to obtain clues, then solve the crossword at the end of each one. Borrowers are requested not to use the grids in the book so as not to detract from the enjoyment of others. Please use a separate sheet of paper.
A Letter of Mary, by Laurie R King was donated by Michael Winter
This is the third in the series, the previous two being A Monstrous Regiment of Women and The Beekeeper’s Apprentice. Because A Letter of Mary takes for granted what was presumably explained in the first two books, it is not the best one to read first. Those of us steeped in the traditional ACD tales need to take a great leap into the unknown, as Mrs King turns our Sherlockian world upside down.
First, it is set in 1923 and Holmes in 69 years old. He is married (yes, married) to Mary Russell, a woman in her twenties, and they live together in a Sussex cottage. He calls her Russell, and she refers to him as Holmes. Whilst there are no graphic descriptions, it is made perfectly clear the couple enjoy a physical relationship.
Holmes still has his powers, though sometimes feels his age. Mary Russell is a strong-minded, practical type well able to work on her own initiative and take care of herself. The story is narrated by Russell, who is the main character. Holmes takes rather a back seat.
The plot involves a piece of papyrus (the Letter of Mary) supposedly written by Mary Magdalene, and the death of an elderly female archaeologist connected with it. The story is workmanlike, and the writing robust enough to keep me reading to the end. However it took me six weeks to finish the book, reading it in dribs and drabs, so I obviously did not find it too riveting.
If you want something different, and can accept The Great Detective as a happily married man, then give this one a try. It might be worth trying to borrow the first two in the series from the public library first.
First is a book published in 1982: Treasury Of World Masterpieces, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Celebrated Cases Of Sherlock Holmes, Complete And Unabridged. This is an attractive volume, and includes all the Holmes stories. However as we all have such books the contents will be of no startling interest to Deerstalkers. There is though a good introduction, with some of ACD’s biographical details, but I would guess that Deerstalkers will find nothing new.
Play – The case Of The Second Fiddle: Conan Doyle vs Sherlock Holmes, by William Hyder BSI
Sherlock Holmes And A Question Of Science, by Christopher Lindsey. Hardback. A fully researched and well-referenced account about the wide range of scientific knowledge and observation that Holmes could bring to bear in solving the various cases. The book provides a time picture of the development of forensic science in the late Victorian period. Combined with valuable notes, the book fills a long-standing need for a reference source on all scientific aspects of the canon.
Paperback: The Partial Art Of Detection, edited by Balaji Narasimham. This book contains 235 quotes from Holmes, indexed on story. The quotes can be enjoyed sequentially, but the advantage is it allows you to search based on a comprehensive index of 82 key words. These link to the number of the quote, thus one can find quotes relating to various topics (This is a precis of the foreword, and I didn’t understand it either. The author is from India, and the book was published in Tokyo! No doubt something has been lost in all the translation required – DJD)
Paperback: A Day-By-Day Chronology Of Mr Sherlock Holmes According To Zeisler and Christ. Compiled and edited by William S Dorn. Follow the events in the life and times of Holmes from his first case to the last.
POCKET ESSENTIALS PAPERBACK BY MARK CAMPBELL Foreword by Richard Lancelyn Green. Almost everything you need to know about Sherlock Holmes in one essential guide. Mark Campbell writes for The Independent, Midweek and Crime Time, and has written a Pocket Essential on Dr Who. He lives in South East London, near the ‘melancholy Plumstead Marshes’ of The Sign Of Four. 95 pages
Watson’s Last Case,a large-print paperback by Ian Alfred Charnock. Stanford reveals what happened after Watson had joined up with his old service in 1914. He also tells about his own youthful adventures and indiscretions, and gives details of those fascinating aspects of Holmes’s life which so intrigue students of the world’s first consulting detective.
Holy Clues by Stephen Kendrick ( a Parish Minister ). The Gospel according to Sherlock Holmes.
Sherlock Holmes on Screen : The Complete Film and TV History by Alan Barnes. 288 pages full of information about SH on screen, from the first silent film Sherlock Holmes Baffled to the present day.
The following four items have been donated by Horace Coates, of The Priory Scholars (Leicester)
The Mammoth Book Of New Sherlock Holmes Adventures. Edited by Mike Ashley, with a foreword by Richard Lancelyn Green. Published 1997. The biggest collection of new Sherlock Holmes stories since Sir Arthur Conan Doyle laid down his pen. 200,000 words of superb fiction by master crime-writers, including Stephen Baxter, L B Greenwood, H R F Keating, Michael Moorcock, Andy Myers, Peter Tremayne, Derek Wilson and many more.
