New Statesmen contains a piece by Michael Dirda, author of the recently published On Conan Doyle (Princeton Press), where he explains his reasons for writing a book about ACD that goes well beyond Sherlock Holmes: [i]In my new book, On Conan Doyle, I try to redress this imbalance. I discuss the Professor Challenger science-fiction stories, the dozens of supernatural tales and contes cruels and the historical fiction, especially The White Company (which is often derided these days) and the rousing Brigadier Gerard swashbucklers, an important influence on George MacDonald Fraser’s Flashman novels. There are sections covering Conan Doyle’s lively essays, memoirs and non-fiction…and an overview of his novels about contemporary life.” I haven’t received my review copy yet but I had the chance to hear Dirda speak at The Mysterious this week and he definitely knows his stuff.
[A very handsome tome on ACD and his work beyond just the Great Detective.]
Barefoot on Baker Street will be have just posted her 56th and final Sherlock Holmes Review - so endeth 56 reviews in 56 days - on Friday November 11 2011. At some point soon I plan on doing a recap of Charlotte Walters’ project, but for now just consider the end product: 56 blog posts in 56 days that each required the reading/reviewing of anywhere between 5 and 15 pages of text. Amazing. A project to be proud of!!
Strictly Sherlock announced the release of the blog author Tracy Revel’s newest Holmes pastiche Shadowblood. A non-spoiler synopsis: “A sequel to Shadowfall, this novel continues the adventures of Holmes as a man of two worlds, gifted with both deductive and magical powers. It takes the reader on a journey with Holmes and Watson, from the quiet English countryside to the dark lanes of Prague and the steaming jungles of Florida, in pursuit of a villainess as dangerous as she is elusive.”
[If the story is as good as the cover art, this is going to be a winner!]
The House of Silk has been favorably reviewed by just about every major news outlet, but what about reviews from the more Sherlock-centric blogs/sites? Here’s a quick roundup of Sherlockian reviews of The House of Silk I’ve read so far: A Dark Woman, Alistair Duncan, Pop Matters, Baker Street Babes, John H. Watson M.D.,
BBC is running audio versions of the first three chapters of The House of Silk narrated by Sherlock Holmes veteran voice actor Derek Jacobi. Producer: Jane Marshall for BBC Radio 4. Thanks to Paul Spiring for the tip.
The Napoleon of Crime posted what many might consider a ‘different side of Holmes’ - that is, Vasily Livanov as Sherlock Holmes from the Russian Sherlock Holmes showing off the hard-drinking side of a great detective’s life:
[Now that the Great Sherlock Holmes Debate is over, let’s talk about other adaptations like the Russian Sherlock or Douglas Wilmer’s Sherlock.]
A Case of Witchcraft rounded up all the online reviews of A Case of Witchcraft and pasted the salient points made by the various reviewers (myself included - though I have yet to post my main review). I’m pleased to see that almost all the reviews are overwhelmingly positive and deservingly so. Joe Revill ends this post by speculating: “I think that I shall write another one!” Please do!
The Baker Street Babes posted their 11th podcast focusing on Paget and the image of Sherlock Holmes: ”The iconic illustrator of Sherlock Holmes was accidentally Sidney Paget. In this episode we take a look at the image he created for Sherlock Holmes that still resonates today, as well as why poor Watson isn’t known for anything other than his mustache, and why Moriarty can’t swim. Some Chinese, some Christmas wishlists, and enough laughter to go around as always, Episode 11 features Babes Curly, Jenn, and Kafers.”
[Sidney Edward Paget, 1860 - 1908.]
Sales on Film - a blog I’m not familiar with - posted this wonderful publicity photo of Peter Cushing from the Hammer adaptation of The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959). Make sure to click on the larger image because Cushing is pure style in this picture.
[Click image for a larger, more glorious version.]
![ragbag:
the allahakbarries
if you were like me growing up and populated all of your fantasy sports teams not with famous athletes but famous writers, then you will derive a modest amount of non-sexual arousal from the allahakbarries—a super group of edwardian literary cricketeers.
j. m. barrie founded the sports club in 1890, naming it a bizarre portmanteau of his surname + allāhu akbar. its membership consisted of:
arthur conan doyle, a character in several sherlock holmes stories
jerome k. jerome, a person notable for his his name
a. a. milne, who was obsessed with pooh
p. g. wodehouse, [p. g. stands for pussy gangster]
paul du chaillu, the “discover of gorillas*”
charles tennyson, a lesser tennyson
as well as a bunch of editors from punch, a humor magazine acquired by rupert murdoch in 1919
barry wrote a book on the team (allahakbarries c.c.) which was published via vanity press in 1899. there is also this recommended account by modern author, kevin telfer.
in conclusion: the allahakbarries were the rock bottom remainders of the literary cricket set.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/438fa37663fd2ca69801e9eead6f5a48/tumblr_mkqjy1X9Mo1qzrip0o1_500.jpg)
![book-aesthete:
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Arthur Conan Doyle. 1892.
First edition, first issue, illustrations by Sidney Paget, some spotting, original pictorial light blue cloth, g.e., slightly rubbed and soiled, but overall very good, cloth chemise and morocco-backed cloth slip-case, [Green & Gibson A10a], 8vo.
First issue with blank street sign to vignette on upper cover and “Miss Violent” uncorrected on p.317.
_______________________________________________
“To Sherlock Holmes she is always the woman. I have seldom heard him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They were admirable things for the observer—excellent for drawing the veil from men’s motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable memory.” -Opening paragraph from A Scandal in Bohemia](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lw7r1jpCdn1qabm59o1_500.jpg)
