Dean’s book sold out at the signing – good promotion, business cards, cookies and a Goodreads giveaway in the lead up to the event all contributed to an excellent event. Well done Dean.
Great article for Sherlock Holmes Week
The Hound is the second-best outing of the Baz as Sherlock, and was his own favorite (for what that’s worth). In his autobiography he said something to the effect that if he’d only made this one Holmes movie he’d have ended up a lot less famous, but much happier as a creative artist. (Baz, you were such a snob in some ways, much as I love you). The movie is notable – or notorious – to movie buffs for two egregious or strange omissions. 1.There’s no soundtrack music. None. At All. 2. Rathbone was second-billed below Fox’s new contract-player, Richard hello I’m talking wallpaper Greene! – Ah the fine madness that was Hollywood’s Golden Age!
Anyhow, here are the captures…
As a slideshow:
And in the Gallery…
ON THE PIC
Apparently it’s Sherlock Holmes week.
Why does no one tell me these things?
If you are running a Basil Rathbone blog then you literally have to take notice of this. I mean I think there’s actually a law about it.
So, Baz – if you’re around – I’m sorry. I know you were ambivalent (at best) about your identity as Holmes, but that doesn’t change the fact you were one of the greatest Sherlocks of all time (arguably THE greatest). You looked like the Paget drawings come to life (though prettier). You did restless, cerebral brilliance better than any actor I can name (apart from Jeremy Brett). And I am going to fecking say so whether you like it or not.
Entirely by coincidence (really truly) a guy I know at uni is working on an animation project…
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In the coming weeks the courts will make the final decision on Undershaw, Conan Doyle’s former home. It has been the subject of a long running battle between the developers who seek to destroy it, and the band of Sherlock Holmes fans who are fighting to save it and return it to its former glory.
(Undershaw today, neglected and run down)
The high court ruled in favour of the fans – the developers appealed – that was defeated too – now they have appealed the rejection of the appeal (come on….). Now we just have to wait for that to get looked at and then we’re done: you’ve got to love the British judicial system (not).
In the meantime the UPT (Undershaw Preservation Trust) are putting together a fundraising committee of ten to twelve volunteers whose job it will be to raise the money needed to restore Undershaw back to its former glory. Due to the negligence of the developers [the high court case highlighted at least two instances where they broke the law in not keeping the building safe whilst the court case raged on] the job is considerably bigger than it needed to have been. It’s estimated that the team will need £2.5m (around $4m) to restore and prepare the building.
(Undershaw as it used to look)
This is where Sherlock Holmes fans around the world have plenty of ways of getting involved. Most of you will be aware of the book ‘Sherlock’s Home: The Empty House’ which was compiled by BBC Sherlock fan site Sherlockology and whose royalties all go to the trust. Many of you have bought the book and many have joined the trust’s Save Undershaw Facebook Page.
Now I’d like to suggest something else. Corporate sponsorship. We live in an era where Football, Baseball and Soccer stadiums around the world have corporate sponsors – even the theatre bar I was in a few weeks ago in London carried the support logo of their sponsor American Airlines. So why now Undershaw? On a purely brutal front, there is lots of very positive brand exposure to be had to be linked to this quite amazing story how a group of fans (led by John Gibson) have managed to save an incredible building against all the odds.
(campaigner and Holmes actor Derek Wood by a boarded up Undershaw)
My first stop for corporate sponsors are the corporations that have, especially in recent times, made some serious money from the Sherlock Holmes stories. Let’s remember, that if it wasn’t for Undershaw, none of that money would have been made, there would have been no Sherlock Holmes.
I am deadly serious here. Few people realise that Undershaw is where Conan Doyle brought Holmes back to life and where he created the The Hound of The Baskervilles that catapulted Holmes from simply a ‘fairly popular’ detective, to a worldwide phenomenon. Without Undershaw, we wouldn’t be enjoying Holmes today.
So yes, Warner Brothers, Undershaw has given you two blockbuster movies that have grossed hundreds of millions of dollars. Yes, BBC (I know you are a public corporation but you still are able to sponsor), you have this building to thank for the prolific success of BBC Sherlock. And how about CBS with Elementary…. I’m sure you guys will make a few bucks out of that too.