SHERLOCK HOLMES, BY MARK CAMPBELL This entertaining and informative Pocket Essential Guide contains in-depth analyses of all sixty canonical Sherlock Holmes stories, a sampling of the best pastiches and parodies, an exhaustive listing of actors who have played the role on stage, film and television, and a summary of the best websites devoted to the Great detective and his creator. The ideal companion for both serious Holmes scholars and inquisitive newcomers alike. This hardback was donated by Colin.
The Life Of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Man Who Was Sherlock Holmes. By John Dickson Carr. Originally published 1949. John Dickson Carr, a major detective novelist, working with the Conan Doyle family, has recreated the exciting true story of the man who was Sherlock Holmes.
The Travels Of Sherlock Holmes. By John Hall. Published 1997. This book explains what happened to the Great Detective when he vanished after supposedly falling to his death at the ReichenbachFalls. He travelled to Tibet, Persia and the Sudan, and Holmes discovers he is the only representative of the British government. At stake is not only his own life, but the entire future of the British Empire.
Four copies of The Formulary – The Journal For The Friends Of Dr Watson. A Branch Office Of The Franco-Midland Hardware Company. No 9, December 2000. A small publication concerned solely with all aspects of Dr Watson.
Jerusalem, by Laurie R King. This hardback was kindly donated by Heidi, and we now have two of the series in the library. Forced to flee England at the close of 1918, Holmes and his nineteen-year-old apprentice, Mary Russell, enter Palestine under the auspices of Mycroft. Their mission is to solve a series of murders, and the pursuit leads them from desert gully to cliff-hung monasteries, through bazaars and hovels until they finally meet their adversary in Jerusalem. 367 pages.
Oxford Children’s Classics The Hound Of The Baskervilles. This book was kindly donated by Colin, and is a complete and unabridged version of the original.
THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF NEW SHERLOCK HOLMES ADVENTURES
EDITED BY MIKE ASHLEY, FOREWORD BY RICHARD LANCELYN GREEN
A REVIEW BY LIBRARIAN DENNIS J DUGGAN (BR, HONS)
There are 26 short stories, each by different authors as diverse as David Stuart Davies and H R F Keating. Most have been specially written for this collection, and all try to capture the magic of the original Conan Doyle stories.
Some take those tantalising unrecorded cases which Watson merely mentions in the canon, and expand them into full stories. Others are completely new, and as per usual the excuse is they turned up by accident, or were found by someone whilst researching something else.
I found all the tales to be well-written detective stories. Of course Holmes and Watson figure in every single one, but there is the rub!
Whilst, as I say, all the stories stand up well as ripping yarns, only a few capture the true spirit of the originals. By that I mean in some cases the hero could have been Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, Inspector Morse or Sexton Blake, for all the difference it makes to the ending. Yes the puzzle is solved by Holmes and Watson, but they are mere ciphers and exist only to provide an explanation and tie up some loose ends.
Others are much more successful. H R F Keating uncovers a surprisingly fallible Sherlock Holmes, and I felt this story captured the essence of the originals. Another good one is The Repulsive Story Of The Red Leech, by David Langford. And don’t miss Peter Tremayne’s cracking version of the young Holmes’ first confrontation with Sebastian Moran.
At the back of the book is a complete chronology of the Sherlock Holmes cases, with notes, and a bibliography of the book’s contributors.
So all-in-all a recommended read for every Deerstalker. Why not give this book a try, and form your own opinions, which you could share via The Bugle.
.Paperback ‘The Tangled Skein’ by David Stuart Davies. Following the successful conclusion of the case involving the Baskervilles, fate decrees that Holmes and Watson soon find themselves back in Devon. Threats, murders and a phantom lady lead the duo into the most dangerous investigation they have ever undertaken, and bring them face to face with Count Dracula, Lord of the Undead.
Paperback ‘The Case-Book Of Sherlock Holmes’ This particular book completes the canon of the illustrated Sherlock Holmes stories, reprinted from The Strand Magazine. That is to say the book is printed as a facsimile of the magazine from September 1908 – December 1913, including illustrations, though of course only the Sherlock Holmes stories are here and not the complete magazines.
