Sherlock Holmes Short Stories Read Along!

[thiskurt]

Is any of the stuff Holmes says about the name coming from "a fanciful resemblance to the sound produced by cocking a rifle" or their actions being preceded by warnings such as "a sprig of oak-leaves, melon seeds or orange pips" at all true or was it a story in the day or did Doyle just make it up?

[InspectorCaracal]

Also if it makes y'all feel any better he is totally friends with Lestrade even though neither of them realize it and you'll never change my mind.

Holmes and Watson are best buds, but Holmes and Lestrade have at least some old bickering couple energy going on.

Yeah lmao, there's a quality to Holmes' trolling that's like the kind of thing you do with friends - he's usually dismissive or polite to other people, he only bothers trolling people who he likes or criminals he's baiting.

J put his opinion of the friendships as, "You can imagine Holmes inviting Lestrade to the opera or a concert once or twice, while he invites Watson pretty much monthly."

Did Watson give Holmes a report card on his general knowledge? That's an elaborate friendly ribbing.

Yes! It's in A Study in Scarlet, when Watson is trying to figure out what Holmes actually does for a living. Although he doesn't actually show it to Holmes lmao.

here it is, it's long

I was on the point of asking him what that work might be, but something in his manner showed me that the question would be an unwelcome one. I pondered over our short conversation, however, and endeavoured to draw my deductions from it. He said that he would acquire no knowledge which did not bear upon his object. Therefore all the knowledge which he possessed was such as would be useful to him. I enumerated in my own mind all the various points upon which he had shown me that he was exceptionally well-informed. I even took a pencil and jotted them down. I could not help smiling at the document when I had completed it. It ran in this way—

SHERLOCK HOLMES—his limits.

1. Knowledge of Literature.—Nil.
2. Philosophy.—Nil.
3. Astronomy.—Nil.
4. Politics.—Feeble.
5. Botany.—Variable. Well up in belladonna,
opium, and poisons generally.
Knows nothing of practical gardening.
6. Geology.—Practical, but limited.
Tells at a glance different soils
from each other. After walks has
shown me splashes upon his trousers,
and told me by their colour and
consistence in what part of London
he had received them.
7. Chemistry.—Profound.
8. Anatomy.—Accurate, but unsystematic.
9. Sensational Literature.—Immense. He appears
to know every detail of every horror
perpetrated in the century.
10. Plays the violin well.
11. Is an expert singlestick player, boxer, and swordsman.
12. Has a good practical knowledge of British law.

When I had got so far in my list I threw it into the fire in despair.

Is any of the stuff Holmes says about the name coming from "a fanciful resemblance to the sound produced by cocking a rifle" or their actions being preceded by warnings such as "a sprig of oak-leaves, melon seeds or orange pips" at all true or was it a story in the day or did Doyle just make it up?

That's actually a very good question - I don't actually know. I'm pretty sure the name bit is made up, but I have no idea about the warnings. My instincts are to say it's also made up, since the KKK was never known for being especially subtle. I feel like if they were going to warn you that you were gonna be murdered they'd be more likely to leave a dead raccoon on your doorstep or scrawl threatening graffiti all over your home - but I don't know who might've made it up.

[Bee]

Are we doing this weekly?

[InspectorCaracal]

Are we doing this weekly?

I'm up for it if you two are? :D?

[thiskurt]

Are we doing this weekly?

I'm up for it if you two are? :D?

Good for me.

[Bee]

wait today is the weekend

[Bee]

https://en.m.wikisource.org/wiki/The_St ... wisted_Lip

So this one started out fantastic, and then... welp

For real though, those glimpses into Watson's life, plus Sherlock Holmes's acting and disguise skills foreshadowing the case at hand? 10/10


Also this quote omg

It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney was once confined in the cab, my mission was practically accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular adventures which were the normal condition of his existence.

[InspectorCaracal]

https://en.m.wikisource.org/wiki/The_St ... wisted_Lip

So this one started out fantastic, and then... welp

For real though, those glimpses into Watson's life, plus Sherlock Holmes's acting and disguise skills foreshadowing the case at hand? 10/10


Also this quote omg

It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney was once confined in the cab, my mission was practically accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular adventures which were the normal condition of his existence.

I always really liked this story - partly because of the opener, partly because the cases where nobody was actually doing anything wrong but it's just a weird situation always appeal to me. But other than that there's not a whole lot to say about it.

Also it's kinda nice seeing Holmes being unable to solve things without enough data rather than him just stating it for the record.

I did think it was kind of ironic that this one was going to be up next when we'd just been talking about Watson's wife disappearing and all that, because this is probably the one story where she gets the biggest role. I really like what little we get to see of their married life.

[Bee]

Tbh I think it’s a great story! I just can’t get past the “rich beggar” thing, that’s all. It really ruined things for me ._.

[thiskurt]

I like the opening of this one too, I like seeing Watson and Mary, she could've shown up like this more, refering some of her friends who come to her for help to Holmes and Watson.

The 'go retrieve my husband at the opium den' opening is like a side quest in a video game that leads into the main storyline mission.

I always love undercover Holmes, every story should have it included even if there's no point to it.

It's a bit of a silly resolution, but I still like the mundane but strange mystery nature of this one. Plus it is well crafted though, reading it again his behavior is easily explained in hindsight.

"And on what day did he meet his death?"

"On Monday."

"Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how it is that I have received a letter from him to-day."

Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been galvanised.

"What!" he roared.

"Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of paper in the air.

Pranked!