The Life and Times of Sherlock Holmes: Essays on Victorian England

“Slop shops," "scissorizing," "agony aunts," and "foolscap"


These and other Victorian references appear throughout the original Sherlock Holmes tales.  Everyday words and phrases to the Victorian may have modern day readers running to references books. These twenty-four short essaysexplain and explore various aspects of life mentioned in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories, providing modern-day insight into the nineteenth century world. 


Originally shared through various Sherlockian newsletters around the world, they are gathered here for the first time. Essays cover:

• Violins 
• Electric and vs. gas lighting
• Scrapbooking
• Agony columns
• The Agra Fort
• Cardboard
• Sound Recordings
• Telephones
• Jellyfish
• Rugby
• Brandy
• The Opera
• The Crown Jewels
• Snakes
• Italian political organizations
• Banks
• Diabetes
• Pocket watches
• Writing paper
• Coroners
• Pawnshops
• Clothing
• Calling cards



The collection also includes the essay "Evil Women: The Villainesses of the Canon," originally published in the Baker Street Journal.



     “Be prepared to be enlightened and entertained!”

-  Carole Nelson Douglas,
    Bestselling Author