DATA

EST.1979

MEETING3RD

SATURDAY OF

EVERY MONTH

VOL 1 * NO 1 * 2017

CONTACT

Website: www.nashvillescholars.net

Email: seniorhawk@gmail.com

GAEL STAHL

Nashville Scholars: The Early Yearsby Gael Stahl, charter member

Before the August 27, 1979 meeting, we received a larger-than-life publication with superior cover art work by Bob Turner. One article noted that Sherlock Holmes had visited Nashville in 1956. He came on Oct. 15, said it was "Ghastly!" that the theater he was opening in Paris (Tennessee) on Monday was 100 miles away. Watson was not with him. It is not known what Basil Rathbone and his lady friend did on their free Sunday in Nashville.

Other articles included "I Keep a Bull Pup 11

and "You Have Been to University, I Perceive. 11 The latter was long, well referenced, and confident (Holmes went to Oxford in 1872, said John Shanks). Dr. Nunnally discussed the possibility of smoking three pipe fulls in three minutes.

Thanks to the paperwork and other records that Shanks kept and thanks to the fine newsletters produced by co-editors Kay Blocker and Vicki Overstreet, we have a fairly good picture of those early years. The existence today of the Nashville Scholars is due mainly to the early efforts of these two ladies who worked tirelessly to keep the newsletter alive which was the lifeblood of the group in those early years.

CONTEST! WHO SAID THAT? WHERE?

Send your answers/ guesses to seniorhawk@gmail.com

Sherlock Holmes fans are eagerly awaiting the publication of Mattias Bostrom' s book, "From Holmes to Sherlock", available August 1

from Amazon.com. Mark Alberstat, editor of "Canadian Holmes" penned this review in Goodreads: "This ambitious work charting the history of Sherlock Holmes and Sherlockiana in all of its guises is the most important book on the Sherlockian bookshelf in the past several years. Mattias's research is impressive as is his breadth of knowledge. The book is far from a dry recitation of facts, dates and names, but instead reads almost as fiction and at times seems as compelling as any good mystery novel. If you have enjoyed any of the adaptations of Sherlock Holmes from the early pastiches to the modern-day Sherlock series, you will find this book a page-turner. This has become a reference book, a recommended book and a book to dive into time and again. 11

Who said: "I have been beaten four times-three times by men, and once by a woman." Who were the men? Who was the woman? In what story is the quote?

Shinwell Before Usingby Dean Richardson

Ironically, in reviving this column, I must first report the death of a Shinwell Johnson: Nelsan Ellis, the actor who portrayed Shinwell on Elementary, died of complications from heart failure July 8 at age 39. I liked his portrayal and his charisma, and I regretted his character’s demise as well.

As in the previous incarnation, we will cover forthcoming media here. Just one relevant film worth mentioning at the moment. “Sherlock Gnomes,” an animated feature film, will be released 3/23/18, with Johnny Depp in the title role. sequel to “Gnomeo & Juliet” (2011). There will be several book tie-ins (see below).

In an effort to help Holmes completists go broke, following are forthcoming English language Sherlock-related book (and one CD) releases.

“Sherlock Holmes: His Last Bow: BBC Radio 4” (BBC Books, CD, $36.95; 7/25/17). Full-cast dramatization with Clive Merrison (Holmes) and Michael Williams (Watson). The stories are "Wisteria Lodge," "The Cardboard Box," "The Red Circle," "The Bruce Partington Plans," "The Dying Detective," "The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax," "The Devil's Foot" and "His Last Bow."

“From Holmes to Sherlock: The Story of the Men and Women Who Created an Icon” by Mattias Boström, translated by Michael Gallagher (Mysterious Press, hc, $28.00; 8/1/17). See the review on page 1 of this newsletter.

“Solving Sherlock Holmes: Puzzle Your Way Through the Cases” by Pierre Berloquin (Wellfleet Press, hc, $21.95; 8/3/17). “Author Pierre Berloquin takes readers on a whodunit investigation with cryptograms, crosswords, labyrinths, jigsaws, and riddles to keep readers on the edge and constantly thinking.”according to Amazon.

“The Baker Street Four,” Volume. 2, by J. B Djian and Olivier Legrand (authors), David Etien (illustrator) (Insight Comics, tpb, $16.99; 8/8/17).

“Elementary, She Read: A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery” by Vicki Delany (Crooked Lane Books, tpb, $15.99; 8/8/17). Reprint (hc, 2017). Bookshop owner investigates murder involving a copy of the “Beeton’s Annual” containing “A Study in Scarlet.”