Now I am not suggesting any of these corporations hand over the millions that are required (though that would be nice) but it certainly would be fitting for them to be involved. There are plans to include a museum element to the restored house and it would be brilliant to have a Holmes on screen section with costumes and momentos from the films and TV series.
But here is the crux of this article, it’s a call out to the Holmes fans around the world who by day work for big corporations in many fields of expertise. There are plenty of ways for companies to get involved – especially any of those involved in construction. There will be plenty of opportunity for publicity – that’s one thing the Holmes fan base is really good at. There are dozens of rooms in the house and I am sure there is the opportunity for corporations to sponsor perhaps Conan Doyle’s study, the library of Holmes books that will be created – or perhaps the stunning stained glass window which surely every future visitor will stop to admire….
Corporations can write off donations like this against tax and use the association with the house for entertainment of key clients. A private tour of the house where Sherlock Holmes came back to life? Now that’s what I call special corporate entertainment…..
If you have an idea of how your company can get involved in the restoration and running of Undershaw please contact the UPT through the Save Undershaw Facebook page.
And if you haven’t got hold of a copy of the book ‘Sherlock’s Home’ its available from all good bookstores and in all formats – Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Book Depository (free worldwide delivery), Kindle , Kobo , Nook, and iTunes.
I just received this review from the lovely Joanna, on Goodreads, and it made me smile.
This book is so completely awesome. Erudite was a word another reviewer used, which is the one word I would use to describe the book if I couldn’t use “awesome.”
It’s not for purists. Firstly, Watson’s barely in it. Secondly, the subject matter is a little bit more uh… edgy? than what I assume would be traditional. Witchcraft, a little bit of sex (though not explicit, I think), drugs, religious discussion. I mean, it does have Aleister Crowley in it as the Watson subsitute, ha. This novel shakes up beliefs about Sherlock Holmes… which makes it sound “merely clever” but I assure you it is not. It reads like the work of an intelligent person passionate about sharing a story with you, as opposed to a person passionate about showing you how clever…
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“The book was a page turner. I was so sorry that it ended. Great character sketches drawn. There is a waiting list in The Dickens Fellowship in Boston to read this story (with its)…Dickensian master-plot. Such fine details expressed from the Palaces in Italy to the very wardrobe that Dickens wore. It was as if some one was following Charles and taking notes of all the goings on. A fast read and, of course, I could not put it down.” Boston Dickens Fellowship
History records that on June 9, 1870, Charles Dickens died of a cerebral haemorrhage. History, however, is wrong. June 9, 1870, is the day on which Charles Dickens was murdered…….
The Mystery of Charles Dickens is available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Book Depository (free worldwide delivery)….
…and in electronic formats including Kindle , iTunes (iPad/iPhone), Kobo and Nook.
“A Greyhound called Danny recently visited 10 Downing Street to raise awareness about the benefits of children reading to dogs. 
Launching his new book, ‘Danny goes to London’, Danny hopes children will be encouraged to pick it up and read to dogs like him. Danny is a Reading, Education and Assistance Dog (READ), and is sponsored by the Kennel Club’s Bark and Read Foundation to go into schools and listen to children read. 
My six year old son absolutely adores this book and managed to read it all on his own. Very very educational! This is highly recommended by London Mums.
In his book, Danny documents his unique job. The book is a children’s story, telling the true-life tale of Danny’s journey. Dogs have long been known for their therapeutic value, but in recent years they have been credited in helping children learn to read. In the USA, READ has been using dogs to help children improve their literacy since 1999.
The Kennel Club has been at the forefront of bringing this initiative to children in the UK and last year created the Bark and Read Foundation which offers financial support to both READ and Pets As Therapy who also provide dogs to go into schools to help children to read.
Tony Nevett, owner of Danny and READ volunteer, explains about the book and Danny’s incredible journey: “Dogs are non-judgemental and do not criticise and so help to build self-esteem. To take part in the scheme, dogs have to be registered with a charity such as Pets as Therapy and assessed to make sure they are suitable to work with children. Danny has an amazing temperament and the children love him. We have been asked to schools around the country and I have had numerous teachers tell me how much of an improvement their children have made with the help of Danny. 
