The Life and Times of Sherlock Holmes

The Fifth Compelling Collection of Essays Examining the Familiar and the Obscure in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Original ... (Essays on Victorian England Book 5)

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Pub Date 15 Dec 2024 | Archive Date 1 Dec 2024

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Description

Rediscover Victorian England's forgotten history and culture.

Volume V of The Life and Times of Sherlock Holmes explores the cultural, scientific, and historical allusions found throughout Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective stories. This collection of essays unpacks twenty-four topics mentioned in the original mysteries, from everyday details like hats and plumbing to complex issues such as international spying, the binomial theorem, and relations with Russia. Through such insights, readers gain a deeper understanding of the Victorian world in which Holmes operated.

Other essays explore both the familiar and the obscure, touching on subjects like the KKK’s presence in England, the significance of whaling, and legal concepts like insanity and blackmail. Unique cultural topics—such as the role of curry in the British Empire, the rise of bohemianism, and the Victorian obsession with rejuvenation through animal hormones—reveal the rich complexity of the era. The collection also features a bonus essay on Sarah Cushing from The Adventure of the Cardboard Box, offering fresh insight into one of the most sinister characters in the Canon.

Whether examining automata, wax figures, or the legal definitions of murder and suicide, The Life and Times of Sherlock Holmes provides a compelling lens through which readers gain a deeper understanding of the historical and social backdrop of the Holmes mysteries.

A must-read for Sherlockians, history enthusiasts, and anyone eager to uncover the hidden layers of Victorian England.

Rediscover Victorian England's forgotten history and culture.

Volume V of The Life and Times of Sherlock Holmes explores the cultural, scientific, and historical allusions found throughout Sir...


Advance Praise

"These essays are gems of fascinating research and insight on the culture that produced Sir Arthur's most notable character." --Carole Nelson Douglas

"These essays are gems of fascinating research and insight on the culture that produced Sir Arthur's most notable character." --Carole Nelson Douglas


Available Editions

ISBN 9781952408366
PRICE US$4.99 (USD)

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Average rating from 3 members


Featured Reviews

A thoroughly enjoyable companion piece for any fan of Sherlock Holmes. The highlight is the analysis of the story of the three sisters, but the whole book is fascinating and provides interesting insights to supplement the reader’s understanding of the life and times of Sherlock Holmes. Added to his, comprehensive and relevant references offer the opportunity to explore still further.

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These are fun, fascinating, bite-sized pieces to learn more about the background of the Sherlock Holmes stories. Before reading, please note that the essays do contain spoilers for Sherlock stories. There is no particular organization to the chapters, so they can be read in any order; each essay retains its focus on a historical topic and its relation to a particular Sherlock story (or multiple stories). My only complaint is that some of the citations at the end of each chapter are incomplete. Fans of Sherlock Holmes and history buffs will enjoy this short collection, the fifth in a series. I give it 4.5 stars rounded up to 5!

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the free eARC. I post this review with my honest opinions.

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