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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The Magic Number

“We have touched on three” [TWIS] Since this is Episode 333 and since there are three stories in the Canon that incorporate the number three in their titles, we thought it was time to turn o…

00:26:54 | Thu 18 May 2023

Police Precautions

“Why not take police precautions against him?” [FINA] When reading "The Final Problem," it's difficult not to be caught off-guard. After all, it opens with Watson telling us these are the …

00:27:27 | Thu 11 May 2023

Eggs

“when I have exterminated that fourth egg” [VALL] While we discussed breakfast in the last episode, we felt we paid more attention to the toast than the eggs. And there was one quote in parti…

00:27:19 | Thu 04 May 2023

Breakfast at Baker Street

“we had breakfasted” [CHAS] For all the meals we hear about in the Sherlock Holmes stories – not to mention Mrs. Hudson having a good idea of breakfast – what were some of the regular morning…

00:26:54 | Thu 27 Apr 2023

The Adventure of the Veiled Author

“an anonymous communication from a quarter” [VALL] Just who was it that wrote "His Last Bow"? We know it wasn't Watson, as there were observations about him in the third person and a narrativ…

00:26:36 | Wed 19 Apr 2023

Weapons

“a varied collection of weapons” [CROO] Watson was wounded by a Jezzail bullet, Holmes fired a patriotic 'V.R.' into the wall at Baker Street, and the two leveled their pistols at the houn…

00:26:04 | Wed 12 Apr 2023

Gardens

“one by one passed through into the little garden” [STUD] Whether we think of British gardens as landscaped acres of greenery or as the source for finer botanical specimens such as roses, the…

00:32:19 | Wed 05 Apr 2023

Dueling Topics: Watson's Gender

“Old woman be damned!” [STUD] One of the wonderful things about examining and reexamining the Sherlock Holmes canon is that we can find things that take on special meanings to us. And two dif…

00:30:32 | Wed 29 Mar 2023

The Love Life of Sherlock Holmes

“any emotion akin to love” [SCAN] Sherlock Holmes doesn't seem to have a high opinion of women, although he does a fine job of understanding them when it comes to their expressions, reactions…

00:25:17 | Wed 22 Mar 2023

Premonitions

“a feeling of vague expectancy” [LAST] "Beware the Ides of March." So went the warning from the soothsayer to the title character in William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. But when it comes…

00:23:57 | Wed 15 Mar 2023

Hobbies in the Canon

“that is my special hobby” [HOUN] We all have hobbies. Indeed, our interest in Sherlock Holmes is a perfect example. What do we know about hobbies and hobbyists in the Canon? There are thos…

00:34:55 | Wed 08 Mar 2023

Sleepless in Baker Street

“I found myself in dream-land” [SIGN] Regular sleep patterns seem to be a rarity in the Sherlock Holmes stories. Watson dozed off while Holmes remained vigilant or was prevented from sleeping…

00:24:57 | Wed 01 Mar 2023

Real Life Inspirations: A Scandal in Bohemia

“the title by which I have just called myself is not exactly my own” [SCAN] We're treated to a variety of colorful characters in the Sherlock Holmes canon. Some are figments of Conan Doyle's …

00:27:54 | Wed 22 Feb 2023

The Erudition of Sherlock Holmes

“Your merits should be publicly recognized.” [STUD] We continue with our monthly series of Masters Class episodes, going back to Trevor Hall's Sherlock Holmes: Ten Literary Studies. In …

00:31:37 | Wed 15 Feb 2023

Compound Surnames

“toward the Triple Alliance” [NAVA] When we're introduced to the victim in "Wisteria Lodge," it happens first by telegram — a telegram he himself signed "John Scott Eccles." Later, we hear …

00:28:06 | Wed 08 Feb 2023

Dr. Watson's Marriages

“over many nations and three separate continents” [SIGN] We all know about Mary Morstan from The Sign of Four, of her marriage to Watson, and of Watson's "sad bereavement" after Sherlock Holme…

00:36:21 | Wed 01 Feb 2023

A Detective By Any Other Name

“gazing with great reverence at the famous detective” [HOUN] When Sherlock Holmes describes himself to Watson, he says that he's a consulting detective, and then goes on to differentiate himse…

00:27:35 | Wed 25 Jan 2023

The Early Years of Sherlock Holmes

“pictures of the old masters” [ILLU] It's the first of our monthly Masters Class episodes for Season 7, and we're kicking off a series of three discussions of works by a single author. As a re…

00:31:59 | Wed 18 Jan 2023

Pianos

“observe the spatulate finger-end” [SOLI] Quick: in which Sherlock Holmes stories do we find the mention of a piano? You might think you know, but you also might likely be wrong. The piano w…

00:24:22 | Wed 11 Jan 2023

Mentors in the Canon

“this insignificant-looking man inspired me” [GREE] We all have examples of mentors in our lives. People who inspire us and coach us, helping us to grow. What examples do we see of this in the Sh…

00:29:13 | Wed 04 Jan 2023

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