tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11117661232017867572024-03-17T20:00:49.972-07:00Stephen Gasparstephen gasparhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04304511252320058397noreply@blogger.comBlogger201125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111766123201786757.post-84693677098883256462024-03-14T18:01:00.000-07:002024-03-14T18:01:16.848-07:00The Thames Torso Murders<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Holmes-Baker-Street-Adventures-Sherlock-ebook/dp/B0C6KYTFCR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2DVQAKQZM41G4&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.YerE_GfEKLOVEnvEl4CoijiP-ybvbXz9ZsNsXQhDv4dAFSG8vPVhI5lNRaaAnU2eAGZp1KklAQNKMXRkKMKyvZ-y-wAxZIN_bQ8CZ9rEdoK-CUl5PTqaTqqWt0CmuBIRMqCQmwW_h1bjprtnnViSLvilHWmJF5gtWPX0TXpGD0sSyNRyBkR6dYmHm3bHnLH3rmvJAXQtvvzUe6CTM_8Ww3n8TKeYD-F-JIAQLLhDR3Y.NIV-nq6C4RdGIci2Obn23KHEOOUb1iZxjK9dHv4KENI&dib_tag=se&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1710463679&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C114&sr=1-1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1561" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFakUWRjEJ23mn9sSQtnXe1pVNFoxln2qXpHCmdFVUvdxLQpKvLJPZPTbM1zHt_ewfkce9zXfgXjZL7-ztumcrcU2Q_I1HXRxyxDksvj688ksfiyZ4hGwwufU6VHRYmrRwmFQM0ueG_Qj14x-xNXcuTfYaroV5lRBuR-4It9a8wxNDqLFd-YcpEpwnvQ/s320/final%20cover%20alt%201.jpg" width="202" /></span></a></div></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> <span>The Thames Torso Murders is one of the many </span><span>adventures </span><span>of Sherlock Holmes in my latest book, Holmes of Baker Street. In it, there is a character mentioned in one of the original stories by ACD. The story also has grisly elements (if you are into that sort of thing).</span></span><div><p></p><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Here is the opening to The Thames Torso Murders.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span>I</span><span>n recalling the numerous individuals
I have encountered in the cases I have shared with my friend Sherlock Holmes,
there have been some whose very appearance has betrayed their baleful
intent. <br /></span><span> Readers
of my memoirs may remember Dr. Grimesby Roylott whom I described as having a
large face seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and
marked with every evil passion. He possessed deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and a
high thin fleshless nose. Dr. Roylott succeeded in killing one of his stepdaughters
and almost succeeded in murdering the other.<br /></span><span> Then
there was the statue-smashing Beppo, who was absolutely simian in appearance
and knifed a man on the street. <br /></span><span> Who
could forget the master blackmailer Charles Augustus Milverton whom Sherlock
Holmes described as a slithering venomous serpent, with deadly eyes and a
wicked face?<br /></span><span> Only
after his crime was uncovered did Josiah Amberley’s true features reveal
themselves. If I recall, I compared him to a misshapen demon with a soul as
distorted as his body.<br /></span><span> Culverton
Smith who killed Victor Savage and attempted to murder my friend Sherlock
Holmes looked every inch the villain he was with a great yellow face,
coarse-grained and greasy, with a heavy double-chin, and two sullen, menacing
grey eyes.<br /></span><span> Finally,
a man whose name will forever live in infamy, the late Professor Moriarty whom
Holmes himself described as extremely tall and thin, with deeply set puckered
eyes. His pale and ascetic-looking face oscillated from side to side in a
curiously reptilian fashion.<br /></span><span> It
is not always prudent to judge someone or something from its outward
appearance, and so not all the characters we encountered lived up to their
looks. Holmes once told me of the most winning woman he ever knew was hanged
for poisoning three children for their insurance money.<br /></span><span> In
our first encounter with Dr. Moore Agar, both Holmes and I believed he was some
nefarious villain, for he looked the part, but of course, we were sorely
mistaken.<br /></span><span> The
same could be said for the aloof and taciturn Ian Murdoch of whom Holmes
described as having some strange outlandish blood that was reflected in his
coal-black eyes and in his ferocious temper, but he proved not to be the killer.<br /></span><span> Baron
Gruner was a handsome man, with the ability to charm women, but both his good
looks and charm hid the heart of an abuser and a murderer. <br /></span><span> I
recall it was in May 1887, when Holmes and I had finished our breakfast, and we
heard a peal of the bell. This was followed by the light tread of footsteps on
the stairs, a knock at our door, and Mrs. Hudson stepped into the room to
announce a young lady was here to consult with Mr. Holmes.<br /></span><span> “What
is your impression of the young lady, Mrs. Hudson?” Holmes asked, standing by
the mantel, filling his after-breakfast pipe.<br /></span><span> “She
appears to be a very fine and well-mannered young lady, Mr. Holmes.”<br /></span><span> “If
she meets with your approval, please send the young lady right up, Mrs.
Hudson.”<br /></span><span> In
another minute, the woman was standing in our sitting room.<br /></span><span> She
introduced herself to us as Miss Angela Moore. She struck me as a demur,
attractive</span><span> young
woman, who could not have been more than two and twenty. Miss Moore had dark
blue eyes, a delicate nose, a small mouth, and a lovely, unblemished porcelain
complexion. She was impeccably dressed in a form-fitted, long-waisted purple
dress with dark polka dots that displayed a fine figure. The dress had a modest
bustle and not one of those fashionable bustles so large you could set a tea
tray upon it. <br /><o:p></o:p></span><span> I
consider myself a particularly good judge of women, and even before getting
acquainted with her, I had the strong feeling this young woman was the epitome
of innocence that can be found in British womanhood. Her voice was the perfect
pitch, not too high or low, and though she spoke softly, her every word carried
gently to the ear. As she entered the room and stood before us, it was obvious
the young woman was attempting to control some deep distress. <br /></span><span> “Won’t
you take a seat, Miss Moore,” Holmes said, motioning her to the basket chair.<br /></span><span> She
sat and folded her hands upon her lap. Her lovely face reflected urgency, but
she bore up under it with both a deep-rooted strength and a feminine
vulnerability. “I have come to you, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, because I believe you
are the only man in London, nay, the only man in all England who can help me,
and I am sorely in need of your help.”<br /></span><span> Miss
Angela Moore had spoken with sincere conviction. Her pleading was obvious, but
not overstated. <br /></span><span> “I
am very willing to lend whatever help you desire, Miss Moore,” said Sherlock
Holmes in a reassuring manner. “Pray, tell me your problem.”<br /></span><span> She
took in two deep breaths and released them before she began her
narrative. <br /></span><span> “Have
either of you gentlemen heard of the terrible, gruesome murders that the press has
dubbed ‘<i>The Thames Torso Murders’</i>? Over the past several months, the bodies
of both men and women have been found floating in the river. The bodies were
discovered… with… without….” Here she brought a handkerchief to her mouth to
stifle her anguish.<br /></span><span> “Calm
yourself, Miss Moore,” said Holmes soothingly. “There is no reason to continue.
I am well versed in the details as the newspapers have related them.” <br /></span><span> Indeed,
both Holmes and I had read with interest the news reports of these murders. The
murder victims were found without heads, arms, or legs. The torsos were
discovered in and around the Thames, some floating in the water, some at the
water’s edge. Two amputated arms and one amputated leg were discovered about
the same time; one arm had been buried on a construction site, the other two
floating in the Thames. The murders, dating back over a year, were quite
gruesome, and I shuddered to think of a fine young woman like Miss Moore even
reading about them. She eventually regained her composure.</span><span> </span></span></h2>
</span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stephen+gaspar&i=stripbooks-intl-ship&crid=2DVQAKQZM41G4&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C114&ref=nb_sb_noss_1">All of Stephen Gaspar's Sherlock Holmes books can be found on Amazon!</a></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFoHCdMPnXYBl-gOSfCeHzpFL_oN8H3JXS6VTi1JQB2fZkBILesobZvIwgTrPKuKdF3VJGIB4FioC-BndTK-fg7v9RUFWiiG8YpSMCPKJtrDfXT09dgtXwXcHP__WQ3Hyl7M9i8NyxuMyhqAgvmMh601Uin69WBoljGSPjrOPT-sY_dTAylckmXnkONA/s800/ColdHeartedMurder3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFoHCdMPnXYBl-gOSfCeHzpFL_oN8H3JXS6VTi1JQB2fZkBILesobZvIwgTrPKuKdF3VJGIB4FioC-BndTK-fg7v9RUFWiiG8YpSMCPKJtrDfXT09dgtXwXcHP__WQ3Hyl7M9i8NyxuMyhqAgvmMh601Uin69WBoljGSPjrOPT-sY_dTAylckmXnkONA/s320/ColdHeartedMurder3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_v-Hl030VQc6grh5ftBoq4iGlGl_dsmON769J52sNCD9RLEF0zQlNwzwvWZvgO5GTkwjKsThgRmq4GR3-nM9BT9P8R3gop-RoOo-ATRwsvrJrUCvTYnuSziaE29DxmSWKIDScRK4-anXDRIXxgy0XYa2mudEFTE1YqfwmRdBsy9MtMv3tMp631VhDA/s800/cash3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_v-Hl030VQc6grh5ftBoq4iGlGl_dsmON769J52sNCD9RLEF0zQlNwzwvWZvgO5GTkwjKsThgRmq4GR3-nM9BT9P8R3gop-RoOo-ATRwsvrJrUCvTYnuSziaE29DxmSWKIDScRK4-anXDRIXxgy0XYa2mudEFTE1YqfwmRdBsy9MtMv3tMp631VhDA/s320/cash3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTL3Wma5aDPbVedT6ZWXV-C6_RRUub-ZSzkg1nHtd6GdKvW15rhaVmh5Sf3qeru9OQYjk7mMipZfZnFkE9KVF9prZ8R2scAEnlCt_B4GTs3DJlx3hmC0lsK6ydR0M0A8fWIrvoQtrUL8Ve4hsP-FT6NSTVrt0va3bhNmB1YWWF9QX5J5fuXbyrSq9Nw/s1280/thumbnail_Sherlock%20Six%20-%20final%20draft%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="799" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTL3Wma5aDPbVedT6ZWXV-C6_RRUub-ZSzkg1nHtd6GdKvW15rhaVmh5Sf3qeru9OQYjk7mMipZfZnFkE9KVF9prZ8R2scAEnlCt_B4GTs3DJlx3hmC0lsK6ydR0M0A8fWIrvoQtrUL8Ve4hsP-FT6NSTVrt0va3bhNmB1YWWF9QX5J5fuXbyrSq9Nw/s320/thumbnail_Sherlock%20Six%20-%20final%20draft%20(1).jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div>stephen gasparhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04304511252320058397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111766123201786757.post-71505554573918511452024-01-04T13:38:00.000-08:002024-01-05T12:00:37.590-08:00Sherlock Holmes and The Tired Captain<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQciQZ2knvB4GtqwdTHvPF5IDwHBUwnuD4NXIQUO2s8wEIA6ZMdGOql_ZpgyOHCYRE1sfEWEhl1ntuVwdWtXg3O-fpaaMz7KtK2QwzlQyB4l_v6Y7f5TQod251F35-mVNL_x_1FUllLrxlH_sYnlv_hrn6whFtSqPQJQmUk1w6cikkSLKULDHq6prDg/s2475/final%20cover%20alt%201.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1561" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQciQZ2knvB4GtqwdTHvPF5IDwHBUwnuD4NXIQUO2s8wEIA6ZMdGOql_ZpgyOHCYRE1sfEWEhl1ntuVwdWtXg3O-fpaaMz7KtK2QwzlQyB4l_v6Y7f5TQod251F35-mVNL_x_1FUllLrxlH_sYnlv_hrn6whFtSqPQJQmUk1w6cikkSLKULDHq6prDg/s320/final%20cover%20alt%201.jpg" width="202" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>The Adventure of the Tired Captain is one of many stories referenced in the Sherlock Holmes canon. It is also one of the many stories in my latest book, Holmes of Baker Street. </span><p></p><h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">Here is the opening to The Adventure of the Tired Captain.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span> </h3><h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span></h3><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: justify;">I</span><span style="text-align: justify;">n July of 1889, I was still
settling into the role of being a husband to </span><span style="text-align: justify;">my bride Mary. Since my mid-thirties
I had suspected that I just might remain a bachelor for life, for as Benedict
stated in </span><i style="text-align: justify;">Much Ado About Nothing; ‘When I said I would die a bachelor, I just
meant that I didn’t think I’d live until
I got married.’<br /></i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span> Married
life was a considerable adjustment, especially for someone who had led a
somewhat vagabond lifestyle. On the whole, I liked married life, and now for the
first time, I was the master of my own home, which comes with its own
obligations and responsibilities. It is a milestone in a man’s life when he
begins to think of his legacy, how he plans to mark his life and considers what
evidence he will leave behind to prove that he lived and accomplished something
worthwhile. <br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span> Since
my marriage, I had seen less of my friend Sherlock Holmes, who now usually
contacted me only when a case came his way that he thought might interest
me. <br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span> It was
a rainy night in July. My wife and I were enjoying a quiet evening at home.