Paperback ‘The Case Of The Captive Clairvoyant‘ one of The Baker Street Boys series by Anthony Read. With Holmes out-of-town it is up to the gang to solve this fiendish mystery, which involves Moriarty, kidnap, murder and mistaken identity.
Dickens Dictionary Of London dated 1890-91. Whilst not directly connected with Holmes and Watson, this volume is a useful tool for providing a cross-reference to names and places mentioned in the canon. Donated by your librarian.
On The Trail Of Arthur Conan Doyle, An Illustrated Devon Tour. By Brian W Pugh & Paul R Spring. This is a hardback of 125 pages, and I hope it will be in order for me to quote from parts of the dust cover. ‘Brian and Paul have researched their subjects exhaustively and, as well as presenting fascinating portraits of Robinson and Budd, have unearthed new information about ACD himself. Included is a detailed tour of those parts of Devon associated with the three subjects of this study, commencing in Plymouth and ending in Torquay.’
From the back cover: ‘I doubt whether anything so comprehensive has been attempted before. This work deserves to take its place as one of the standards on the life and achievements of the man who did so much more than create Sherlock Holmes.’
‘This is the most useful Doylean reference work published for years.’
‘…an indispensable aid to the serious Sherlockian, the devoted Doylean, or the vigorous Victorian student.’
I found it to be very readable and informative. I am no expert on ACD and Holmes, and had never heard of George Turnavine Budd or Bertram Fletcher Robinson. The tour is incredibly detailed, even providing information on where to park! A fascinating book, and recommended to all Deerstalkers. Donated by Roy.
Many of the books below have been donated by Margaret Owens.
SHERLOCK HOLMES THROUGH TIME AND SPACE Edited by Isaac Asimov. Short stories with a sci-fi bias, including one with Holmes as a talking dog! (Librarian’s note – I have read this book, and can tell you it is certainly something different and well worth a look!) Hardback, 1985.
SHERLOCK HOLMES IN RUSSIA Edited and translated by Alex Avswaks. Seven stories as Holmes and Watson travel the length and breadth of Russia, solving the most difficult and unimaginable cases whilst being pursued by an implacable Russian Moriarty. Hardback, 2008.
THE LOST ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES By Ken Greenwald. Thirteen new adventures, including a headless monk on the moors, based on the original 1945-46 radio plays by Denis Green and Anthony Boucher. Hardback, 1989
SHERLOCK HOLMES MYSTERY MAGAZINE Issue 1, Winter 2008. Actually a paperback, with Watson’s scrapbook, film reviews, six short stories etc. An American publication, but printed in the UK.
THE CRIMES OF DR WATSON Edited by Duane Swier Czynski. 221B Baker Street is set ablaze, and a mutilated corpse found. Dr Watson is arrested and imprisoned. From his prison cell he describes the events leading up to his arrest. Holmes is believed dead, Moriarty’s empire is expanding. Can you find the twelve clues that can clear Watson’s name? Hardback, 2007.
THE BEE KEEPER’S APPRENTICE By Laurie R King. How Mary Russell met the retired Sherlock Holmes and became his apprentice. Paperback, 1994.
A MONSTROUS REGIMENT OF WOMEN By Laurie R King. Members of a charismatic suffragette sect are murdered. Holmes and Russell check it out. Paperback, 1995.
THE MOOR By Laurie R King. Holmes and Russell investigate a spectral coach on Dartmoor. Paperback, 1998.
JUSTICE HALL By Laurie R King. Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell tackle a case which takes them from the trenches of WW1 to the heights of English society. Paperback, 2002.
THE GAME By Laurie R King. After a visit by Mycroft, Holmes and Russell visit India in 1924 to locate a missing spy. Paperback, 2004.
LOCKED ROOMS By Laurie R King. Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell are en route to San Francisco, but Mary falls prey to troubling dreams and irrational behaviour. Paperback, 2005.
THE ART OF DETECTION By Laurie R King. Bridges the author’s Kate Martinelli series with Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes. Philip Gilbert, a Holmes fanatic and collector, is murdered. Martinelli crosses paths with Holmes – or does she? Paperback, 2006.
THE EXECUTION OF SHERLOCK HOLMES By Donald Thomas. Five new tales, including one where Holmes is captured by Moriarty – who is very much alive -and his associates and undergoes a sham trial for the ‘murder’of Moriarty. Hardback, 2007.
