85. Sherlock Holmes

Michael Dibdin wrote a brilliantly dark book called The Last Sherlock Holmes Story about Holmes and Jack the Ripper.

The speaker mentions reading The White Company as a child and expresses love for it, despite others finding it dreary.

The mention of Edgar Allan Poe's work, 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue', as the first detective story situates it in the context of early detective fiction.

The giant rat of Sumatra famously is the one, the tale for which the world is not yet ready, as mentioned in the adventure of the Sussex vampire.

The discussion includes 'The Moonstone' by Wilkie Collins, highlighting its significance in the detective genre and its connection to the character of Inspector Cuff.

Julian Barnes wrote a novel about the case involving George, who was falsely accused of animal maimings. The novel is titled 'Arthur and George'.

The Indian mutiny is part of the backstory. There's a character called Major Sholto. I mean, I don't want to give the plot away. People who might be inspired to read Sherlock Holmes.

Charles Dickens's 'Bleak House' is mentioned for introducing the character Inspector Bucket, contributing to the detective narrative.

The very best, most frightening Sherlock Holmes short story is The Speckled Band. And again, I don't want to give away plot, but it involves, I think, an Indian swamp adder.

At the end of his last bow, Holmes says to Watson, 'Good old Watson, you are the one fixed point in a changing age.'

The speaker mentions A Study in Scarlet as the first Sherlock Holmes novel published in 1887.

The speaker refers to Sir Nigel as a sequel to The White Company and describes it as brilliant.

The speaker references The Strand as a magazine where Conan Doyle published his stories, highlighting its significance in the literary world.

The Valley of Fear, which has kind of Pinkertons and Strikers and all that Andrew Carnegie stuff going on in America.

Hallie Rumenhold on, who wrote a brilliant book, Five, about the victims.

The speaker discusses A Sign of Four, speculating about its publication timing in relation to other works.

The excerpt references 'the curious incident of the dog in the night', which is a famous passage from Conan Doyle's work, often cited by historians.

Nicholas Meyer wrote a book called The 7% Solution where Holmes meets Sigmund Freud.