After dinner, we retired to the sitting room as raindrops made pit-pat sounds
on the window. I was reading by the lamp between our chairs. My wife was
working on her petit point. A peal at the bell caused us to look at one another
expectantly. The maid answered the door, I heard a familiar voice, then the
sound of steps upon the linoleum. A moment later our maid, Mary Jane, ushered in
Sherlock Holmes. We were both surprised and pleased to see him. He, in turn,
greeted us warmly. <br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span> “Won’t
you sit down, Mr. Holmes?” my wife offered. “Something to drink perhaps?”<br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span> “No,
thank you, Mrs. Watson, I am afraid I cannot stay,” he said with a hint of
urgency. He cast me a sidelong glance. “I have a cab waiting.”<br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span> My wife
picked up on this immediately. <br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span> “I
understand,” she said. “Well, John, you best put on your galoshes and take an
umbrella from the stand.”<br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span> At
the door, she tied a cravat about my neck and kissed me goodnight. Holmes and I
walked out into the rain and into his waiting cab. In the dim light of a streetlamp,
I thought I saw a slight smile touch his lips. <br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span> “If
it isn’t too presumptuous, may I ask where we are going?” I asked my friend.<br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span> “Not
at all. We are destined for the docks in the East End.”</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stephen+gaspar&i=stripbooks-intl-ship&crid=2ZNBILHOPSLEB&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C132&ref=nb_sb_noss_1">All of Stephen Gaspar's books can be found on Amazon!</a></span></span></span></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcZEQha_78QecPmcYQilDeSwhOoHvs96DqKDpifgSgH2V_hqNZLtQmS7zwTk9DaQYb36t-4kl4hnwFEweq-DiQcHdkq_WOoHf5HSxzOoQTTr1zxomYcgvlYkJ24rK4lCMYG3_MzdGLeIJNRnFgE5bJ1PfyNvSRAo6vQaDZTMbTC76ap4lnOkzao0h6Q/s800/cash3.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcZEQha_78QecPmcYQilDeSwhOoHvs96DqKDpifgSgH2V_hqNZLtQmS7zwTk9DaQYb36t-4kl4hnwFEweq-DiQcHdkq_WOoHf5HSxzOoQTTr1zxomYcgvlYkJ24rK4lCMYG3_MzdGLeIJNRnFgE5bJ1PfyNvSRAo6vQaDZTMbTC76ap4lnOkzao0h6Q/s320/cash3.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlmqTw-qxYGVHqa6DQpZgTdyrAe_xqCHbbWa_bIossWGTQrx9jIx6gXXfChzrGY0nqBg61PDLzpR0ziv6HdBMlxZtajnPo_z3eQGAHMEP5wpPiV-7r2WF5RdoOpd7bwD53X94gBJf7mN3zjlI79bMUTCoMzpvUr1nc6q80FvnvYMXgP1CcvaiN-O9gnA/s250/51d1G0WRajL__UY250_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="156" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlmqTw-qxYGVHqa6DQpZgTdyrAe_xqCHbbWa_bIossWGTQrx9jIx6gXXfChzrGY0nqBg61PDLzpR0ziv6HdBMlxZtajnPo_z3eQGAHMEP5wpPiV-7r2WF5RdoOpd7bwD53X94gBJf7mN3zjlI79bMUTCoMzpvUr1nc6q80FvnvYMXgP1CcvaiN-O9gnA/s1600/51d1G0WRajL__UY250_.jpg" width="156" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><br /><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhear-zSz651k4lFlsikMOQaJkmvAJumJY4g-2jlyYuU28bUaCaSRzCv31Xy-EfWYO_MF9c2pcRVaNDCzPEg99DDKMsdCKknwRXPbjE8n92HoiRf-V-X35gAiUxg2sbo-Lswwem4fYy0s8L9Fk13fwznQ9IohmXbMia4F1zssulngTXfN63a2mi-BuNg/s1280/thumbnail_Sherlock%20Six%20-%20final%20draft%20(1).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="799" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhear-zSz651k4lFlsikMOQaJkmvAJumJY4g-2jlyYuU28bUaCaSRzCv31Xy-EfWYO_MF9c2pcRVaNDCzPEg99DDKMsdCKknwRXPbjE8n92HoiRf-V-X35gAiUxg2sbo-Lswwem4fYy0s8L9Fk13fwznQ9IohmXbMia4F1zssulngTXfN63a2mi-BuNg/s320/thumbnail_Sherlock%20Six%20-%20final%20draft%20(1).jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p></p>stephen gasparhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04304511252320058397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111766123201786757.post-53663416372855416552023-11-07T17:47:00.000-08:002023-11-07T17:47:39.678-08:00Sherlock Holmes & Cliff's Edge<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Holmes-Baker-Street-Adventures-Sherlock-ebook/dp/B0C6KYTFCR/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1699407714&sr=1-1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1568" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pt7Yz8g9DtoWG4T-rmGHrszGnh32bxaurY5umOoKywQrR8B0dh7grgEz51LzzSrKnarYJB74KIArN4CnB85ioF0iN0001Ybxb1m-VdaM_3_gRdZ_9ozc_FOtY8NMxQd1brNHQw54KE-7vioR8jyjjdvAJRuKvDKo8vV6eVBEOBpFRTxUG_AmIE5Ywg/s320/cover%201%20A.jpg" width="203" /></a></div> <span style="font-size: large;">The Mystery of Cliff's Edge is one of the many adventures of Sherlock Holmes in my latest book, Holmes of Baker Street. In it, we see a very unexpected return of a character from one of the original stories by ACD.</span><p></p><div><span style="font-size: large;">Here is the opening to The Mystery of Cliff's Edge. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 22pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;">O</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;">n a lovely September day in
1903, Sherlock Holmes and I were sitting in our Baker Street sitting room. I
had taken up a position by the window and was reading Joseph Conrad’s <i>Heart
of Darkness</i>, while Holmes was rummaging through his files of past cases. We
had been occupying the room for over an hour without saying a word, as befits
two men of a long-standing friendship who were quite comfortable not having to
spend every moment together filling the air with inestimable chatter. </span></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> I lowered the book in deep thought and
gazed about the room.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> After
several minutes, without any provocation of which I was aware, Sherlock Holmes
said, “I certainly hope, Watson, that we have had a positive effect and or
influence on the many clients and individuals with whom we have come in contact
over the years on the cases we have shared.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I regarded my friend with astonishment.
“How could you know I was reflecting on past cases and clients? I have been
silently reading my book all this while without a word.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Holmes smiled and continued organizing his
papers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “You were reading Conrad’s <i>Heart of
Darkness</i>, which is I recall a man’s journey down a river in Africa.
