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A must-read for Sherlockians, history enthusiasts, and anyone eager to uncover the hidden layers of Victorian England.
The Life and Times of Sherlock Holmes
Essays on Victorian England Book V
by Liese Sherwood-Fabre
Genre: Nonfiction History, Literary Criticism
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.
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Master of the Art of Detection
A Collection of Sherlock Holmes Short Stories
By Liese Sherwood-Fabre
Genre: Mystery
Decipher. Deduce. Deliver.
Sherlock Holmes, the most cerebral of detectives, finds his deductive powers put to the test in this intriguing collection of cases. Each adventure presents a web of secrets, clues, and deceptions. Only his highly honed observational skills lead him to the truth.
In a locked-room murder, did the victim succumb to “The Curse of Kisin?” And how had the daughter of Squire Northridge disappeared from her own locked bedroom? Can Holmes, an ocean away, determine if a missing treasure hunter ran off with Jean Lafitte’s fabled buried plunder? The disappearance of a beloved dog is an adventure filled with whimsy and humor, as are the return of Lady Frances Carfax and the howling dog of Baker Street.
Holmes’ unrivaled deductive powers rise to the test with each case. He shines as the consummate master of the art of detection and will captivate from beginning to end.
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Liese Sherwood-Fabre is an award-winning author known for her meticulously researched works of historical fiction and mystery. With a background in social sciences, she brings a unique depth to her characters and settings, particularly in her acclaimed series The Life and Times of Sherlock Holmes, which explores Victorian England through the lens of the famous detective’s world. Her essays delve into the cultural and historical intricacies of the era, uncovering hidden details that enhance her stories’ authenticity. Her fiction weaves real historical events and social insights into suspenseful plots, creating immersive narratives that captivate fans of both history and mystery. An avid traveler and lifelong scholar, Dr. Sherwood-Fabre combines curiosity and expertise to craft stories that transport readers to fascinating past worlds filled with intrigue and insight.
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A Little Texas for Sherlock
Being a native-born Texan, I was happy to find Sherlock Holmes also has some ties to Texas. Lillie Langtry, a British actress romantically linked to King Edward VII, is thought to have influenced the character of Irene Adler. Judge Roy Bean, the colorful saloon owner and self-proclaimed “Law West of the Pecos,” was so taken with the actress (whom he never met), he named his saloon “Jersey Lily” and his town Langtry, Texas. The town remains as a quirky historical tribute to her lasting charm and Bean’s unrequited admiration. A second tie comes from a ship. Holmes tracks a suspect to the ship “The Lone Star” in “The Five Orange Pips.” Even Watson knows Texas is “The Lone Star State.”
I decided to add my own Texas tie to Holmes. In Master of the Art of Detection, one story involves another of the more famous characters in Texas history. The pirate Jean Lafitte made his mark on the Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana. For several years, he used Galveston Island (near Houston) as a base to raid Spanish ships and trade goods on the black market. Known for playing both sides, he also occasionally aided the U.S., most notably by providing intelligence and supplies to Andrew Jackson during the War of 1812. At the same time, his base on Galveston Island became a haven for smuggling and piracy. Though Lafitte was ultimately expelled from Texas, his legacy continues through the legends surrounding the treasure he left buried somewhere on the island. Holmes, however, soon uncovers Lafitte’s secrets.
These ties connect Victorian England with the rough, colorful world of 19th-century Texas and bridge two seemingly different worlds whose spirit of adventure and intrigue knows no boundaries. By adding a Texas mystery to Holmes’ cases, I honor my state’s tradition of unique characters and history and make Holmes’s adventures as boundless as the Texas sky.
Nina Soden 