“Sherlock Holmes from Screen to Stage: Post-Millennial Adaptations in British Theatre (Adaptation in Theatre and Performance),” 1st ed. 2017 edition, by Benjamin Poore (Palgrave Macmillan, hc, $99.99, 256 pp; 8/9/17).

“Further Associates of Sherlock Holmes” edited by George Mann (Titan Books, tpb, $14.95; 8/22/17). Anthology of original stories.

“The Further Crossovers of Sherlock Holmes” edited by Richard Dean Starr and Erin Bower (Moonstone Books, tpb, $15.95; 8/29/17). Anthology of original stories by author including David Stuart Davies and David Gerrold. SH “teams up” with other fictional detectives of the Victorian and Edwardian eras.

“Sherlock Holmes and the Shadwell Shadows” by James Lovegrove (Titan Books, tpb, $14.95; 9/5/17). Reprint (2016) of book 1 of The Cthulhu Casebooks. Revises meeting of Holmes and Watson with supernatural elements.

“A Conspiracy in Belgravia” by Sherry Thomas (Berkley, tpb, $15.00; 9/5/17).

Book 2 (following “A Study in Scarlet Women,” 2016) in the Lady Sherlock series. Apparently, the premise is what if Sherlock had been a woman?

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Plugs&Dottles, July~2017

“The Demon of the Dusk: The Rediscovered Cases of Sherlock Holmes Book 1” by Arthur Hall (MX Publishing, tpb, $12.95; 9/6/17).

“Sherlock Holmes and the Ley Line Murders” by Allan Mitchell (MX Publishing, tpb, $16.95, 9/14/17). SH versus ancient evil.

“The Stone of Destiny: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure” by Richard T Ryan (MX Publishing, tpb, $16.95; 9/14/17). SH seeks to recover the coronation stone, stolen by Irish separatists during the funeral for Queen Victoria.

“The Great Detective at the Crucible of Life,” Holmes Behind the Veil Book 2 by Thomas Kent Miller (MX Publishing, tpb, $18.95; 9/19/17). Sherlock in Africa with Alan Quatermain (of “King Solomon’s Mines”).

“Sherlock Holmes' Rudimentary Puzzles: Riddles, Enigmas and Challenges Inspired by the World's Greatest Crime-Solver” by Dr. John Watson [sic] (Carlton Books, hc, $14.95; 9/19/17). Actual author may be Tim Dedopolos, who is credited with two other books in this format from this publisher.

“Sherlock Holmes' Cunning Puzzles: Riddles, Enigmas and Challenges Inspired by the World's Greatest Crime-Solver” by Dr. John Watson (Carlton Books, hc, $14.95; 9/19/17).

“Mycroft Holmes and The Apocalypse Handbook” by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar et al. (authors), Josh Cassara (illustrator) (Titan Comics, tpb, $16.99; 9/19/17).

“Sherlock Holmes: Cry of the Innocents” by Cavan Scott (Titan Books, tpb, $14.95, 9/19/17). Poisoned priests and a questionable candidate for sainthood (not Sherlock).

“Sherlock Holmes Wit & Wisdom: Humorous and Inspirational Quotes Celebrating the World's Greatest Detective” by Malcolm Croft (Prion, hc, $9.95; 10/3/17). Not to be confused with “Detectives Say the Darnedest Things.”

“The Tarleton Murders: Sherlock Holmes in America” by Breck England (Mango, tpb, $18.95; 10/1/17). According to Amazon, “A corking good early Sherlock Holmes story that any mystery reader will love.” Among other issues it addresses the burning question, “Was Uncle Remus actually Sherlock Holmes?”

“The Mile End Murder: The Case Conan Doyle Couldn't Solve” by Sinclair McKay (Aurum Press, hc, $28.00; 10/5/17). Nonfiction.

“Sherlock: The Essential Arthur Conan Doyle Adventures” by Arthur Conan Doyle, selected and introduced by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat (Pegasus Books, tpb, $15.95; 10/4/17). Reprint (2016) collection.

“The Baker Street Four,” Volume 3, by J. B. Djian and Olivier Legrand (authors), David Etien (illustrator) (Insight Comics, tpb, $16.99).