Something made you think of Afghanistan, and you turned to the skin of the
swamp adder pinned to the wall, and then to the thin stick I used on it. Your
eyes then rested on Sir Henry Baskerville’s muddy boot I keep as a memento atop
the bookcase. Just beneath, on the top shelf of the bookcase is the old volume
on the writings of Brother Thomas of Worms I received in the service of his
holiness, the Pope. Then your gaze came to rest on the gold snuff box given to
me by the King of Bohemia. You were obviously thinking of all our past cases
and the many memorable characters. So, I ask again: do you believe our clients
are better off from their experience with us?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> It
was a thoughtful question and one that had caught me quite off guard. I laid
aside my book and considered Holmes’s question.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> “To
be totally honest, Holmes, I have thought little of the lives of the
characters, clients, and villains that we have encountered. I have, as you well
know, recorded the events, but afterward, once the case was over, I gave little
or no thought to those people we had met. But if I interpret your meaning, I
have no doubt that most, if not all the people we have met have had their lives
changed by our intervention. I am sure that Jabez Wilson is much more careful
with the employees he hires, and does not offer too little pay, whereas Violet Hunter
is wary of being offered too much. You saved James McCarthy of Boscombe Valley
from prison, allowing him to marry Miss Turner. They are, I trust, enjoying a
happy union. You also kept John Hector McFarlane from being found guilty of
murdering Jonas Oldacre. Neville St. Clair is, undoubtedly, more at ease not
having to live a double life. Helen Stoner leads a less fearful existence after
her maniacal stepfather met his end. My old school chum Percy Phelps faced ruin
and disgrace but was vindicated after you recovered the stolen treaty. You were
able to prevent doomed marriages for two Violets: Smith and de Merville. As for
Irene Adler….”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> I
paused not knowing what to say, as I knew Holmes still held the lady in high
regard.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> “I
need not say more,” I said.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> “So,
it is your opinion that our delving into the lives of these people has had a
positive result?” he asked.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Don’t
you think it has?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> “Sometimes
one never knows if other’s lives are better for having known us.” Here Holmes
fell silent in thought. “Not all my cases have been successes, I’m afraid. I
failed John Openshaw and Hilton Cubitt. We were not able to bring Victor
Hatherly’s mutilator to justice, nor were we ever to bring Mr. Blessington’s
executioners to stand trial for their crime. Do you remember <i>The Cornish
Horror</i>? In that case, I was not able to capture the killer of the three
Tregennises, nor was the killer’s killer brought to justice.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> “That
is because you decided to let him go.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> “I
still believe it was the right thing to do.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> “Of
course, you do. You do not shy from elevating yourself above the law.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> “Let
us not have this discussion again.” </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> Our
conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"> “Come
in Mrs. Hudson,” Holmes called out.</span> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Stephen Gaspar's books can be found on Amazon.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcZEQha_78QecPmcYQilDeSwhOoHvs96DqKDpifgSgH2V_hqNZLtQmS7zwTk9DaQYb36t-4kl4hnwFEweq-DiQcHdkq_WOoHf5HSxzOoQTTr1zxomYcgvlYkJ24rK4lCMYG3_MzdGLeIJNRnFgE5bJ1PfyNvSRAo6vQaDZTMbTC76ap4lnOkzao0h6Q/s800/cash3.jpg" style="clear: left; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcZEQha_78QecPmcYQilDeSwhOoHvs96DqKDpifgSgH2V_hqNZLtQmS7zwTk9DaQYb36t-4kl4hnwFEweq-DiQcHdkq_WOoHf5HSxzOoQTTr1zxomYcgvlYkJ24rK4lCMYG3_MzdGLeIJNRnFgE5bJ1PfyNvSRAo6vQaDZTMbTC76ap4lnOkzao0h6Q/s320/cash3.jpg" width="200" /></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhear-zSz651k4lFlsikMOQaJkmvAJumJY4g-2jlyYuU28bUaCaSRzCv31Xy-EfWYO_MF9c2pcRVaNDCzPEg99DDKMsdCKknwRXPbjE8n92HoiRf-V-X35gAiUxg2sbo-Lswwem4fYy0s8L9Fk13fwznQ9IohmXbMia4F1zssulngTXfN63a2mi-BuNg/s1280/thumbnail_Sherlock%20Six%20-%20final%20draft%20(1).jpg" style="clear: left; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="799" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhear-zSz651k4lFlsikMOQaJkmvAJumJY4g-2jlyYuU28bUaCaSRzCv31Xy-EfWYO_MF9c2pcRVaNDCzPEg99DDKMsdCKknwRXPbjE8n92HoiRf-V-X35gAiUxg2sbo-Lswwem4fYy0s8L9Fk13fwznQ9IohmXbMia4F1zssulngTXfN63a2mi-BuNg/s320/thumbnail_Sherlock%20Six%20-%20final%20draft%20(1).jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlmqTw-qxYGVHqa6DQpZgTdyrAe_xqCHbbWa_bIossWGTQrx9jIx6gXXfChzrGY0nqBg61PDLzpR0ziv6HdBMlxZtajnPo_z3eQGAHMEP5wpPiV-7r2WF5RdoOpd7bwD53X94gBJf7mN3zjlI79bMUTCoMzpvUr1nc6q80FvnvYMXgP1CcvaiN-O9gnA/s250/51d1G0WRajL__UY250_.jpg" style="clear: right; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="156" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlmqTw-qxYGVHqa6DQpZgTdyrAe_xqCHbbWa_bIossWGTQrx9jIx6gXXfChzrGY0nqBg61PDLzpR0ziv6HdBMlxZtajnPo_z3eQGAHMEP5wpPiV-7r2WF5RdoOpd7bwD53X94gBJf7mN3zjlI79bMUTCoMzpvUr1nc6q80FvnvYMXgP1CcvaiN-O9gnA/s1600/51d1G0WRajL__UY250_.jpg" width="156" /></a></div>stephen gasparhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04304511252320058397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111766123201786757.post-51421074602633024082023-10-24T14:11:00.003-07:002023-11-03T11:44:53.869-07:00Sherlock Holmes and The Abergavenny Murder<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stephen+gaspar&i=stripbooks-intl-ship&crid=18LZNXCBE2X57&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C121&ref=nb_sb_noss_1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1561" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmqh8ng72rC_a2a4zKnzusdQT9Q9XUuHY9Yktbte0Moo57krwC_fs2I9pCGvZFFmJPZ3PCHM9K2wK4vD6CK-3m-1gqSchYixz0bHU01_q4SCtYVyPyCheg1eS1zo5dFr-X-6atWVdHvmkJgL7qN0TZaayFxuFsMbxiIO_CNMUP_p5oSfsfm-ZfS0spA/s320/final%20cover%20alt%201.jpg" width="202" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">In <i>The Adventure of the Priory School </i>(1904),
Dr. Huxtable requests Holmes come to his school in Mackleton. Holmes shakes his
head and says, </span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">“My colleague, Dr.
Watson, could tell you that we are very busy at present. I am retained in this
case of the Ferrers Documents, and the Abergavenny murder is coming up for
trial.”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Now fans can discover the mystery of The Abergavenny Murder in Holmes of Baker Street.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Here is the opening to The Abergavenny Murder.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">I</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">f there was a man who had
earned the reputation as the foremost expert on crime, that man was, indeed,
Sherlock Holmes. The London detective would have been the first to admit that
this distinction was only too true. It was not that Holmes was boastful or
arrogant, it was simply that he believed in his own talent and abilities, and
to overestimate or underestimate either would not be truthful or accurate. He
was often obsessed with truth and accuracy. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> He
made it a point to study not only the history of crime but also recent criminal
acts at home and abroad. Holmes personally stayed in contact with police
detectives in several countries around the world—from Belgium to Brazil and
from Cameroon to Canada. In his catalogue of crime, there were hundreds of
modes of murder, robbery, kidnapping, confidence games, blackmail, forgery, and
others. He went to great lengths to collect newspaper clippings of crimes and
for each, he made comprehensive notes calling attention to certain details of
the case. This would allow him to hear the features of a more recent crime, and
make a conclusion based on the study of similar cases, not unlike a doctor who
listens to the symptoms of a patient and accurately diagnoses the illness. But
Holmes was not a doctor, nor was he a private detective; he was a consulting
detective, perhaps the only one in the world. He was the man that detectives
went to see when they were in a fog, or over their heads regarding a case. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> To
aid him in his work, Holmes studied human beings and was very aware of human
foibles and vices, and things that motivated people. I would not classify
Holmes as a lover, but he knew that love was a strong emotion that could easily
lead a man or woman to perform acts they would not normally do if that emotion
was not involved. Though he seldom demonstrated them himself, Holmes understood
human emotions such as fear, vengefulness, hatred, and greed, and how these
emotions led to criminal acts.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> He
continually acquired vast amounts of specialized knowledge. Holmes would
sometimes say; <i>A man should keep his little brain-attic stocked with the
furniture that he is likely to use, and the rest he can put away in the
lumber-room of his library, where he can get it if he wants it.</i> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> However,
Holmes had also once said that it was not possible for a man to possess all
knowledge, so he endeavoured to store up a great deal of knowledge that aided
him in his work. He was well up on human anatomy, chemistry, and psychology. He
made a comprehensive study of tobacco ash, bicycle tires, printed type,
handwriting, tattoos, old documents, and secret codes.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> But
of course, he fell short of possessing all knowledge. Even the Encyclopedia
Britannica did not possess all knowledge.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> It
was early in May 1901 and Holmes, and I had just finished our lunch. It was a
beautiful spring day, but the weather was of little interest to Holmes, who sat
around restlessly in his mouse-coloured dressing gown, his gray eyes mere
slits, and his chin sunk upon his chest. For months on end, the great detective
had had little with which to scintillate his brilliant mind. ‘Trivialities and
stagnation’ was the phrase he uttered almost daily. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> “Nothing
in the papers, Watson?” he said, his gaze fixed upon the ceiling. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">All of Stephen Gaspar's books can be found on Amazon!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcZEQha_78QecPmcYQilDeSwhOoHvs96DqKDpifgSgH2V_hqNZLtQmS7zwTk9DaQYb36t-4kl4hnwFEweq-DiQcHdkq_WOoHf5HSxzOoQTTr1zxomYcgvlYkJ24rK4lCMYG3_MzdGLeIJNRnFgE5bJ1PfyNvSRAo6vQaDZTMbTC76ap4lnOkzao0h6Q/s800/cash3.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcZEQha_78QecPmcYQilDeSwhOoHvs96DqKDpifgSgH2V_hqNZLtQmS7zwTk9DaQYb36t-4kl4hnwFEweq-DiQcHdkq_WOoHf5HSxzOoQTTr1zxomYcgvlYkJ24rK4lCMYG3_MzdGLeIJNRnFgE5bJ1PfyNvSRAo6vQaDZTMbTC76ap4lnOkzao0h6Q/s320/cash3.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlmqTw-qxYGVHqa6DQpZgTdyrAe_xqCHbbWa_bIossWGTQrx9jIx6gXXfChzrGY0nqBg61PDLzpR0ziv6HdBMlxZtajnPo_z3eQGAHMEP5wpPiV-7r2WF5RdoOpd7bwD53X94gBJf7mN3zjlI79bMUTCoMzpvUr1nc6q80FvnvYMXgP1CcvaiN-O9gnA/s250/51d1G0WRajL__UY250_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="156" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlmqTw-qxYGVHqa6DQpZgTdyrAe_xqCHbbWa_bIossWGTQrx9jIx6gXXfChzrGY0nqBg61PDLzpR0ziv6HdBMlxZtajnPo_z3eQGAHMEP5wpPiV-7r2WF5RdoOpd7bwD53X94gBJf7mN3zjlI79bMUTCoMzpvUr1nc6q80FvnvYMXgP1CcvaiN-O9gnA/s1600/51d1G0WRajL__UY250_.jpg" width="156" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhear-zSz651k4lFlsikMOQaJkmvAJumJY4g-2jlyYuU28bUaCaSRzCv31Xy-EfWYO_MF9c2pcRVaNDCzPEg99DDKMsdCKknwRXPbjE8n92HoiRf-V-X35gAiUxg2sbo-Lswwem4fYy0s8L9Fk13fwznQ9IohmXbMia4F1zssulngTXfN63a2mi-BuNg/s1280/thumbnail_Sherlock%20Six%20-%20final%20draft%20(1).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="799" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhear-zSz651k4lFlsikMOQaJkmvAJumJY4g-2jlyYuU28bUaCaSRzCv31Xy-EfWYO_MF9c2pcRVaNDCzPEg99DDKMsdCKknwRXPbjE8n92HoiRf-V-X35gAiUxg2sbo-Lswwem4fYy0s8L9Fk13fwznQ9IohmXbMia4F1zssulngTXfN63a2mi-BuNg/s320/thumbnail_Sherlock%20Six%20-%20final%20draft%20(1).jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 14px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p>stephen gasparhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04304511252320058397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111766123201786757.post-6064481364190270472023-09-28T05:37:00.000-07:002023-09-28T05:37:40.229-07:00A Study in Scarlet<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLE81Ggces-iave7xrYGihx--aQNlIim9-SSH8KuV6jNZPElAyWcMl-BX7dMM-201abG_SIw2pPNtlesnB4okVVNg9llJJKmJnO1ye28Tjw8-aUBSlrW3g03zvYIT-v_MJp6PxRKPNROiNkIr1_FPySFxlXsi2oYBh-X6VS56Vqu-QAzr4QBLsG9oRMQ/s400/ArthurConanDoyle_AStudyInScarlet_annual.