“Literacy is still a problem in the UK and something that has to be tackled. ‘Danny Goes to London’ was written to give children a fun book to read and learn about Danny’s amazing journey.”
‘Danny Goes to London’ is available on Amazon, and in electronic formats including Amazon Kindle, for more information about the Bark and Read Foundation visit:www.thekennelclub.org.uk/barkandread
Facebook page www.facebook.com/Kclovesdogs
Twitter http://twitter.com/kclovesdogs
The Kennel Club is the largest organisation in the UK devoted to dog health, welfare and training. Its objective is to ensure that dogs live healthy, happy lives with responsible owners.”
Read the full article here.
“This book is the second Sebastian McCabe – Jeff Cody mystery, following his earlier No Police Like Holmes. This book lacks the impressive character set of eccentric Sherlockians encountered in the first, but it does present a dandy mystery and a new set of eccentrics. This group are a bit more difficult to categorize, but they tend to come from the world of entertainment, if anywhere in particular.
Much of the narrative concentrates on academic in-fighting, with our heroes in medias res. We are treated to a double murder with theories obscured by facts and suspects just oozing both motives and lies. Telling the white hats from the black takes more than an eye for color. Our hero, Jeff Cody, worries his way through the entire process and professor McCabe claims to have every thing almost in hand for most of the book.
Personally, I miss the rich Sherlockian atmosphere of the earlier book, but the author did come up with at least one good line from The Maltese Falcon as well as few other mystery references. Jeff’s true love, reporter Lynda Teal, turns out to have an educated taste in Bourbon but the chief of police seems to be a “throw ‘em back” fisherman. The femme fatale of this little opus seems to have an uneducated taste for whatever or whoever is offered. The battle between Jeff and his boss, Ralph, moves into new territory and the seamy side of the ivory tower gets exposed for all to see.
This is a worthy second volume and it continues the tradition of crimes in an academic setting. The venue, a small town on the Ohio River, with a small private University and a semi-rural population continues to provide enough contrasts to maintain interest. Large cities are close enough to hand to add contrast to the mix and the faculty and student bodies offer a wide selection of characters for manipulation.”
Holmes Sweet Holmes is available from all good bookstores worldwide including in the USA Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Classic Specialities – and in all electronic formats including Amazon Kindle and Kobo.
” Sherlock Holmes seems to be on everyone’s mind lately… including Amy Thomas’. She’s recently released a book entitled The Detective and the Woman, a tale of Holmes’ interactions with Irene Adler. Following my review of her novel, I got to chat with Amy, who provided some brilliant insights into Doyle’s stories.
The Sherlock Holmes stories seem to be experiencing a particular boom of popularity lately, with the films and numerous TV series. Why, do you think, is Sherlock Holmes so popular, and why has he endured?
Sherlock Holmes has always had a wide fanbase, even during the years when he wasn’t quite as much of a cultural trend as he is right now. I think the current boom has to do with the excellent job the BBCSherlock series and the Guy Ritchie films have done of introducing the character to a new generation.
I believe one reason the Sherlock Holmes stories are enduringly popular also applies to Shakespeare, in that both contain a great deal of truth about human nature and the human condition, and that truth is timeless. In the case of Holmes, the presence of suspense, clever solutions, and humor makes the stories and characters irresistible for all time.
Relating to the first question, what is it about the Holmes stories that drew you in and attracted you to writing about the detective?
I re-read the Holmes canon in 2010 after having not done so for many years, and I was captivated by the detective’s character—his cerebral, logical nature that somehow coexists with a dreamy, musical side and a bitingly dry wit. I have also been a fan of Laurie R. King’s Mary Russell series for a long time, and she was my entrance into the world of pastiche and the realization that an entire genre of Holmes-based derivative fiction exists.
Both of these things, my love for the character and the realization that Holmes pastiche exists as a literary genre, gave me the push I needed to write my own story about Holmes and The Woman. “
Read the full interview here.
The Detective and the Woman is available from all good bookstores worldwide including in the USA Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Classic Specialities – and in all electronic formats including Amazon Kindle and Kobo.
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