THE STAR OF INDIA By Carole Bugge. Moriarty lives. Holmes and Watson must find a way to outwit their equal amidst threats of murder. The fate of the monarchy, and England herself, are in the balance.
SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE MYSTERIOUS FRIEND OF OSCAR WILDE By Russell A Brown. During 1895 a humbled Holmes reluctantly accepts the aid of Oscar Wilde to unravel two tangled plots involving blackmail and a threat to his own life. Hardback, 1988
SHERLOCK HOLMES WAS WRONG By Pierre Bayard. The author dissects The Hound Of The Baskervilles. Using previously overlooked clues hidden in the text Bayard shows that Holmes (and Conan Doyle) got things all wrong. Who was the real killer? (Librarian’s note – I have read this book, and the author’s conclusions do make sense and provide much food for thought) Hardback 2008.
SHERLOCK HOLMES AT THE RAFFLES HOTEL By John Hall. A chance meeting takes Holmes and Watson to Singapore for a well-deserved rest, but their relaxation is interrupted by a murder. Paperback 2008.
THE SECRET DIARY OF DR WATSON By Anita Janda. The problems encountered with his diaries by Dr Watson . The Strand insisted the stories be a certain length, and Holmes constantly interfered and imposed censorship. Mrs Watson also has some input. Watson reveals the true circumstances behind the case of the Blue Carbuncle, and we hear about some of the adventures that never made it into print. Also more details about the friendship between Holmes and Watson. Hardback, 2001.
SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE VOICE FROM THE CRYPT AND OTHER TALES By Donald Thomas. Six new tales crossing historical fact with detective fiction. Lestrade is introduced as a young Sergeant. Hardback, 2001
SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE RUNNING NOOSE By Donald Thomas. Interestingly the contents of this book seems to be identical with the one above, the difference being this version is published in Britain, the other in America. Hardback, 2001.
GOOD MORNING IRENE By Carole Nelson Douglas. Irene Adler holds court in Paris, and deals with a corpse washed up on the banks of the Seine. Paperback, 1990.
IRENE AT LARGE By Carole Nelson Douglas. Irene Adler lures Holmes into the hunt for a vicious killer with a traitorous past. Paperback, 1992.
IRENE’S LAST WALTZ By Carole Nelson Douglas. Irene Adler and husband Godfrey Norton are in France to seek rest, but soon become involved with problems in the world of haute coiture. Hardback, 1994.
CHAPEL NOIR By Carole Nelson Douglas. A novel featuring Irene Adler, Sherlock Holmes and Jack The Ripper. Two Parisian courtesans are brutally slaughtered. Hardback, 1996.
CASTLE ROUGE By Carole Nelson Douglas. Irene Adler and Sherlock Holmes search for Jack The Ripper. Hardback, 2002.
THE GREAT GAME By Michael Kirkland. Professor Moriarty and two associates come under scrutiny from persons unknown. Holmes assists Moriarty to foil an assassination plot which could destabilise the European monarchy, and outwits their cunning opponents. Hardback, 2001.
THE EMPRESS OF INDIA By Michael Kirkland. Holmes disappears, feared dead, from the steamship Empress Of India, where he was hired to thwart any plans to steal the cargo of gold. Professor Moriarty and Colonel Moran find themselves in the midst of a diabolical plot. Hardback, 2006.
WEST END HORROR By Nicholas Meyer. Strange happenings in 1895 London involving George Bernard Shaw, Ellen Terry, Bram Stoker, Henry Irving and Oscar Wilde. Holmes is brought in to sort everything out. Paperback, 1976.
THE UNOPENED CASEBOOK OF SHERLOCK HOLMES By John Taylor. Six previously untold mysteries, each with a supernatural twist, to be solved by Holmes and Watson. Paperback, 1993.
HOLMES AND WATSON By June Thomson. The biography of the friendship between Holmes and Watson, plus dates, chronologies and the author’s own theories. Also discussed are the so-called suggestions of homosexuality within the canon. Paperback, 2000.
SHERLOCK HOLMES – THE GAMES AFOOT Edited by David Stuart Davies. Twenty new adventures by eleven authors. Paperback, 2008.