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="257" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLE81Ggces-iave7xrYGihx--aQNlIim9-SSH8KuV6jNZPElAyWcMl-BX7dMM-201abG_SIw2pPNtlesnB4okVVNg9llJJKmJnO1ye28Tjw8-aUBSlrW3g03zvYIT-v_MJp6PxRKPNROiNkIr1_FPySFxlXsi2oYBh-X6VS56Vqu-QAzr4QBLsG9oRMQ/s320/ArthurConanDoyle_AStudyInScarlet_annual.jpg" width="206" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">This November will be the 136th anniversary of the first appearance of Sherlock Holmes in Print. <i>A Study in Scarlet </i>was published in Beeton's Christmas Annual in 1887. <span style="color: black;">It is now a rare collectible and considered the most expensive magazine in the world, with </span></span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">a <i>Beeton's</i> 1887 selling for $156,000 at Sotheby's in 2007. </span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Holmes-Baker-Street-Adventures-Sherlock-ebook/dp/B0C6KYTFCR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1U46WBDRSVS2V&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1687645508&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C118&sr=1-1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1561" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifWOTUcFCR6cJTdvB7IlueYhPEIGMYa2lAVESdKli6hzM385jOvgklsqgwDbCrUNOfw0UhfbvdvJxOcesoHP5cxAomqhdCW4Jn2SsnJsAhjk3dfOH8-0A4ba6KJOZbF52wRLcQttlvTKdNXaEe_s7mHXO0A8GL2NNsx9QoxnOePnMpF2ogMOkcl9Ux_A/s320/final%20cover%20alt%201.jpg" width="202" /></span></a></div><div><div><p></p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><i>Beeton's Christmas Annual</i> was a paperback magazine published from 1860 (volume 1) through 1898 (volume 39). Each issue also carried a distinctive title reflecting that season's contents. The 1887 edition, entitled "A Study in Scarlet," was approximately 8.5" x 5.5" and had color pictorial wrappers (cover). It was issued in November at a price of one shilling and sold out before Christmas.</span></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherlock-Six-NEW-Tales-Holmes/dp/B095GSG4DY/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1687645508&sr=1-5" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><strike><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="200" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvpkb4-Fw4K7YWVYOsIqOlJXnGYhg_hazwoK3saT4rH_weAjOw0ZlP_fKnD6OQS9d3o2GHFgT3oLzCDnlYMxKb3oUPW1Vv4pFBwF8SdA0dQF270XVfgIDCVxyqO_y_GV-KBhoHZaDR03fXlxIC6d_wko5Y_dJb1J2xORe3iIOipQnz0vjxeWHg1atHFA/w200-h335/thumbnail_Sherlock%20Six%20-%20final%20draft%20(1).jpg" width="200" /></strike></a><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic;">A Study in Scarlet</span> was the first Sherlock Holmes story, written in 1887 by 27-year-old Conan Doyle. <br />Though Conan Doyle would go on to write 56 short stories of Holmes,<span style="font-style: italic;"> A Study in Scarlet</span> was the first of only four full-length novels the author would write.<br />Though not perhaps the most popular Sherlock Holmes story, <span style="font-style: italic;">A Study in Scarlet</span> was the first and so deserves considerable consideration.<br />The story is divided into two parts. The first part introduces the reader to Holmes and Watson and a couple of murders. The second part tells the tale of what led to the murders. This formula would be repeated in The Sign of Four and The Valley of Fear, two other full-length stories. Most of Conan Doyle's short stories of Sherlock Holmes would also use this same formula to some extent.</span><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Canadian-Adventures-Sherlock-Holmes-ebook/dp/B007PHZVIM/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1U46WBDRSVS2V&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1687645508&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C118&sr=1-4" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: times; font-size: x-large; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1125" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizb5Gib-JrxqneSpPrHFCsoxw0vFxNWyx3BZ5683BL8TC8lX82NM0kRlIHyExAbgWOHbOkIgrfW3K1OQZRhYB0l6HkCulK6-CrgM1xMN8HbagU54bGc3pbostfHevpD57w1gl4KeVSI21Zf95tNl63GlXV4FXVJ_TcNA0V_q3T265xfqcRqK5cid0OOw/w200-h318/82510223_10213225241383894_7674080046680973755_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">My second Sherlock Holmes mystery, <b>Cold-Hearted Murder</b> is an homage to <i>A Study in Scarlet</i>; the first half of the story has Holmes and Watson investigating a series of bizarre murders in London, and the second half tells the remarkable story of what led up to these crimes. In <i>A Study in Scarlet </i>the backstory takes place in the American West, while in <b>Cold-Hearted Murder</b> the backstory is set during the Great Klondike Gold Rush in the Canadian North-West.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwUWcnQ4JMd8gjmhke_t-keFruVFPk_UqWoAYHjmeXchCQgQnHrK52yRQX2NuH516aRDPkHpZa5_sPKi_SXXhqo5aaobQcl2xI08BjdBaf4Dr09eoeWwZMOZbDpW8tLHajqtPMss88eW3UzYvMs57BHFidUvwKiNfnmE95qcx5GTzw-jvUyhBIqGV17w/s800/ColdHeartedMurder3.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwUWcnQ4JMd8gjmhke_t-keFruVFPk_UqWoAYHjmeXchCQgQnHrK52yRQX2NuH516aRDPkHpZa5_sPKi_SXXhqo5aaobQcl2xI08BjdBaf4Dr09eoeWwZMOZbDpW8tLHajqtPMss88eW3UzYvMs57BHFidUvwKiNfnmE95qcx5GTzw-jvUyhBIqGV17w/s320/ColdHeartedMurder3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stephen+gaspar&i=stripbooks-intl-ship&ref=nb_sb_noss"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">All of Stephen Gaspar's</span></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stephen+gaspar&i=stripbooks-intl-ship&ref=nb_sb_noss"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> books can be found on Amazon! click here!</span></a> </p></div></div></div>stephen gasparhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04304511252320058397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111766123201786757.post-79224378715916965062023-09-14T10:22:00.000-07:002023-09-14T10:22:45.942-07:00The Hound of the Baskervilles<div class="separator"><br /></div><p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfz8KBypvBnOCvaSQ7XfTOjFo_NSFKAFodEiKXqyo69jaup_6d5CQQDoXdrbX79SpFW3zdSU-y7lEC5wq5rIWjso3ZYkJUjwDT5wrgkwdtYOTrhb46Sdvijw3lg7Sog-ABZdT31UX07muQujaH2_VafZfg5Zkbmdeswiib1rV-5K_dJGcnjMjHGUGprA/s520/Cover_(Hound_of_Baskervilles,_1902).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="330" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfz8KBypvBnOCvaSQ7XfTOjFo_NSFKAFodEiKXqyo69jaup_6d5CQQDoXdrbX79SpFW3zdSU-y7lEC5wq5rIWjso3ZYkJUjwDT5wrgkwdtYOTrhb46Sdvijw3lg7Sog-ABZdT31UX07muQujaH2_VafZfg5Zkbmdeswiib1rV-5K_dJGcnjMjHGUGprA/s320/Cover_(Hound_of_Baskervilles,_1902).jpg" width="203" /></a></span></span></div><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Of the four novel-length Sherlock Holmes stories Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote, one stands out, and that one, I believe is The Hound of the Baskervilles (1902). The other three contain, in some cases, lengthy backstories where Holmes is absent. This absence from the story does not always sit well with Holmesians. When we read a Holmes story we expect… Holmes. </span></span><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-0ecb54fe-7fff-f541-a38d-66f2f256a14d"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">To be honest, the Baskerville story does have a good portion of the story where Holmes is offstage, but I believe the author makes up for it rather well.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Before I get into the story I wish to inform the reader that I will not be quoting or referring to scholars who have studied the story much more than I. Rather, I will be focusing on Doyle’s story, his words, plotting, and setting.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Let me start with the beginning of the story, set in London c. 1889. Here is Holmes at his best from reconstructing Dr. Mortimer from his walking stick to some other great detective work; the warning letter to Sir Henry, the missing boot, trailing Sir Henry on the street, and the questioning of the cabman. All good stuff. This section also has the lengthy legend of the hound and the details of Sir Charles’s death. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Now we come to the middle section which I estimate to be about ⅜ </span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">of the story. In lieu of Holmes’s absence, Doyle fills Dartmoor with a fine cast of characters, Dr. Mortimer and Sir Henry (whom we have already met). Watson says this about Sir Henry.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">… how true a descendant he was of that long line of high-blooded, fiery, and masterful men. There were pride, valour, and strength in his thick brows, his sensitive nostrils, and his large hazel eyes. If on that forbidding moor a difficult and dangerous quest should lie before us, this was at least a comrade for whom one might venture to take a risk with the certainty that he would bravely share it. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Of Dr. Mortimer we know little, save for the fact that he is married, likes to dig up old skulls, and knows the details of Sir Charles's death.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Hearted-Murder-Sherlock-Holmes-Myster-ebook/dp/B0BQKBDJHD/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1PHVZV7AJYV1A&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1693758846&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C261&sr=1-2" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkeaB-9Z3amy2uXIoi5UCww9g-lWgUEQKT8mYLtsnitKXasVICZxmxo9cHwfeRaFL9KeJfalZrKg468epXEqMxengBWpZ12m_a7IVdIaIwUmKTE4YJ4glVFv60MiAiSj-pToUrRLdTRtPIuDGGpm-qk8piNvLcvUZSrygg2oWeMneQls3PB4RpJRztwg/s320/ColdHeartedMurder3.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">There is the naturalist, Jack Stapleton, </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">… was neutral tinted, with light hair and grey eyes,</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">… who exhibits </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">… extraordinary energy and speed …</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">… and there is his sister </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">[Beryl]</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, who is said to be a young lady of attractions.</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> … </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">she was darker than any brunette whom I have seen in England—slim, elegant, and tall. She had a proud, finely cut face, so regular that it might have seemed impassive were it not for the sensitive mouth and the beautiful dark, eager eyes. With her perfect figure and elegant dress she was, indeed, a strange apparition upon a lonely moorland path.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Another interesting pair is the dark, somewhat morose Barrymores, John, the watchful husband who suspiciously prowls the Hall late at night, and sad wife who was heard crying in the night. </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">He was a remarkable-looking man, tall, handsome, with a square black beard and pale, distinguished features.</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> And his wife Eliza. </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">She is a heavy, solid person, very limited, intensely respectable, and inclined to be puritanical.</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> The Barrymore family and the Baskervilles go back generations.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Mr. Frankland, of Lafter Hall, <i>is an elderly man, red-faced, white-haired, and choleric. His passion is for the British law, and he has spent a large fortune in litigation. He fights for the mere pleasure of fighting and is equally ready to take up either side of a question, so that it is no wonder that he has found it a costly amusement.</i> He is sometimes burned in effigy by villagers. Frankland<i> is learned in old manorial and communal rights.</i> He keeps a watchful eye on the moor with the telescope perched up on the roof of Lafter Hall.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The escaped convict lends a malevolence to the mystery. Selden committed a murder of </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">peculiar ferocity … and the wanton brutality …. Somewhere there, on that desolate plain, was lurking this fiendish man, hiding in a burrow like a wild beast, his heart full of malignancy against the whole race which had cast him out. </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">His appearance lived up to his reputation. <i>... </i></span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><i>an evil yellow face, a terrible animal face, all seamed and scored with vile passions. Foul with mire, with a bristling beard, and hung with matted hair, it might well have belonged to one of those old savages ...</i></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">How could anyone feel safe on the moor?