One of the great benefits of being a member of the Baker Street Irregulars is that we get to meet a lot of interesting and famous people. Chief among them are the literati, such as Michael Dirda, BSI ("Langdale Pike"), the Pulitzer Prize-winning book critic for the Washington Post, who makes his living by writing about the literati.
and Norwood
- stood a giant of the stage: William Gillette. Gillette was a respectable gentleman who made a respectable living from the stage, not least of which were his 1,300 appearances as Sherlock Holmes, after close contact with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in the late 1890s.
. Mr. Zecher is a former award-winning sports journalist and editor who has written on a wide variety of topics. He has had a lifelong love of Sherlock Holmes and has followed his passion in writing about William Gillette over the last 14 years. You can read his full bio on his website.
But where there's a challenge, there's also an opportunity. We've just learned of an effort by AudioFile to educate those new to the great detective by creating a Listeners' Guide to Sherlock Holmes. From December 16 - 29, 2009, you'll be able to download three short stories, listen to narrator interviews and more - all for free. Their release explains all of the details.
AudioFile, the magazine and Web site devoted to audiobooks, is offering a free audio collection of Sherlock Holmes short stories as part of its Listeners’ Guide to Sherlock Holmes. The Listeners’ Guide is an online multimedia event where visitors can listen to exclusive conversations with Holmes narrators and experts, read AudioFile Editors’ audiobook reviews and recommendations, and discover more remarkable Sherlock Holmes resources on the Internet.
Visitors can easily download and listen to David Timson reading “Silver Blaze,” “The Adventure of the Stock-Broker’s Clerk,” and “The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans,” courtesy of Naxos AudioBooks. In addition, listeners are invited to discuss their favorite Sherlock Holmes audiobooks on AudioFile's Facebook page.
This Listeners’ Guide also offers free, behind-the-scenes conversations with AudioFile’s Editors and narrators David Timson, Simon Prebble, and Ralph Cosham, plus an interview with award-winning audio dramatist and AudioFile contributing editor Yuri Rasovsky. The actors share their favorite scenes and give unique perspectives on being the voices of Sherlock Holmes. Visitors will learn about the iconic detective and discover how the voices of Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson, and other memorable characters are created by talented narrators and actors.
“With the 150th anniversary of Arthur Conan Doyle’s birth this year and the release of the Sherlock Holmes film starring Robert Downey, Jr., it's an appropriate time to encourage a new generation of fans to discover the voices of Sherlock Holmes,” said AudioFile Editor and Founder Robin Whitten. “The atmospheric settings, intellectual puzzles, and intriguing characters of Arthur Conan Doyle make perfect audio listening. This Listeners’ Guide also acknowledges the dynamic work of Holmes interpreters from Basil Rathbone to today’s best audiobook narrators.”
The Sherlock Holmes Listeners’ Guide is AudioFile’s latest celebration of the audio works of great writers. Recent Listeners’ Guides have focused on the audiobooks of Agatha Christie, Edgar Allan Poe, and Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. Sign up to receive AudioFile’s Listeners’ Guides at http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/enews_signup.html
If you've been following along, you'll note that it's been about a year and a half since Burt Wolder, BSI ("The Third Pillar From the Left") and I last published an episode on I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere, the first podcast for Sherlock Holmes devotees.
The last 18 months or so have been full of all sorts of activities for each of us, both personal and professional in nature, and have precluded us from recording or producing any new episodes. Add to that an unfortunate incident in which my external hard drive crashed, taking with it all of my original files related to the podcast, and you have the makings of a very necessary hiatus.
However, all of that is at an end. Bolstered by interest in the upcoming movie, the acquisition of new equipment, and the need to inject some personal time into our busy schedules, Burt and I are making our return with Episode 19. You can listen to it or download it directly on the site, or you can subscribe to iTunes 
It feels good to be back. We hope you'll agree. Oh, and could you do us a favor? Tell some friends about it. We're always looking for additional listeners.
In any case, you'll be interested to know that the latest episode of I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere, the audio program for Sherlock Holmes devotees is now available. On Episode 14, you'll hear Burt Wolder and me interview Michael Whelan, the current Wiggins of the BSI.
In this first part of a truly excellent two-part series, you'll hear Mike tell about his origins with Sherlock Holmes, how he got involved in Sherlock Holmes societies and the BSI, his ascent to head the organization, and how he has steered it in his decade at the helm.
Stay tuned for Part 2 in another week or so - including a contest that will require reader/listener particiaption - plus another key episode toward the end of December, as the countdown to January 10, 2008 continues...
I think we're in the midst of a Sherlockian / Doylean renaissance - but I'll leave the full premise of that statement for another post. In the meantime, if you've been living under a rock for the past few months, then let me give you just the tip of the iceberg - particularly as it relates to two new books.