SHERLOCK HOLMES AT THE 1902 FIFTH TEST By Stanley Shaw. Discover the role played by Holmes in this sporting triumph, when England beat Australia. Paperback, 1986.
CRIMETIME -THE SHERLOCK HOLMES ISSUE. No 26, April 2002. The Journal Of Crime Fiction, with a special feature on Sherlock Holmes.
THE FORGOTTEN ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES By H Paul Jeffers. Thirteen of Anthony Boucher’s and Denis Green’s radio plays, broadcast between 1930-50, recrafted into short stories. Paperback, 2005.
THE PATIENT’S EYES By David Pirie (BBC Murder Rooms) The dark beginnings of Sherlock Holmes. In Arthur Conan Doyle’s first medical practice he meets Heather Grace. She has a strange eye complaint, and sees visions of a phantom cyclist. Paperback, 2001.
THE CASE OF THE BAKER STREET IRREGULARS By Anthony Boucher. Sherlock Holmes aficionados object when a Hollywood studio announces plans to film a Conan Doyle classic. Paperback, 1940.
MRS HUDSON & THE SPIRITS’ CRUISE By Martin Davies. Mrs Hudson uses her inimitable common sense and formidable personality to help a young man who fears he is under a Sumatran curse. Paperback, 2004.
SHERLOCK HOLMES VS DRACULA By Loren D Estleman. Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson are baffled when a ship is discovered adrift. The crew have vanished, and the murdered captain is lashed to the wheel. The only living thing on board is a fierce black dog. Soon the duo find themselves on the trail of Count Dracula. Paperback, 1978.
THE MANDALA OF SHERLOCK HOLMES – THE MISSING YEARS Edited by Jamyang Norbu. Holmes’ exploits in India and Tibet during The Great Hiatus. Hardback, 1999. (Librarian’s note – I obtained this book from Welshpool library a few months ago, and a review appeared in a recent issue of The Baker Street Bugle)
THE UNOPENED CASEBOOK OF SHERLOCK HOLMES BBC Audio set of 3 CD’s, total running time 3 hours. Simon Callow and Nicky Henson star as Holmes and Watson, with a full supporting cast, in six new stories by John Taylor. Originally heard on BBC radio. Surely a must for long car trips!
Paperback. England’s Secret Weapon, The Wartime Films Of Sherlock Holmes, by Amanda J Field. Published 2009, 250 pages. The author explores the way Hollywood used Sherlock Holmes in a series of fourteen films, from The Hound Of The Baskervilles in 1939 to Dressed To Kill in 1946. This is a very scholarly and studious book, incredibly detailed, not at all like the light reading which occupies most of the Deerstalkers library shelves. Amanda Field is a film historian and member of the Sherlock Holmes Society Of London. She is also a long-standing volunteer at Portsmouth Museum, where she is helping to catalogue the world’s largest collection of Sherlock Holmes material.
Paperback A Chronology Of The Life Of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 22nd May 1859 to 7th July 1930,by Brian W Pugh. Does exactly what it says on the tin. As Roy himself said, ‘If you want to know what ACD had for breakfast on a particular day, this is the book for you!’
Large print paperback ‘Sherlock Holmes and The Holborn Emporium’ by Val Andrews. Part of the Linford Mystery Library. Someone is sabotaging the famous department store of A W Forrage Ltd. Fearful of closure, the management seek the assistance of Holmes and Watson. Who would want to destroy a London landmark? What is the motive of the fiendish saboteur? Donated by Michael Winter.
Sherlock Holmes – A Duel With The Devil, by Roger Jaynes. A large print paperback, one of the Linford Mystery Library series. Why was Moriarty so seldom mentioned in the early stories? Watson tells all in yet another newly-discovered manuscript! He admits to unknowingly taking part in one of the Napoleon of crime’s most nefarious schemes, as the would-be assassin of Sherlock Holmes. This book was kindly donated by Michael Winter.
Dickens’s Dictionary Of London 1888. This is a facsimile of the original edition (there is a somewhat tatty original in the Deerstalkers library) which was published by Charles Dickens’ son. Note the grammatically correct, but somewhat clumsy, use of the possessive apostrophe in the title. 700 detailed entries contained in 272 pages cover clubs, markets, slums, principal buildings, churches, railway stations, banks, theatres, sporting facilities etc. Includes essential advice on hiring servants, cycling, diptheria, typhoid, fogs, cabs, carriage thieves. Much of it seems rather quaint now, but this book is an absolute mine of information on all sorts of topics. A fascinating book, recommended to all Deerstalkers. Published by Old House Books.
