Books by Liese Sherwood-Fabre

Fans of Sherlock Holmes, Victorian England, and history in general will all find interesting tidbits to carry away. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle references many everyday Victorian activities and aspects that are lost on the twenty-first century reader. These short essays provide modern readers a better understanding of Victorian England and greater insight into the world of Sherlock Holmes. His cases take on richer meaning when the reader grasps the subtleties of such details as the blue ribbon mentioned in “The Adventure of the Cardboard Box,” the doss houses Shinwell Johnson knew about, or how one contracted brain fever.Originally published in Sherlockian newsletters across the world, these short essays carry the reader back to London, 1895 and the world of the most famous consulting detective. Topics covered include:Horse racingThe Victorian WeddingBoxingThe Temperance MovementFencingLondon SmogBrain FeverCircusesThe Port of DundeeDoss HousesVampiresBradshaw’s CompanionBicycles and the New WomanClergymenPublic HousesMicroscopes and Magnifying GlassesGovernessesCiphers and CodesEtonCambridge and OxfordThe Art of DisguiseTypewritersBrief History of TeaReturn, once again, to Victorian England and the residents of 221B Baker Street.“We have…always found [Dr. Sherwood-Fabre’s] essays to be both entertaining and informative as well as very well researched.”- Joel Senter, editor, The Sherlockian E-Times

Step back to London, 1895.Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories are full of references to everyday activities and events from Victorian times that make the twenty-first century reader run to the reference shelf. Few, for example, are intimately acquainted with the responsibilities of a country squire, the importance of gentlemen's clubs, or the intricacies of the Victorian monetary system. These twenty-four short essays explore various aspects of life mentioned in the original tales of Sherlock Holmes, 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:The Life of a Country SquireThe Holmes' Family Connection to the Vernets of FranceThe Fate of Second SonsThe Victorian Medical PracticeVictorian TransportionThe Origins of Scotland YardThe River ThamesApiculture in the 1800sWestminster PalaceSherlock's Christmas SpiritPracticing Law in Victorian EnglandThe Second Anglo-Afghan WarGentleman's ClubsTobacco221B Baker StreetAbductive ReasoningDog BreedingPoisonsFingerprintsPhrenologyCommunicationsThe Monetary SystemThe British MuseumChloroformThese examinations bring deeper meaning and color to the adventures of the world's most famous consulting detective.The president of The Crew of the Barque Lone Star, a Sherlockian Scion Society, notes this collection "brings life to a society which we have only dreamed of."Whether a fan of Sherlock Holmes or a history enthusiast, this book offers interesting tidbits to all.