Sherlock Holmes: Trifles

You know the plots, but what about the minutiae? We delve into the Sherlock Holmes stories and answers questions that arise, clarify muddy details, and look into some of the period terminology in this weekly podcast.

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Update frequency: every 7 days
Average duration: 23 minutes
Episodes: 453
Years Active: 2017 - 2025

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Meretricious Effects

“to produce his meretricious finales” [BLAN] There are a number of times in the 60 Sherlock Holmes stories when Holmes criticizes Watson's efforts as a writer. Holmes takes the view of a practition…

00:25:48 | Wed 03 Nov 2021

Some Freaks of Atavism

“hereditary tendencies of the most diabolical kind” [FINA] Family matters a great deal in the Sherlock Holmes stories, although we don't discover anything about Holmes and his family background unt…

00:21:21 | Wed 27 Oct 2021

Butterflies

“a pin, a cork, and a card” [HOUN] When it came to exotic insects, butterflies were all the rage in Victorian England. They were sought after by naturalists and collectors, to become part of colle…

00:24:35 | Wed 20 Oct 2021

Financially Speaking

“extraordinary stories about your financial ability” [STOC] Money was occasionally a concern for Sherlock Holmes. But when, and more importantly, why? All of those police engagements were likely pr…

00:22:54 | Wed 13 Oct 2021

Something Amiss in The Three Gables

“Have you noticed anything amiss with them of late?” [SILV] "The Three Gables" isn't likely to be found on anyone's "best of" list of Sherlock Holmes stories. It arrives late in the Canon, and rath…

00:23:20 | Wed 06 Oct 2021

Plotting Lovers

“it was her plot as much as mine” [ABBE] From the realm of conjecture: what if the star-crossed lovers in "The Adventure of Abbey Grange" and "The Problem of Thor Bridge" weren't simply victims of c…

00:24:43 | Wed 29 Sep 2021

Sherlock Holmes, Book Collector

“Maybe you collect yourself, sir” [EMPT] Sherlock Holmes shared his reading interests on occasion, and they tended to be wide and varied. Some of them were for professional development purposes, yet…

00:25:06 | Wed 22 Sep 2021

Beetles

“pinned like a beetle on a card” [BLAC] It's the third week of the month, and that means it's the exotic animal episode. Last month we covered worms, and we mentioned the slow-worm, which Mr. Sherma…

00:20:58 | Thu 16 Sep 2021

How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?

“passionate, whole-hearted, tropical, ill-balanced” [THOR] Maria Gibson (nee Pinto) was a troubled woman. What could have driven her to her final acts? Is she a victim? A villain? A sympathetic c…

00:24:18 | Wed 08 Sep 2021

Watson's Medical Career

“a general practitioner with very limited experience and mediocre qualifications” [DYIN] We know Watson had a serious medical career before he met Holmes. But what do his qualifications mean? And…

00:21:59 | Wed 01 Sep 2021

The Evolution of Sherlock Holmes, Part 3

“some arm-chair lounger who evolves” [STUD] From a humble beginning to the heights of international fame and importance, the career of Sherlock Holmes was a rocket ride. And his personal relationshi…

00:24:27 | Wed 25 Aug 2021

Worms

“Why does fate play such tricks with poor, helpless worms?” [BOSC] On the third episode of every month in Season 5, we explore exotic animals in the Sherlock Holmes canon. This month's animal is a …

00:16:32 | Wed 18 Aug 2021

A Window into Windows

“window-breaking Furies” [VALL]

Windows are everywhere in the Sherlock Holmes stories. But in certain cases, they form an essential part of the plot. In some cases, it may be transparent. In others…

00:22:11 | Wed 11 Aug 2021

I Know That Country, Holmes

“It is full of old houses which are named after the men who built them centuries ago.” [SUSS]

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a master storyteller. He gave us memorable characters and plots that painted…

00:21:03 | Wed 04 Aug 2021

The Evolution of Sherlock Holmes, Part 2

“evolved from his own inner consciousness” [BOSC]

In Episode 237, we looked at how Holmes's personality traits changed over the course of his career. We're back for another look using four separate …

00:26:44 | Wed 28 Jul 2021

Jellyfish

“Cyanea! Cyanea!” [LION]

In the third week of every month in our fifth season, Trifles looks at exotic animals. We turn to the sea this time, examining jellyfish. And this episode brought us into c…

00:19:02 | Wed 21 Jul 2021

The Evolution of Sherlock Holmes

“Let me show you the evolution of this case” [WIST]

In our last episode, we discussed the subtle yet undeniable change in the nature of the relationship between Sherlock Holmes and Inspector Lestra…

00:26:49 | Wed 14 Jul 2021

Holmes & Lestrade Through the Years

"That you, Lestrade?" [EMPT] One might say that Sherlock Holmes and Inspector G. Lestrade had a contentious relationship. While this may be the popular stereotype between the two professionals, a lon…

00:34:46 | Wed 07 Jul 2021

Two Maids A-Missing

“Altogether there are eight maids” [MUSG]

Two stories. Two jewels. Two lady's maids. And two strikingly similar circumstances.

In "The Blue Carbuncle" and "The Six Napoleons," published just 11 yea…

00:23:09 | Wed 30 Jun 2021

Secret Societies

“some secret society, some implacable organization” [VALL]

We know the Mafia, the KKK, and other named secret societies permeate the Sherlock Holmes stories. They add to the mystery and mystique of …

00:24:45 | Wed 23 Jun 2021

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