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Holmes-Baker-Street-Adventures-Sherlock-ebook/dp/B0C6KYTFCR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1PHVZV7AJYV1A&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1693758734&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C261&sr=1-1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1561" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMNXj-8eGnflKgHpnVTizPIFcW8TF8ZWJkVzIk0KqKnB0og9Ekoly56woD-t3-7t5Nbe_otqqsZYGQQuJFHA7ewPiFMdXnLw00tiNBZ-4A7n6C88vy7CGwiKOJK2ipv-eV4syHd4_5sDKr83-nA8KvoiBCunG9v7EGI_9rL7tR_dX_sYtPTYXYExrmg/s320/final%20cover%20alt%201.jpg" width="202" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Laura Lyons appears as a mysterious tragic character whom we discover more than half way through the story. She is another female character <i>of extreme beauty. </i></span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><i>Her eyes and hair were of the same rich hazel colour, and her cheeks, though considerably freckled, were flushed with the exquisite bloom of the brunette, the dainty pink which lurks at the heart of the sulphur rose. </i>Afterwards, Watson modifies his assessment. </span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><i>There was something subtly wrong with the face, some coarseness of expression, some hardness, perhaps, of eye, some looseness of lip which marred its perfect beauty. </i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">So there are our characters, all suspicious and hiding some deep, dark secret, but there is one more character, perhaps the most important of all, and that is the moor itself. Doyle’s description of the landscape is so vivid, that the moorland practically takes on a life of its own. Or, as Watson writes, </span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><i>The longer one stays here the more does the spirit of the moor sink into one’s soul, its vastness, and also its grim charm.</i></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"> </span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">The moor is crucial in setting the mood and I do not believe the author ever duplicated it as well in any of his Holmes stories. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Over the green squares of the fields and the low curve of a wood there rose in the distance a grey, melancholy hill, with a strange jagged summit, dim and vague in the distance, like some fantastic landscape in a dream.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Rolling pasture lands curved upward on either side of us, and old gabled houses peeped out from amid the thick green foliage, but behind the peaceful and sunlit countryside there rose ever, dark against the evening sky, the long, gloomy curve of the moor, broken by the jagged and sinister hills.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">... we curved upward through deep lanes worn by centuries of wheels, high banks on either side, heavy with dripping moss and fleshy hart’s-tongue ferns. Bronzing bracken and mottled bramble gleamed in the light of the sinking sun. Still steadily rising, we passed over a narrow granite bridge and skirted a noisy stream which gushed swiftly down, foaming and roaring amid the grey boulders. Both road and stream wound up through a valley dense with scrub oak and fir. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherlock-Six-New-Tales-Holmes-ebook/dp/B09764LK3F/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1PHVZV7AJYV1A&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1693758846&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C261&sr=1-4" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8gnEFHbB5DIoqFgPlnpShZdl17XtGUrj80VCV_zxLL5F559a2eHFrKaEBqLO7HbVlb00v4luL__0I32e-tfqHHMaTej0dwWl121vozahKS0OYhVNFtCxglOgWR2qCywBJhPgWzY9N-a35JRYr7HCjt0Y7GFULa2S6DeoIhndsCuL3F_AAEKLcjmb0jQ/s320/thumbnail_Sherlock%206%20-%202nd%20version%20.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Our wagonette had topped a rise and in front of us rose the huge expanse of the moor, mottled with gnarled and craggy cairns and tors. A cold wind swept down from it and set us shivering.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The road in front of us grew bleaker and wilder over huge russet and olive slopes, sprinkled with giant boulders. Now and then we passed a moorland cottage, walled and roofed with stone, with no creeper to break its harsh outline.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It came with the wind through the silence of the night, a long, deep mutter, then a rising howl, and then the sad moan in which it died away. Again and again it sounded, the whole air throbbing with it, strident, wild, and menacing. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Baskerville Hall itself created a certain ambiance that lent a certain gothic foreboding.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Through the gateway we passed into the avenue, where the wheels were again hushed amid the leaves, and the old trees shot their branches in a sombre tunnel over our heads. Baskerville shuddered as he looked up the long, dark drive to where the house glimmered like a ghost at the farther end.</span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Sir Henry uttered: “<i>It’s enough to scare any man.</i>” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">… we found ourselves, large, lofty, and heavily raftered with huge baulks of age-blackened oak. In the great old-fashioned fireplace behind the high iron dogs a log-fire crackled and snapped. Sir Henry and I held out our hands to it, for we were numb from our long drive. Then we gazed round us at the high, thin window of old stained glass, the oak panelling, the stags’ heads, the coats of arms upon the walls, all dim and sombre in the subdued light of the central lamp.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Canadian-Adventures-Sherlock-Holmes/dp/197790176X/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1PHVZV7AJYV1A&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1693758846&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C261&sr=1-3" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGzM5YRAFcK_Bnu8c7yiMC0rpX03rgkHZuuDMOaYOA1fj-7OyUi6bA9R5ybnKPlMvLA7ZM1vUS3qKB4VshyeqYYkOJBxdV48wTeI9FXN6R8-nKNHPH-mZ4uxoc8wWdLf0Jha8F-exOePUrConRX9JFMo8-f2HHFgvNH_7hRStbk5Mm94x8lOrmmIS6Fw/s320/cash3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Black beams shot across above our heads, with a smoke-darkened ceiling beyond them. With rows of flaring torches to light it up, and the colour and rude hilarity of an old-time banquet, it might have softened; but now, when two black-clothed gentlemen sat in the little circle of light thrown by a shaded lamp, one’s voice became hushed and one’s spirit subdued. A dim line of ancestors, in every variety of dress, from the Elizabethan knight to the buck of the Regency, stared down upon us and daunted us by their silent company.</span></span></span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i><br /></i></span></span><span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Finally, Holmes makes a reappearance in the story, and we are relieved by his presence. He has secretly been on the moor practically the entire time. Loose ends are tied up and he solves the mystery. One could do worse than revisit The Hound of the Baskervilles even though Holmes is absent for a good part of the story. It is perhaps the most famous story in the canon.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">If you haven’t seen my blog focusing on the points of interest on the moor around Baskerville Hall, here is the link. </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1111766123201786757/2802328256322348665" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1111766123201786757/2802328256322348665</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p></span></span><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stephen+gaspar&i=stripbooks-intl-ship&crid=2EQ56QDLL5103&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C175&ref=nb_sb_noss_1" style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large; text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;">Stephen Gaspar's books can be found on Amazon!</a></div></span></blockquote></blockquote><span><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><p> </p></div>stephen gasparhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04304511252320058397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111766123201786757.post-28023282563223486652023-08-24T14:00:00.146-07:002023-08-30T07:30:20.099-07:00Baskerville Hall & Grimpen<p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">(Contains Spoilers!) </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgckQ4dZ7nUHlt2jcqESKNglQkQeJSoEMloihkMg5LMZPKtNNGCrV-YM1mhwu4Al9o86ItJbLYc9GklzWZm0QQG5KeUpS4OgnizXAADlgxhS9UpQqzsNooAybPBUTKV7eqI1ImMp7gyf4sxjcFsVCq5pXJnijorVnHllVDMdaPOwd0WT1EJe-YyzjUm9w" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="637" data-original-width="1200" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgckQ4dZ7nUHlt2jcqESKNglQkQeJSoEMloihkMg5LMZPKtNNGCrV-YM1mhwu4Al9o86ItJbLYc9GklzWZm0QQG5KeUpS4OgnizXAADlgxhS9UpQqzsNooAybPBUTKV7eqI1ImMp7gyf4sxjcFsVCq5pXJnijorVnHllVDMdaPOwd0WT1EJe-YyzjUm9w=w200-h106" width="200" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> After Dr. Mortimer came to consult Sherlock Holmes on the death of Sir Charles Baskerville and the legend of the hound, Holmes <i>"... </i></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;">sent down to Stamford’s for the Ordnance map of this portion of the moor... </span></i></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;">I flatter myself that I could find my way about.” </span></i></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Using a similar map, I have labelled points of interest so we all may be as well familiarized with the moor as the London detective. The map can be found at the bottom of the page.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b>No. 1 Baskerville Hall</b> If Sir Henry is correct, ...<span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><i>the same hall in which for five hundred years my people have lived, </i>then circa 1400 AD would mark the hall's origin. Baskerville Hall sat in </span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><i>a cuplike depression, patched with stunted oaks and firs which had been twisted and bent by the fury of years of storm.</i></span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"> It had two high, narrow towers, wrought iron gates, </span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><i>with weather-bitten pillars on either side, blotched with lichens, and surmounted by the boars’ heads of the Baskervilles.</i> In the front drive </span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><i>old trees shot their branches in a sombre tunnel over our heads ... </i></span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><i>The whole front was draped in ivy, with a patch clipped bare here and there where a window or a coat of arms broke through the dark veil.</i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Hearted-Murder-Sherlock-Holmes-Myster-ebook/dp/B0BQKBDJHD/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2EQ56QDLL5103&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1692750125&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C175&sr=1-2" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi17eX7OPcsQIy3oznjsa0e6zO7eFHRLqF1sqX5Mbvc-HULjdsvFXGq_MeKwODutZDXugKqICcVMFuw1MDTn0SGmvgFi4JJka4vm-dPUJRK34VVlmIj2LVGmRHLO_CIBYvgU8GzgGaQI5_hwNcOIUSVvFKN7QlK3GjUj9WhpAQEX2bInK_yFNl6JPVJQ/s320/ColdHeartedMurder3.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b>No. 2 Yew Alley </b>A well-known walkway lined with soft gravel eight feet across and a six-foot stretch of grass on each side. This alley was enclosed on each side with an impenetrable twelve-foot high yew hedge, "... <i>with the moor, as you perceive, upon the right of it..."</i> When Sir Henry first arrives at the main gate of Baskerville Hall, he looks up at the long dark drive and asks Dr. Mortimer, <i>"Was it here?"</i> in regards to where his uncle died. Mortimer replies, </span></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><i><span style="text-align: justify;">“No, no, the Yew Alley is on the other side.”</span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span></i></span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><b>No. 3 Wicket-gate or Moor-gate </b></span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><i>...</i></span></span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>a white wooden gate with a latch ...</i></span></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"> is halfway down the Yew Alley and leads onto the moor. The gate was only four feet high... low enough for a large hound to leap over. It was here that Dr. Mortimer suggests that Sir Charles stood smoking a cigar on the fateful night of his death. <i>"... </i></span></span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>Then, again, whom was he waiting for that night, and why was he waiting for him in the Yew Alley rather than in his own house?”</i></span></span></p><p><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b>No. 4 Sir Charles's dead body</b> was found near the end of the Yew Alley. <i>"... </i></span></span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>Sir Charles lay on his face, his arms out, his fingers dug into the ground, and his features convulsed with some strong emotion..."</i></span></span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> It was determined that he ran from the gate to this spot. "<i>... </i></span></span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>he ran with cries for help in the direction where help was least likely to be ...."</i></span></span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Dr. Mortimer observed the marks of a great hound </span></span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">about twenty yards from Sir Charles's body. The body lay fifty yards from ... </span></span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>an old tumble-down summer-house ... </i>at the far end of Yew Alley<i>.