“Lock and Key: The Downward Spiral” by Ridley Pearson (Harper Collins, hc, $17.99; 10/10/17). Book 2 (after “Lock and Key: The Initiation,” 2016) in a “bravely reimagined origin story of the rivalry of literature’s most famous enemies—Sherlock Holmes and James Moriarty—as told from the perspective of James’s observant little sister, Moira.” For ages 8–12.

“Unquiet Spirits: Whisky, Ghosts, Murder: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure” by Bonnie MacBird (Collins Crime Club, hc, $25.99; 10/10/17). Author of “Art in the Blood.”

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“Sherlock: The Blind Banker” by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat (creators), Steven Thompson (author) (Titan Comics, tpb, $12.99; 10/10/17). Book 2 of 5 in the “Sherlock” series of graphic novels based on the BBC series.

“Sherlock Holmes—Tangled Skeins: Stories from the Notebooks of Dr. John H. Watson” by David Marcum (MX Publishing, hc, $24.95; 10/12/17). The author, who lives in Maryville, TN, visited our group last year.

“Sherlock Holmes: The Legacy of Deeds” by Nick Kyme (Titan Books, tpb, $14.95; 10/17/17). “Another case for Sherlock Holmes and his loyal chronicler, Dr. John Watson.”

“A Scandal in Battersea” by Mercedes Lackey (DAW Books, hc, $27.00; 10/17/17). Book 12 in the Elemental Masters fantasy series. Holmes in an alternate 20th century.

“The House at Baker Street: A Mrs. Hudson and Mary Watson Investigation” by Michelle Birkby (Harper Perrenial, tbp, $15.99; 10/24/17). First novel in a series first published in Great Britain.

“Kid Sherlock,” Volume 1, by Justin Phillips (author), Sean Miller (artist) (Action Lab Entertainment, tpb, $9.99; 10/24/17). Collects first four issues of a comic book.

“The Vatican Cameos: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure” by Richard T Ryan (MX Publishing, hc, $28.95; 11/7/17). Pope Leo XII asks SH to locate several stolen cameos originally commissioned by Pope Alexander VI. Apparently, it’s a two-pope problem.

“The Cthulhu Casebooks: Sherlock Holmes and the Miskatonic Monstrosities” by James Lovegrove (Titan Books, hc, $19.99; 11/14/17). Moriarty at Miskatonic U. studying the “Necronomicon.” Can the Doylean duo foil his evil scheme?

“In Unhallowed Rest: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure” by John Sutton (MX Publishing, tpb, $10.95; 11/25/17). The boys and Lestrade investigate “a satanic cult of vampirism.”

“Lock & Mori: Final Fall” by Heather W. Petty (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, hc, $18.99; 11/28/17). Third in a trilogy (“Lock & Mori,” 2015; “Lock & Mori: Mind Games,” 2016). Not to be confused with “Lock & Key” by Ridley Pearson (despite the similarities). The Amazon tag: “In modern-day London, two brilliant high school students—one Sherlock Holmes and a Miss James ‘Mori’ Moriarty—meet. A murder will bring them together. The truth very well might drive them apart.” More progeny of “Sherlock” and “Elementary.”

“Sherlock Holmes & The Green Lama: The Heir Apparent” by Adam Lance Garcia (author), Mike Flyes (artist) (Moonstone Books, tpb, $10.99; 1/9/18). I think this is a graphic novel (i.e., comic book).

“Mrs. Sherlock Holmes: The True Story of New York City's Greatest Female Detective and the 1917 Missing Girl Case That Captivated a Nation” by Brad Ricca (St. Martin’s Griffin, tpb, $16.99; 1/9/18). Reprint (2017) nonfiction/true crime.

“Body on Baker Street: A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery” by Vicki Delany (Crooked Lane Books, tpb, $15.99; 1/9/18). Reprint (2017) in which bookshop owner investigates the murder of an author of Sherlock pastiches (which should be tough considering the huge number of potential suspects, i.e. pastiche haters).

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“The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: The Haunting of Torre Abbey” by Carole Bugge (Titan Books, tpb, $12.95; 1/23/18).

“Sherlock Gnomes” by Mary Tillworth (adapter) (Simon Spotlight, pb, $6.99; 2/6/18). Novelization of movie, for ages 8–12.

“Gnome, Sweet Gnome” by Tina Gallo (adapter), Jenny Yoon (illustrator) (Simon Spotlight, pb, $3.99; 2/6/18). Tie-in to “Sherlock Gnomes” movie, for ages 3–7.