Baedaker’s Guide to London 1900
A ‘gold mine’ of information for all Holmes enthusiasts
A small booklet entitled The Sherlock Holmes Walk, by Paul Garner. A must if you are planning a trip to London, and small enough to slip into a pocket or bag. Step back in time and explore the London of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson. It is 1895 – a time of Hansom cabs rattling along cobbled streets, foggy lanes and gas-lit alleys. A romantic, yet sinister, London, at the height of her Imperial greatness. Each site visited has a major literary connection with our two heroes and their adventures. Your librarian has not put this slim vol to a practical test, but the clear, simple maps, plus fairly detailed notes (given the small size of the publication) would appear to make its use virtually foolproof. The walk is divided into two separate, yet easily combined, stages. Stage 1 covers Baker Street to Oxford Circus, Stage 2 Piccadilly Circus to Covent Garden. The author tells us the full walk can be done in three hours. Other historic walks in the series are available, see www.llwalks.co.uk
THE CASE NOTES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES These case notes take the form of a scrapbook kept by Watson, who used it to write his famous accounts of Holmes’ cases. The cases covered are: Hound of the Baskervilles, Scandal in Bohemia, Red-Headed League, Boscombe Valley Mystery, Dancing Men, Final Problem. Includes 18 removable items of evidence, letters and photographs. Certainly something different.
BAEDEKER’S GUIDE: LONDON AND ITS ENVIRONS 1900 The complete guidebook for visitors, including 33 tours on foot, river, steamer and train. 451 pages of interesting information and maps. Details include routes; hotels, boarding houses, private lodgings; eating out, libraries, baths, commerce, transport, entertainment, sports, embassies, churches, post offices, history, statistics, hints, clubs etc etc. Every Deerstalker should read this book, or at least glance through it!
THE WORLD OF SHERLOCK HOLMES (THE PITKIN GUIDE) A slim volume, only 31 pages, but full of fascinating material. Chapters include Sherlock Holmes’ London, Arthur Conan Doyle, Holmes’ development, Dr Watson, characters in the stories, Victorian police, 221b Baker Street, Hound of the Baskervilles, Holmes on screen, more about ACD, the legacy of Holmes. A nice item of light reading. It is a fairly large format, so a lot of information is contained in the pages.
THE SHERLOCK HOLMES HANDBOOK – The Methods & Mysteries of the World’s Greatest Detective. By Ransome Riggs, Illustrations by Eugene Smith. By reading this book you can learn to think and act like Holmes. Sections include DETECTIVE SKILLS, SURVIVAL SKILLS, LIFE SKILLS. Topics covered are: analytical reasoning, how to: question a suspect, decode cyphers, analyse footprints, locate a secret chamber, analyse ballistic evidence, crack a safe, analyse fingerprints, analyse typography, defend yourself, outwit a criminal mastermind, fake your own death, survive a plunge over a waterfall, disguise yourself, cover your tracks, stage a dramatic entrance, sniff out a hoax, deal with friends and relations, manage children, deal with women, keep your mind sharp, interact with Royalty, raise bees.
THE SHERLOCK HOLMES COMPANION By Daniel Smith Some excerpts from the dust cover notes: ‘witty and informed text; plot summaries of all the stories; biographies of the major characters; interviews with actors, chronology of thespians; article about firearms etc. 150 pictures, half in full colour; posters; film stills etc. ‘
Perhaps inevitably the author cannot resist raising the matter of homosexuality, and quotes examples of text from the stories which could be taken to support the theory. Equally, he says that the relationship between Holmes and Watson is more akin to Morecambe & Wise platonically sharing a flat (and a bed) in one of their Christmas specials. And, of course, Watson is portrayed as a bit of a ladies man, and a married one to boot. This is an excellent book, ideal for placing on your bedside table so you may dip into it before going to sleep.
SHERLOCK HOLMES, THE UNAUTHORISED BIOGRAPHY by Nick Rennison. Paperback, 280 pages. From clues scattered throughout the canon, the author has composed the biography of Sherlock Holmes. From his birth in Yorkshire to his death in Sussex, Rennison charts the life of Holmes, and has uncovered much previously unknown information.
Holmes Welshpool 