</i></span></span></p><p><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Holmes-Baker-Street-Adventures-Sherlock-ebook/dp/B0C6KYTFCR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2EQ56QDLL5103&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1692750360&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C175&sr=1-1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_IPlUPf71gFsx7z9aPgL1HnePiPKa92-mN2eauFBkJiukfkEXF5ZFqG9GVMF1QXY02RRNZ8-H0XulIGYXmSpkH3erE04C0bWgaBoNS_NauTRp_Fw23MPNH7gJHp1vczNREyHhUEA6kR7mSS6zXMc4LfP74XIdNjmfxCtsWUAlxo7D3KvbZR-yRFOCEA/s320/kindle%20cover%201.jpg" width="209" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b>No. 5 Lafter Hall</b> The house of old Frankland the litigant, who lives four miles to the south of Baskerville Hall. From his telescope on the roof, Franklin could see a boy (Cartwright) taking supplies to someone (Holmes) at Black Tor.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><b>No. 6 Merripit House </b>"</span></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;">There is a house indicated here which may be the residence of the naturalist—Stapleton, if I remember right, was his name."</span></i></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large; text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times; text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;">Merripit House is </span><span style="font-family: times; text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><i>a bleak moorland house, once the farm of some grazier in the old prosperous days, but now put into repair and turned into a modern dwelling. An orchard surrounded it, but the trees, as is usual upon the moor, were stunted and nipped, and the effect of the whole place was mean and melancholy. </i>A wall and an outhouse sit out behind the house.<i> </i></span><b style="font-family: times; text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><i> </i> </b></span><b style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large; text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"> </b><b style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large; text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"> </b></p><p><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b>No. 7 Grimpen</b> "... </span></span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>This small clump of buildings here is the hamlet of Grimpen, where our friend Dr. Mortimer has his headquarters...." </i></span></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large; text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;">Watson visited the postmaster in Grimpen.</span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large; text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><b>No. 8 Coombe Tracey</b> Franklin's daughter, Laura Lyons lived and had a typewriting business in Coombe Tracey. Holmes </span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;">stayed for the most part at Coombe Tracey while on the case, and only used the hut upon the moor when it was necessary to be near the scene of action.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Canadian-Adventures-Sherlock-Holmes-ebook/dp/B007PHZVIM/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2EQ56QDLL5103&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1692750360&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C175&sr=1-5" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPvrO_SyI-ka9f0msX16GfwPnrle2oAeg8xWOkCkeZ_MgKxgJYDbXoZLV3xjKWhhFyM9D9ll1GGPyezH6pjw7bAjCx-FeDZXUQVb7GFEsUXUu8W8I18QavZrp_PiaiFicybd2Qt4rcdFi4pthSE8m5bDCF-zA1TcAHd1eFzeNNpo--IGRGHR3DfJD1Ig/s320/cash3.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b>No. 9 Black Tor</b> A tor is a hill or rocky peak. Watson went to Black Tor to discover the stranger seen there. Holmes had a temporary hut on Black Tor to be close to Sir Henry and to keep an eye on Stapleton.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><b>No. 10 Cleft Tor</b> Is where Selden the convict was hiding, hardly a mile or two from Baskerville Hall where Barrymore signalled him with a candle in the window. Watson and Sir Henry went to Cleft Tor one night to capture Selden. It was then they heard </span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><i>a long, deep mutter, then a rising howl, and then the sad moan in which it died away. Again and again it sounded, the whole air throbbing with it, strident, wild, and menacing. </i>Selden hurls a rock at them, and they pursue. The two see another man silhouetted against the moon. Selden likely lost his life near Cleft Tor.</span></span></p><p><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b>No. 11 Prehistoric Settlement</b> ... </span></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;">grey circular rings of stone, a score of them at least... </span><span style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;">they are the homes of our worthy ancestors... </span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><i>“Neolithic man—no date.” </i>Stapleton pointed out these stones to Watson while on the moor. Later Stapleton leads Sir Henry and Watson to this spot where Sir Hugo was to have met his end. ... </span></span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>a short valley between rugged tors ... stones, worn and sharpened at the upper end until they looked like the huge corroding fangs of some monstrous beast.</i></span></span></p><p><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b>No. 12 Fernworthy</b> A village that had little love for Franklin who thought nothing of closing off land where they liked to picnic. </span></span></p><p><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherlock-Six-New-Tales-Holmes-ebook/dp/B09764LK3F/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2EQ56QDLL5103&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1692750360&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C175&sr=1-4" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="799" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAq71QPTb2OzqHC-GhWzEM639T1iDNRTWyeizqD30iKKl-mJh9denWhv6wuWXVHVV1Q9tn_1VWr2WgUezEg736-414yWMw-L3rztNyjJ56hfV0VSZeIwMEt5TZE83LRM68YqxZSKBmSUhCEbl2rMhPhR95sM67SaSe0KgA6v5d3nN2DZ4IK1goCicSw/s320/thumbnail_Sherlock%20Six%20-%20final%20draft%20(1).jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times; text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><b>No. 13 Grimpen Mire</b> </span><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;">A mire is swampy or boggy ground. </span><i><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;">“A false step yonder means death to man or beast... </span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;">It’s a bad place, the great Grimpen Mire... </span></i><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><i>there are one or two paths which a very active man can take...” </i>Stapleton kept the hound in an old tin mine at the centre of the mire, and the mire is where Stapleton met his end. </span></span></span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>Somewhere in the heart of the great Grimpen Mire, down in the foul slime of the huge morass which had sucked him in, this cold and cruel-hearted man is forever buried.</i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><b>No. 14 The Hound Attacks Sir Henry </b>It was on this spot Sir Henry was attacked by the hound on the moor path.<b> </b>Sometime after 10 p.m., the Baronet left Merripit House and started off for home. </span></span></span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>A hound it was, an enormous coal-black hound, but not such a hound as mortal eyes have ever seen. Fire burst from its open mouth, its eyes glowed with a smouldering glare, its muzzle and hackles and dewlap were outlined in flickering flame. Never in the delirious dream of a disordered brain could anything more savage, more appalling, more hellish be conceived than that dark form and savage face which broke upon us out of the wall of fog. ...</i></span></span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>we heard scream after scream from Sir Henry and the deep roar of the hound. ... </i></span></span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>But the next instant Holmes had emptied five barrels of his revolver into the creature’s flank. ...</i></span></span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>The giant hound was dead.</i></span></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-large; text-indent: 16px;">Ordnance map of the moor with additional notes</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left; text-indent: 16px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKSv148RERIV9kHyctNGsqPIAw7DUvX5LQQwuk4qK6I5xEjZiBqk9xjArgoENPcXDQxtSPx5dGvfGh6Vwvfa4B4nkjDhbnQJkJXLsUEh8TkwYwbNGQ_kgq5yrlgEwATFP2DPjC0GPtGQ56fBoGF88Vvuv91UEPka_qHLWklOwJkDpCH4dv4x1fETV1Q/s3107/baskerville.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2169" data-original-width="3107" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKSv148RERIV9kHyctNGsqPIAw7DUvX5LQQwuk4qK6I5xEjZiBqk9xjArgoENPcXDQxtSPx5dGvfGh6Vwvfa4B4nkjDhbnQJkJXLsUEh8TkwYwbNGQ_kgq5yrlgEwATFP2DPjC0GPtGQ56fBoGF88Vvuv91UEPka_qHLWklOwJkDpCH4dv4x1fETV1Q/w400-h279/baskerville.JPG" title="Ordnance map of the moor with additional notes" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p></blockquote><p style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"></p><p style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stephen+gaspar&i=stripbooks-intl-ship&crid=2EQ56QDLL5103&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C175&ref=nb_sb_noss_1" style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">Stephen Gaspar's books can be found on Amazon!</a></p><p style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 16px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>stephen gasparhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04304511252320058397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111766123201786757.post-8567255290684572392023-08-15T07:32:00.001-07:002023-08-17T05:59:33.219-07:00Sherlock Holmes Chase Scene<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7uVFVYauTVxA9MOv7HAzUPS4xTTyChALmI6ZP31fzSTAIGeZLtg-Ka_hiHwnW_YZEz3OKqHtxrerK3WFFcjJR4EckG3CcMHkQdX6HcX8ibW9DhsmLrK2UBRheM54b63xuTz-qzlYWiCbwUKUc91WHWRo1PAXPBR5QLnpPthx8wFXdbvzWKC6pFMXntA" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1550" data-original-width="2186" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7uVFVYauTVxA9MOv7HAzUPS4xTTyChALmI6ZP31fzSTAIGeZLtg-Ka_hiHwnW_YZEz3OKqHtxrerK3WFFcjJR4EckG3CcMHkQdX6HcX8ibW9DhsmLrK2UBRheM54b63xuTz-qzlYWiCbwUKUc91WHWRo1PAXPBR5QLnpPthx8wFXdbvzWKC6pFMXntA=w200-h142" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">While rereading The Sign of Four (1890) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, I was struck by the chase scene on the Thames as Holmes & Co race after Jonathan Small and his crew. This may have been one of the first high-speed chase scenes in English literature. Both boats, steam launches, were reputed to be the fastest crafts on the Thames. The chase cannot compare to, let's say the scene in Bullitt, but it does have a sense of excitement and danger as bullets and poison darts fly. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherlock-Six-New-Tales-Holmes-ebook/dp/B09764LK3F/ref=sr_1_7?crid=2VN3PT2KLVTWA&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1691968401&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C141&sr=1-7" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="799" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisO1kpaenIvzgVW8MEeYAANKQQRegDqXl5i4i5_7KOGQRIHmI5VGOWiaqJ9F2Dt4BziqF7qUsPGrxT3_8d8h3z_GQFOobpX8RYPzfLeKPeQblmn4DZgmsquQ6zBw2MywfI2bGMYT3gFe0x7arXgP6G_ncaJT1Fa6Hc33aQUGpanBW-wMZbRi4yv7l2aA/s320/thumbnail_Sherlock%20Six%20-%20final%20draft%20(1).jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">What makes this chase scene interesting to me is the number of landmarks Doyle uses. I counted no fewer than eleven. Not being familiar with the Thames I decided to label them tracing the chase. The map can be found at the bottom of the page.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b>No. 1</b> 7:30 pm Holmes, Watson, and Athelney Jones board a police boat at Westminster Wharf near Westminster Bridge across the river from Lambeth. Today there are boat tours that embark from Westminster Pier and travel downriver. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>... we had been shooting the long series of bridges which span the Thames.</i> Some of these would be Waterloo, Blackfriars, and London Bridge. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b>No. 2</b> <i>As we passed the City the last rays
of the sun were gilding the cross upon the summit
of St. Paul’s. </i>St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral was built between 1675-1710. It is one of many London landmarks. I have a photograph of my father in uniform in London during the war standing on Blackfriars Bridge with St. Paul's in the background. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span><b>No. 3 </b></span><span><i>It was twilight before we reached the
Tower. </i>The Tower of London is another famous landmark tracing its history back to 1078. William Shakespeare made reference to it a number of times. People were imprisoned in the Tower and some met their deaths there. The last Tower execution was in 1941.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Jacobson's Yard, the fictitious boat repair yard where the <i>Aurora</i> was secreted, was across from the Tower.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span>Here, Holmes, Watson, and the police waited for the <i>Aurora</i> to show herself. Holmes commented on the workmen leaving at the end of the day. </span><span><i>“Dirty-looking rascals, but I suppose every one
has some little immortal spark concealed about him.