“Juliet Saves the Day!” by A. E. Dingee (adapter), Kelly Kennedy (illustrator) (Simon Spotlight, hc/pb, $16.99/$3.99, 2/6/18). Tie-in to “Sherlock Gnomes” movie, for ages 5–7.

“On the Case” by A. E. Dingee (author), Elsa Chang (illustrator) (Simon Spotlight, pb, $5.99; 2/6/18). Tie-in to “Sherlock Gnomes” movie, for ages 3–7. “The Cat of the Baskervilles: A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery” by Vicki Delany (Crooked Lane Books, hc, $26.99; 2/13/18). Owner of the bookshop investigates murder of the actor portraying SH in a theatrical production of “Hound.” “Blood, Bullets, and Bones: The Story of Forensic Science from Sherlock Holmes to DNA” by Bridget Heos (Balzer & Bray, tpb, $9.99; 2/20/18). Reprint (2017) of nonfiction for grades 8 and up.

“Stolen Identity” by Franklin W. Dixon (Alladin, hc/pb, $17.99/$6.99; 2/20/18). A new Hardy Boys adventure involving a stolen Sherlock Holmes manuscript.

“The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter” by Theodora Goss (Saga Press, tpb, $14.99; 2/27/18). Reprint (2017) of novel about Dr. Jeckyll’s daughter enlisting Holmes and Watson’s aid in searching for Mr. Hyde.

“The Whole Art of Detection: Lost Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes” by Lindsey Faye (Mysterious Press, tpb, $17.00; 3/6/18). Reprint (2017) of collection of short story pastiches.

“The Case for Jamie” by Brittany Cavallaro (Katherine Tegen Books, hc, $17.99; 3/6/18) Third in the Charlotte Holmes trilogy, following “A Study in Charlotte” (2016) and “The Last of August” (2017). Teen descendants of Holmes and Watson

“Holmes Entangled: The Final Endeavor of Sherlock Holmes” by Gordon McAlpine (Seventh Street Books, tpb, $15.95; 3/6/18). In a parallel 1920s London, Sherlock is engaged by historical and science fiction novelist (but not mystery writer) Arthur Conan Doyle.

“Sherlock Holmes: The Red Tower” by Mark A. Latham (Titan Books, tpb, $14.95; 3/13/18).

“The Baker Street Four,” Volume. 4, by Olivier Legrand and Jean-Blaise Djian (authors), Etien Etien (illustrator) (Insight Comics, tpb, $16.99; 3/20/18). The Irregulars help Holmes against Moriarty and Moran.

“Sherlock Holmes: The Four-Handed Game” by Paul D. Gilbert (Crowood Press,hc, $?; 6/1/18). SH juggles four cases simultaneously, I misstated earlier about there being only one noteworthy forthcoming film at the moment. September 12 will see the release of a restored, newly expanded, first-time-on-Blu-Ray of "The Lost World" (1925) by Flicker Alley. At 110 minutes, it is 17 minutes longer than the previous restored DVD released by Image in 2000. There are several extra features as well. Price will be $39.95, but you can preorder from Flicker Alley for $29.95. Unfortunately, while their release of the Gillette "Sherlock Holmes" was a dual Blu-ray/DVD package, this is Blu-ray only.

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Plugs&Dottles, July~2017 Correspondence File

Email from Scholars around the Globe.

From Malaysia / Adrian Nebbett / “Sir Laundrybag”

I'm heading back to the UK for a couple of weeks shortly, staying with my parents in Norfolk (about as far east as you can get) and driving down to Somerset (about as far south as you can get), then up to Scotland (about as far north as you can get).

My last trip back resulted in some exciting Sherlocking of my own: I visited a used-book store up in Scotland, and found someone's hand-written account of their travels in Egypt, Rome and Florence. The bookshop had it dated as "1917?" based on a pocket diary page that had been used as a bookmark. Clearly that didn't make sense no one was doing the grand tour during the First World War. A lot of it was quite difficult to decipher: the handwriting wasn't always great, and a lot of words were abbreviated to save paper, but he mentioned visiting a Millais exhibition in London, and later gave a date for Maundy Thursday that placed it firmly in 1898.

The mystery remained as to who the writer was. A few clues began to show up: he was clearly a clergyman of some kind. He was traveling with someone called Flora, and they visited the grave in Alexandria of someone called Alick. I assumed that Flora was his wife and Alick their son, and searched the records of the genealogical site I belong to, but came up with too many hits, none of which seemed promising.

