The Notorious Canary-Trainers
A Scion of the Baker Street Irregulars
for friends and fans of Sherlock Holmes
-- celebrating our 40th year!

Cases reviewed between January and March 2009

Holmes in "The Red Circle" Artist: Joseph Simpson

(For information on other Sherlock Holmes stories we've recently discussed, click here.)

MARCH 2009: THE RED CIRCLE
Wednesday, September 24 – Thursday, September 25, 1902

This case took place about one week after the case of "The Illustrious Client" which we reviewed at our February meeting.

"The Adventure of the Red Circle" was first published in the Strand Magazine in two parts in the March and April 1911 issues in England and April and May 1911 in America. It now is available in the collection, "His Last Bow."

Illustrations for the Strand were one by Joseph Simpson in the March issue and three by H. M. Brock in both the March and April issues.

Quotes to Note:

(Holmes) "Education never ends, Watson. It is a series of lessons, with the greatest for the last."

(Watson) "Our official detectives may blunder in the matter of intelligence, but never in that of courage."

(Holmes) "There is one correspondent who is a sure draw, Watson. That is the bank. Single ladies must live, and their passbooks are compressed diaries."

(Holmes)"Bleat, Watson--unmitigated bleat!"

To read the full text of this story online, go to this Web site or The Sherlockian Net.

For a Wikipedia plot summary and related links, click here.

For a commentary on this account, try this essay.

For other questions to review after reading the story -- to test yourself on how well you have observed -- check out these links:

Hounds of the Internet

The Sherlockian Net

What else was happening in 1902? Click here to find out.

FEBRUARY 2009: THE ILLUSTRIOUS CLIENT
Wednesday, September 3 – Tuesday, September 16, 1902

This case began about six weeks after the case of "The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax" which we reviewed at our previous (December) meeting.

"The Adventure of the Illustrious Client" was first published in Collier's Weekly Magazine Nov. 8, 1924, with and in the Strand Magazine in two parts in the February and March 1925 issues. It now is available in "The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes" collection.

Illustrations for Collier's were by J. R. Flanagan and for the Strand, eight by H. K. Elcock.

Quotes to Note:

(Col. Damery to Holmes and Watson)"I should say that there is no more dangerous man in Europe"

(Holmes in reply)"I have had several opponents to whom that flattering term has been applied."

(Holmes to Watson)"Woman's heart and mind are insoluble puzzles to the male. Murder might be condoned or explained, and yet some smaller offense might rankle."

(Holmes)"It is my business to follow the details of Continental crime."

(Holmes)"I am accustomed to have mystery at one end of my cases, but to have it at both ends is too confusing."

(Holmes)"A complex mind. All great criminals have that."

(Watson, about Holmes)"There was a curious secretive streak in the man which led to many dramatic effects, but left even his closest friend guessing as to what his exact plans might be. He pushed to the extreme the axiom that the only safe plotter was he who plotted alone. I was nearer him than anyone else, and yet I was always conscious of the gap between."

To read the full text of this story online, go to this Web site or The Sherlockian Net.

For a Wikipedia plot summary and related links, click here.

For a commentary on this account, try this essay.

For other questions to review after reading the story -- to test yourself on how well you have observed -- check out these links:

Hounds of the Internet

The Sherlockian Net

What else was happening in 1902? Click here to find out.

JANUARY 2009: No case study was held this month as we held our annual Sherlock Holmes birthday dinner.