You would not think it, to look at them. There is no a
priori probability about it. A strange enigma is man!”</i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span>They spot the <i>Aurora</i> and the downstream chase begins. </span><span><i>We were fairly after her now. The furnaces roared,
and the powerful engines whizzed and clanked, like
a great metallic heart. Her sharp, steep prow cut
through the river-water and sent two rolling waves to
right and to left of us. With every throb of the engines
we sprang and quivered like a living thing.</i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">A tug and three barges allowed the <i>Aurora</i> to pull ahead two-hundred yards. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Holmes-Baker-Street-Adventures-Sherlock/dp/B0C6BT8TCN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2VN3PT2KLVTWA&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1691968401&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C141&sr=1-1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1568" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3v4-iQYKjyQy6huyul2oXR_sr3muhcCPnoZ23IeXDpuUr8zU9ZDZuqqGzT_PCxlpBK3JvPHBjOTqz2y729__77_ll8ASgdTO8P8y3mbAkrzSrYwM9i_GiOMEB-Ys8wqrmYChv-GG_m-RK1EX2UkBkb1512Pa8iaCasJokoAbPrjeHkC6PyiCfwoZSg/s320/cover%201%20A.jpg" width="203" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span><b>No. 4 </b><i>Our boilers were strained to the utmost... </i></span><span><i>We had shot through the Pool... </i>The Pool of London is a stretch of the River Thames from London Bridge to below Limehouse. This was as far upriver as large sea-going vessels might travel.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: times;">No. 5 </b><i style="font-family: times;">... past the West India Docks... </i><span style="font-family: times;">A series of three docks dating back to 1802.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>No. 6</b> <i>... down the long Deptford Reach ...</i> The strait between the two bends in the river.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>No. 7</b> ... </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="font-family: times;">and up again after rounding the Isle of Dogs. </i><span style="font-family: times;">A large peninsula formed by the bend in the Thames. It had been an important centre of trade.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>No. 8</b> </span><span style="font-family: times;"><i>At Greenwich we were about three hundred paces
behind them. </i>Greenwich is notable for its maritime history and for giving the name to the Greenwich meridian (</span></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">0°</span><span>longitude) and Greenwich Mean Time.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>No. 9</b><i> At Blackwall we could not have been
more than two hundred and fifty. </i>Blackwall on the north bank before the bend in the river. Until 1987, Blackwall was the centre of shipbuilding and repair. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>Steadily we drew in upon them, yard by yard. In the
silence of the night we could hear the panting and
clanking of their machinery.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>No. 10</b> ... </span><span style="font-family: times;"><i>with Barking Level upon one side ... </i>At the time it was a largely uninhabited area of the north bank below the Albert Dock.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Hearted-Murder-Sherlock-Holmes-Myster-ebook/dp/B0BQKBDJHD/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2VN3PT2KLVTWA&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1691968401&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C141&sr=1-2" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="156" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOAy_3uRWnTRLyaa5VTKfKmcdGlbrh1Q9xL__HtNfFc_78HBouGZnrqhQACNnerxgUW2KEIW2PTykHznZzxeBeSOETmDpbyoy4vMZgmwTbMYueFFxBJR04euZ9Kzi6xknTo08MS957VhXjXUqPZCTftNOLh6bdfrXPwDD3oerOP4InbU50uWhdcMSYmQ/s1600/51d1G0WRajL__UY250_.jpg" width="156" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>No. 11 </b><i>... </i></span><span style="font-family: times;"><i>and
the melancholy Plumstead Marshes upon the other ... </i>Uninhabited low-land in the north-eastern part of Woolwich. The land was not particularly swampy but its tendency to flood on very high tides meant that the land was unstable and it remained mainly open and unused right up until the 1960s.</span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>... the wooden-legged man threw
himself upon the rudder and put it hard down, so
that his boat made straight in for the southern bank,
while we shot past her stern, only clearing her by a
few feet. We were round after her in an instant, but
she was already nearly at the bank. It was a wild and
desolate place, where the moon glimmered upon a
wide expanse of marsh-land, with pools of stagnant
water and beds of decaying vegetation. The launch
with a dull thud ran up upon the mud-bank, with
her bow in the air and her stern flush with the water. The fugitive sprang out, but his stump instantly
sank its whole length into the sodden soil. In vain
he struggled and writhed.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">I calculate that from the Tower to the marsh by boat is about 14.5 km. or 9 miles. According to Small, he started dumping the Agra treasure about halfway through the chase.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRG2NhIgjCMeHgMklSpw0xUlI5BzR6ijoKBwnWU59hCn3DmwVyV3LukMibeB1b51rW7070Z-AUVUx65OIe_HqGUUW-pCsXrODOx18VYjAOPuB9-6SFilRAfDrhmc0rh908kX71SIktKPCdeMKfr58dw-cRwV_MoFwiCDjmq3ha-uhWTmaInoqvw_3__A/s3264/IMG_0245%5B5383%5D.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1397" data-original-width="3264" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRG2NhIgjCMeHgMklSpw0xUlI5BzR6ijoKBwnWU59hCn3DmwVyV3LukMibeB1b51rW7070Z-AUVUx65OIe_HqGUUW-pCsXrODOx18VYjAOPuB9-6SFilRAfDrhmc0rh908kX71SIktKPCdeMKfr58dw-cRwV_MoFwiCDjmq3ha-uhWTmaInoqvw_3__A/w400-h171/IMG_0245%5B5383%5D.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><i style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stephen+gaspar&i=stripbooks-intl-ship&crid=2VN3PT2KLVTWA&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C141&ref=nb_sb_noss_1"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Stephen Gaspar's books can be found on Amazon! </span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i><p></p><div style="font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Canadian-Adventures-Sherlock-Holmes-ebook/dp/B007PHZVIM/ref=sr_1_6?crid=2VN3PT2KLVTWA&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1691968339&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C141&sr=1-6" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLD7iu3NBWDN0-VPZDAn-CYqehj59pdulLqOTJ4VsL-kGauxQjIaRCXSy8vBA2X7GFODsIzK6TbhAxmaK2eD67SLFNVEfQu1sqDkZUcuP6XGHFSHfOS2woomVZuq94vWnfhNvGK8hTFdi7UhMPL2GxzXVsmoTRGDeGkYSRUTWadmBQCPsYR9dgJe1EdA/w400-h640/cash3.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></span></div><span style="font-family: times;"><i><br /><div style="font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></i></span><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><i> </i></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><br /></p>stephen gasparhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04304511252320058397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111766123201786757.post-25060823085960895362023-08-13T11:06:00.003-07:002023-08-13T11:12:21.032-07:00Vote for Barclay!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Barclay-Mounted-Memoirs-Major-General-Retired/dp/B0B9LM472L/ref=sr_1_2?crid=30SHW3HGBAFK2&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1691949759&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks%2C515&sr=1-2" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1614" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_us3xclCh9gWsDQDMZ6R3Z6iAzoCNW4wBOYn-Oi1VyIw2hR5N-qUBHqvIvLzSNZnT3CcDj9PGaQIq6kQ0WIUtcf5fPVgmPw58kADsl_oRMsMNeRDCGlrgbeoQvTGZwxXyDs7zFbX7Y1jVAUl-mUQHjKy5l28yLbnqGK7hdlWSGA7SBpnDM95uKwzFpw/s320/barclay%20cover%20.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">I could use your vote! Frontier Tales, an online magazine of Western and historical tales has just posted my story for the month of August. Barclay Always Gets His Man is a chapter from my book, Barclay of the Mounted. Please vote for my story before the end of August by going to the link below and choosing Barclay Always Gets His Man. Thanks!</span><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #151515; font-family: times; font-size: xx-large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="http://frontiertales.com/" style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-large; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">http://frontiertales.com/</span></a></div><div><p></p><div><br /></div></div></div>stephen gasparhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04304511252320058397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111766123201786757.post-73600026373725161512023-07-31T11:59:00.006-07:002023-08-04T08:22:46.588-07:00Dr. J. H. Watson<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stephen+gaspar&i=stripbooks-intl-ship&crid=2RSK761UE5CNV&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C186&ref=nb_sb_noss_1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4T8UANFZmR95zqPpFrjh45kcteBkY6k6_7FyLGOuDKOZa7h1UkMz-CcbnCCd9Fb22rwTVQikSal9ooqIujtyryzH4F0rzKVmXWR_5nzuPQAM7GS4izjheJ8WHcvNMpg8NLUyvfV3iwYJT5vCdVB-KgGrsfZHa6ORqVme4i70uLGZASnB31GcojKZ4fQ/s16000/540px-Sherlock_Holmes_&_Watson_-_The_Greek_Interpreter_-_Sidney_Paget.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">A few of my past recent blogs have been a collection of quotes from the canon of Sherlock Holmes. William Crick suggested that I do a similar blog on the most famous doctor in English literature, a doctor more well-known than Dr. Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll, or Dr. Moreau. I am referring, of course to Dr. John H. Watson.</span><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Most of these quotes are either from Holmes or Watson.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">"I had neither kith nor kin in England, and was
therefore as free as air..." </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve;">—</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>A Study in Scarlet</i></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">"The campaign brought honours and promotion
to many, but for me it had nothing but misfortune
and disaster." </span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">—</span> </span></span><i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">A Study in Scarlet</span></i></p><p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;">In the year 1878 I took my degree of
Doctor of Medicine of the University of London, and proceeded to Netley to go through the course prescribed for surgeons in the army. </span></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">—</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span></span><i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">A Study in Scarlet</span></i></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">"I served at the fateful battle of Maiwand. There I was struck on
the shoulder by a Jezail bullet, which shattered the
bone and grazed the subclavian artery" </span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">—</span> </span></span><i style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Study in Scarlet</span></i></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;">“A wellplayed violin is a treat for the gods..." </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">—</span> </span></span><i style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Study in Scarlet</span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span><span style="font-family: times;">“Oh! a mystery is it?” I cried, rubbing my hands. “This is very piquant." </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">—</span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><i style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Study in Scarlet </span></i></span></i></p><p><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I always smoke 'ship's' myself," I answered. </span></span></span></span><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span><span style="font-family: times;">—</span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><i style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Study in Scarlet </span></i></span></i></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">"There is a delightful freshness about you, Watson, which makes it a pleasure to exercise any small powers which I may possess at your expense." </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><i style="font-family: times;">The Hound of the Baskervilles</i></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherlock-Six-NEW-Tales-Holmes/dp/B095GSG4DY/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1687645508&sr=1-5" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strike><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="200" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvpkb4-Fw4K7YWVYOsIqOlJXnGYhg_hazwoK3saT4rH_weAjOw0ZlP_fKnD6OQS9d3o2GHFgT3oLzCDnlYMxKb3oUPW1Vv4pFBwF8SdA0dQF270XVfgIDCVxyqO_y_GV-KBhoHZaDR03fXlxIC6d_wko5Y_dJb1J2xORe3iIOipQnz0vjxeWHg1atHFA/w200-h335/thumbnail_Sherlock%20Six%20-%20final%20draft%20(1).jpg" width="200" /></strike></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">"Some people without possessing genius have a remarkable power of stimulating it."</span></span></span></div> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><i style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Hound of the Baskervilles </i></span></span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">"Really, Watson, you excel yourself," said Holmes...</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><i style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Hound of the Baskervilles</i></span><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">"... </i><span style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">for when I see the stub of a cigarette marked Bradley, Oxford Street, I know that my friend Watson is in the neighbourhood."</span></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><i style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Hound of the Baskervilles</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">"In an experience of women which extends over many nations and three separate continents, I have never looked upon a face which gave a clearer promise of a refined and sensitive nature." </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">—</span><span style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><i style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Sign of Four </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">I am not subject to impressions... </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">—</span><span style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><i style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Sign of Four</i></span><i style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">"I know my dear Watson, that you share my love of all that is bizarre and outsit the conventions and humdrum routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own little adventures."</span></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— <i>The Red-headed League</i></span><span style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i> </i></span><span style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">"I have nothing to do today. My practice is never very absorbing." </span></span><span style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— <i>The Red-headed League</i></span><span style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i> </i></span><span style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">"You have a grand gift for silence, Watson. It makes you quite invaluable as a companion." </span></span><span style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">—</span><i style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> The Man With the Twisted Lip</i><i style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Hearted-Murder-Sherlock-Holmes-Myster-ebook/dp/B0BQKBDJHD/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1U46WBDRSVS2V&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1687645508&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C118&sr=1-6" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPKaYRDLdZ3o-mCjpxUdzcBHHxLDPVhQsx6KgZNapk5F8NMr2WGRU1e_e5aL7OE0LdW5HnBb06_WC_GfJOvImH1quURn2TmAZe-UCLP4A4ApJ9R3V9oN_cQGfdtVQmZ9sbZ3OYy3_grx49W0UCex0LDRvW26Bz2AUWtEVWNbfqF0-8H6z4s0xApZo6w/s320/ColdHeartedMurder3.jpg" width="200" /></a></i></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;">“Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a