Later in the journal he meets a man named Trotter Cranston who says he often visits Shandon Hydro, and would visit the writer the next time he did so, which helped narrow the search to the west coast of Scotland, in the vicinity of Row in Dumbartonshire. A later encounter with someone who had heard him preach in "Hel" narrowed it down even further to the town of Helensburgh, and fortuitously there was a copy of the 1899—1900 directory of Helensburgh online, which included a listing of local clergy.

I was led astray for a while because in the journal he keeps referring to being old, so I assumed that he must have been the predecessor of the young, unmarried Presbyterian clergyman listed in the directory. Anyway, to cut a long story short, after following several false leads, I went back to the Presbyterian preacher from the directory, and searched the UK census records. Finally, back in the 1881 census I found him living in Edinburgh with his sister, not wife, Flora, and their younger brother, not son, Alexander.

So it turned out that my journal writer was Adam Cleghorn Welch, Presbyterian preacher and biblical scholar. Alexander (Alick) his brother, was murdered by Bedouins in the Egyptian desert. His murderer was captured and imprisoned in an upper storey room by the British, but escaped when the local villagers, who had to pay tax to the British in corn, piled the corn under the window of his cell, so that he could drop safely down onto it and escape into the desert. All of which sounds like suitable material for a Doylean flashback!

I've also recently had a "three degrees of separation" type brush with the world of Conan Doyle. I've been using the Cottingley Fairies as a stimulus for drama work with my students for several years now, and last month discovered that the memoirs of Frances Griffiths, the younger of the two girls who took the photos, had been published a few years ago. I ordered a copy online, and within a couple of days received a surprise email from Frances's daughter. It turns out that she and her husband lived in Malaysia in the 1950s (or Malaya as it was then), when he was the country's first oncologist.

Anyway, I trust that you're well and enjoying retirement, Adrian Regards to the rest of the Scholars,

FROM SCHOLARS NEAR AND FAR ...

Nashville Scholars in the News

Shannon Carlisle, Accelerated Learning teacher at Moore Elementary in Franklin, is a member of the Beacon Society, and was named Beacon Society Teacher of the Year for 2014. The Beacon Society"provides teachers with local resources to bring the magic of Sherlock Holmes to the classroom."

Bill Mason (BSI-2015 "White Mason"), in addition to being the Beacon Society "Head Light," is the author of "Pursuing Sherlock Holmes," a collection of innovative essays, stories and even poetry that approaches Sherlock Holmes from a thoroughly unique perspective that combines humor with literature and classic tales with familiar aspects of modern culture."

Marino Alvarez, Ed.D. (BSI-2015 "Hilton Soames"), is the author of "A Professor Reflects on Sherlock Holmes" , intensely personal observations by a Sherlockian with a true love for the Canonical tales, the Great Detective, the Good Doctor and the man behind it all, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle."

The Case of t he Clean Air Gun Target

by Ron Lies (scion, The Neglected Patients of Dr. Watson, Denver)

I was participating in The Sebastian Moran Annual Air Gun Shoot Off, arranged by The Brothers Three of Moriarty in June of 1987. Each of us wrote our names on our target sheets, which would be replaced for the next contestant as each one of us shot. The trophy for winning was gigantic, and I wanted to win it or at least make a good showing. My hopes were based on realism, however, and to me a good showing would mean hitting the target at least once. Even that was a remote possibility for a four-eyed squinter with one near-sighted eye and the other far sighted, causing depth perception problems.

It came time for the contestants to take their turns shooting, and, one at a time, we took our turn.

When all the contestants completed their shots, the target sheets were collected for judging. As fate sadly decreed, my sheet was the only one with no holes or hits on it (see below). I was getting a large share of ribbing from the other shooters. John Bennett Shaw somehow knew how I felt. The ribbing from these men was good-natured, but having dealt with poor eyesight all my life, it was tough to take. He turned to the other shooters and said, "Boy, you guys do not know a true collector when you see him. Ron did not want to hit anything and ruin his target from the shoot. I taught him well." The ribbing ended immediately. As he tuned to walk back up to the house for lunch, John smiled at me and winked.

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Nashville's First Baker Street Irregulars

(Gael Stahl congratulates Alvarez and Mason.)

"I write you together because for many decades in the future you'll be seen as a most admirable pair in the history of our scion. I thought I'd never see the day that more than a handful of Southerners would ever make it into the BSI despite the legendary role John Bennett Shaw played while living in Oklahoma and New Mexico. And we had a member in Memphis a few years back who wrote Holmes on the Range. But you are among a very small group."