Jon Lellenberg, BSI ("Rodger Prescott"), Daniel Stashower, BSI ("Thurston"), and Charles Foley, BSI ("Marlow Bates") co-edited a massive volume of original letters and produced Arthur Conan Doyle: A Life in Letters. I won't go into the full details, as I've previously written about it. But what I will recommend (in addition to buying the book) is that you listen to the latest episode of I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere, where Burt Wolder and I interview Jon & Dan.
The episode runs nearly an hour and is a fascinating look inside the creative process behind editing and writing such a major book. Especially interesting is their view of the subject matter, both before and after their time spent with the letters.
While you're there, please do consider subscribing to the show (it's free) and telling your friends about it. We need your help to grow our listener base.
There's another biography of Conan Doyle that is being released: The Man Who Created Sherlock Holmes: the Life and Times of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle by Andrew Lycett, who has also written a biography of Ian Fleming, the author of the James Bond books. I haven't had a chance to review this one yet, but I do plan to have Andrew on the podcast in early 2008. Stay tuned!
In the meantime, you might have a look at a Times Literary Supplement article, The Ghosts of Conan Doyle by Dinah Birch. It's a nice overview of the two books and quite frankly, an excellent piece of writing. To wit:
It is odd that so much comfort is to be had from Sherlock Holmes, given the brutal violence of his adventures. Not only are those who cross his path routinely shot, bludgeoned, or knifed, they run the risk of being starved, buried alive, attacked by huge and frenzied hounds, killed by horses, jellyfish, or venomous snakes, asphyxiated with toxic vapours, afflicted with foul diseases, or crushed in giant iron presses. They might lose a thumb or an ear; occasionally they lose their minds. Yet Holmes is the most consoling of literary icons. He cannot always prevent crime or punish the criminal, but he never fails to explain what has happened, and how, and why. The prosaic Watson likes to claim that his hero is infallible because he scorns the emotional baggage that befuddles the judgement of lesser men. In fact these stories are tense with feeling, for Holmes’s hatred of wrongdoing is a passion rather than an intellectual commitment.Indeed. Enjoy these times. We are rich indeed to have such a wealth of resources.
If you've never been to Autumn in Baker Street, you're really missing out. Commonly referred to as "The Great Sherlockian Sleepover," it is one of the best Sherlock Holmes events you can attend, in terms of the level of scholarship, entertainment, fun and intimate conversations.
And the man behind it all Bob Thomalen, BSI ("The Three Garridebs") has been the driving force for 25 years. He started AIBS from scratch, just because he wanted an opportunity to get like-minded people together to do something fun. Well, his instincts and his organizational abilities paid off, because people have been flocking there ever since.
In the latest episode of I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere, you can hear Burt Wolder and me interview Bob about his experiences. He shares some wonderful memories of events and people, and he even has tips for those of you who might be thinking of starting your own society or event.
Head on over to the podcast page and take a listen. Even better, please consider subscribing for free and tell your friends, family and colleagues about it.
I'm sure there are a few Jeremy Brett fans who are regular readers of this blog. If so, you may know that in the late 1980s he commissioned a play from Jeremy Paul, one of the writers for the Granada Television Series
One of Brett's wishes was to bring that play to the United States. And for nearly 20 years, that wish has gone unfulfilled. Until now.
Shakespeare & Company decided that it would honor the 120th anniversary of Sherlock Holmes being in print (1887-2007) by running the two-act two-man play from September 28 - October 28, 2007 at the Founders Theater in Lenox, Massachusetts. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling (413) 637-3353. For full details of the play, please see their page.
I've posted an interview with the two actors and the director over on I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere. It's about 50 minutes long and is an insider's view as to how an actor prepares for such a role, what makes this play different and why a Shakespearean company is 
putting it on. It's really a nice episode. If you like, you can download the episode or listen directly by clicking here. And you can check out some photos from the production by heading over to their gallery.
What's more, the weekend of October 19-21, 2007 will feature a number of Sherlockian events and speakers.
On Saturday, October 20, the Sherlockian speakers and collectibles begin to pile up. Sally Sugarman will be in to speak about the influence of Sherlock Holmes on children's literature, Leslie Klinger will unravel why we have a fascination with a 120 year-old detective, and I'll speak about Sherlock 2.0 - the great detective and his followers in the 21st century.
But there's so much more to the weekend than these presentations. As the site states:
On the weekend of Oct. 19, 20, 21, we welcome all to share several Sherlock topical events, including a unique Victorian era sherry, chocolate and dessert reception quite befitting the Holmesian tradition. On Saturday there will a series of presentations by special guests, including Leslie Klinger, America’s foremost Sherlock expert and editor of the New Annotated Sherlock Holmes. There will also be memorabilia and collectibles on display. There will be a performance on Saturday night, and on Sunday a Sherlockian English brunch with specialty items such as scrambled quail as suggested in the canon.Check out the full listing and pricing on the Shakespeare & Company page.