chronicler still more so." </span><span style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">—</span><i style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> The Man With the Twisted Lip</i><i style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">"You are the stormy petrel of crime, Watson" <span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><i>The Naval Treaty</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">"Now, Watson, the fair sex is your department," said Holmes with a smile. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><i style="font-family: times;">The Second Stain</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">"I believe that I am one of the most
long-suffering of mortals; but I’ll admit that I was annoyed at the sardonic interruption." </span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">—</span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><i style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Valley of Fear</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"> "You are developing a certain unexpected vein of pawky humour, Watson...</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">" </span><span style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— <i>The Valley of Fear</i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="white-space-collapse: collapse;">"Your native shrewdness, my dear Watson, that innate cunning which is the delight of your friends..." </span><span>—</span><span style="white-space-collapse: collapse;"> </span><i style="white-space-collapse: collapse;">The Valley of Fear</i></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Holmes-Baker-Street-Adventures-Sherlock-ebook/dp/B0C6KYTFCR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1U46WBDRSVS2V&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1687645508&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C118&sr=1-1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1561" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifWOTUcFCR6cJTdvB7IlueYhPEIGMYa2lAVESdKli6hzM385jOvgklsqgwDbCrUNOfw0UhfbvdvJxOcesoHP5cxAomqhdCW4Jn2SsnJsAhjk3dfOH8-0A4ba6KJOZbF52wRLcQttlvTKdNXaEe_s7mHXO0A8GL2NNsx9QoxnOePnMpF2ogMOkcl9Ux_A/s320/final%20cover%20alt%201.jpg" width="202" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">"What with your eternal tobacco, Watson, and your irregularity at meals, I expect that
you will get notice to quit, and that I shall share your downfall." <span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><i>The Three Students</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">"He was a middle-sized, strongly-built man—square
jaw, thick neck, moustache... “It’s true,” said the inspector, with much amusement. “It might be a description of Watson.” <span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><i>Charles Augustus Milverton</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Thus as my predecessor weakened his practice declined, until when I purchased it from him it had sunk from twelve hundred to little more than three hundred a year. I had confidence, however, in my own youth and energy, and was convinced that in a very few years the concern would be as flourishing as ever... </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve;">—</span><i style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The Stockbroker's Clerk</span></i></p><p><i style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal; white-space-collapse: collapse;">"I keep a bull pup,” I said, “and I object to rows because my nerves are shaken, and I get up at all sorts of ungodly hours, and I am extremely lazy. I have another set of vices when I’m well, but those are the principal ones at present." </span><span style="font-style: normal;">— </span><i style="white-space-collapse: collapse;">A Study in Scarlet</i></span></i></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Canadian-Adventures-Sherlock-Holmes-ebook/dp/B007PHZVIM/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1U46WBDRSVS2V&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1687645508&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C118&sr=1-4" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1125" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizb5Gib-JrxqneSpPrHFCsoxw0vFxNWyx3BZ5683BL8TC8lX82NM0kRlIHyExAbgWOHbOkIgrfW3K1OQZRhYB0l6HkCulK6-CrgM1xMN8HbagU54bGc3pbostfHevpD57w1gl4KeVSI21Zf95tNl63GlXV4FXVJ_TcNA0V_q3T265xfqcRqK5cid0OOw/w200-h318/82510223_10213225241383894_7674080046680973755_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Here, I would like to insert a few of my own quotes regarding Dr. Watson from my stories. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">"Our maker has blessed you with a good heart, my dear friend, Watson," Holmes said lowly and slowly. "You have the kindest, stoutest heart of any man I ever knew." </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— <i>Cold-Hearted Murder </i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">I was shaken with a sudden horror as if I were looking at evil incarnate. Things came together in my mind and I believed I was onto the answer. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><span style="font-family: times;"><i>The Lambeth Poisoner Case</i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"> Married life was a considerable adjustment, especially for someone who had led a somewhat vagabond lifestyle. On the whole, I liked married life, and now for the first time, I was master of my own home, which comes with its own obligations and responsibilities. </span><span style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><i style="font-family: times;">The Tired Captain</i><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;">Even in Afghanistan, I had not considered dying in a foreign land, but I had never been face to face with the murderous Ghazis as I was with these fierce-looking Indians. </span><span style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— <i>Holmes, Holmes on the Range</i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;">For the first time ever I had got a glimpse of the exhilaration Sherlock Holmes himself must experience once he unlocks the key to a mystery. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">—</span><span style="font-family: times;"> </span><i style="font-family: times;">The Murder of John Stewart</i></span></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stephen+gaspar&i=stripbooks-intl-ship&ref=nb_sb_noss"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">All of Stephen Gaspar's books can be found on Amazon!</span></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzAJf7e2uQBdBkR4MYv_oi6aWLOAXgfuOflRzCiW9m11aMq7CslGV7Vt74SPsqRSqKL-d13Q6755i5cJmADFujGg5i_NQCH8rEvShJ2WfgOqhftbJPZUaK5DTeAlXgu5_FSuzlrWxec-jBbvzEZERmqlrqkUMaQRxArUptazPdK7RpWHYcGxrCHdlNDA/s599/540px-Sherlock_Holmes_&_Watson_-_The_Greek_Interpreter_-_Sidney_Paget.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzAJf7e2uQBdBkR4MYv_oi6aWLOAXgfuOflRzCiW9m11aMq7CslGV7Vt74SPsqRSqKL-d13Q6755i5cJmADFujGg5i_NQCH8rEvShJ2WfgOqhftbJPZUaK5DTeAlXgu5_FSuzlrWxec-jBbvzEZERmqlrqkUMaQRxArUptazPdK7RpWHYcGxrCHdlNDA/s16000/540px-Sherlock_Holmes_&_Watson_-_The_Greek_Interpreter_-_Sidney_Paget.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p></div>stephen gasparhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04304511252320058397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111766123201786757.post-49397316709987949422023-07-16T10:16:00.000-07:002023-07-17T07:13:40.590-07:00The Analytical Side of Sherlock Holmes<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stephen+gaspar&i=stripbooks-intl-ship&crid=150WJPEJH0X1K&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C138&ref=nb_sb_noss_1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="351" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifff1whOgFAhbyF1gEsTfLrKv-3IyAA9TcoLay_n2UR1pacFs1hvBZSkqc-Z1jUm8kGdKfJmRNy-nXT-yaj9hgfQOkzOPTTA5IAlejcq4BQebAmh3IejzzL5J-w0GupD1do22V0D1YpjcHRFwmlBVCCWHRkSknQoIq02rrogG98KDovAmS3IZ-GRtxhg/s320/41586_2017_Article_BF549332a_Figa_HTML.webp" width="274" /></a></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">A short while ago I wrote a blog citing quotes from Sherlock Holmes's philosophical side. I thought I would write one showing the great detective's analytical side. Some of the quotes I chose from the canon are ones that most reveal Holmes as devoid of feeling and displaying cold-hearted reason.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">"Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it is the logic rather than the crime that you should dwell." </span><i style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: normal;">—</span>The Copper Beaches</span></i></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;">"A client to me is a mere unit, a factor in a problem. The emotional qualities are antagonistic to clear reasoning."</span> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">—</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span><i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">A Study in Scarlet</span></i></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">"There is no crime to detect, or at most, some bungling villainy with a motive so transparent that even a Scotland Yard official can see through it." </span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">—</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span><i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">A Study in Scarlet</span></i></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">"When a fact appears to be opposed to a long train of deductions it invariably proves to be capable of bearing some other interpretation." </span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">—</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span><i style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Study in Scarlet</span></i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;">"The most commonplace crime is often the most mysterious,</span><span style="font-family: times;"> because it presents no new or special features from which deductions may be drawn. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><i style="font-family: times;">A Study in Scarlet</i></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherlock-Six-NEW-Tales-Holmes/dp/B095GSG4DY/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1687645508&sr=1-5" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strike><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvpkb4-Fw4K7YWVYOsIqOlJXnGYhg_hazwoK3saT4rH_weAjOw0ZlP_fKnD6OQS9d3o2GHFgT3oLzCDnlYMxKb3oUPW1Vv4pFBwF8SdA0dQF270XVfgIDCVxyqO_y_GV-KBhoHZaDR03fXlxIC6d_wko5Y_dJb1J2xORe3iIOipQnz0vjxeWHg1atHFA/s1600/thumbnail_Sherlock%20Six%20-%20final%20draft%20(1).jpg" width="200" /></strike></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">"It is one of those instances when the reasoner can produce an effect which seems remarkable to his neighbour, because the latter has missed one little point which is the basis of the deduction." </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><i style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Creeping Man</i></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">"Holmes is a little too scientific for my taste</span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">—</span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">it approaches to cold-bloodedness. I could imagine his giving a friend a little pinch of the latest vegetable alkaloid, not out of malevolence, you understand, but simply out of the spirit of inquiry in order to have an accurate idea of the effects." <span> </span><span> </span></span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Stamford,</span></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><i style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">A Study in Scarlet</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">"I cannot live without brainwork. What else is there to live for?" </span></span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">—</span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><i style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Sign of Four</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">"It was not that he felt any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but admirable mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen..." </span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"> <i>A Scandal in Bohemia </i></span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">"My mind is like a racing engine, tearing itself to pieces because it is not connected up with the work for which it was built." </span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i>Wisteria Lodge</i></span><i style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </i><i style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Hearted-Murder-Sherlock-Holmes-Myster-ebook/dp/B0BQKBDJHD/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1U46WBDRSVS2V&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1687645508&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C118&sr=1-6" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPKaYRDLdZ3o-mCjpxUdzcBHHxLDPVhQsx6KgZNapk5F8NMr2WGRU1e_e5aL7OE0LdW5HnBb06_WC_GfJOvImH1quURn2TmAZe-UCLP4A4ApJ9R3V9oN_cQGfdtVQmZ9sbZ3OYy3_grx49W0UCex0LDRvW26Bz2AUWtEVWNbfqF0-8H6z4s0xApZo6w/s320/ColdHeartedMurder3.jpg" width="200" /></a></i></span></div><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">"I never make exceptions. An exception disproves the rule." </span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><i style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Sign of Four</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">"His cold and proud nature..." <span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><i>The Norwood Builder</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">"I choose to be only associated with those crimes which present some difficulty in their solution." </span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">—</span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><i style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Cardboard Box</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"> "How often have I said that when you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth" </span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><i style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">His Last Bow</i><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Holmes-Baker-Street-Adventures-Sherlock-ebook/dp/B0C6KYTFCR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1U46WBDRSVS2V&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1687645508&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C118&sr=1-1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1561" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifWOTUcFCR6cJTdvB7IlueYhPEIGMYa2lAVESdKli6hzM385jOvgklsqgwDbCrUNOfw0UhfbvdvJxOcesoHP5cxAomqhdCW4Jn2SsnJsAhjk3dfOH8-0A4ba6KJOZbF52wRLcQttlvTKdNXaEe_s7mHXO0A8GL2NNsx9QoxnOePnMpF2ogMOkcl9Ux_A/s320/final%20cover%20alt%201.jpg" width="202" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">"Women have seldom been an attraction to me, for my brain has always governed my heart." <span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">—</span> <i>The Lion's Mane</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">"Love is an emotional thing, and whatever is emotional is opposed to that true, cold reason which I place above all things." <span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><i>The Sign of Four</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">"It is a critical mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts." <span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><i>A Scandal in Bohemia</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">"I am the last and highest court of appeal in detection." <span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><i>The Sign of Four </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Canadian-Adventures-Sherlock-Holmes-ebook/dp/B007PHZVIM/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1U46WBDRSVS2V&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1687645508&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C118&sr=1-4" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1125" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizb5Gib-JrxqneSpPrHFCsoxw0vFxNWyx3BZ5683BL8TC8lX82NM0kRlIHyExAbgWOHbOkIgrfW3K1OQZRhYB0l6HkCulK6-CrgM1xMN8HbagU54bGc3pbostfHevpD57w1gl4KeVSI21Zf95tNl63GlXV4FXVJ_TcNA0V_q3T265xfqcRqK5cid0OOw/w200-h318/82510223_10213225241383894_7674080046680973755_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></i>"Detection is, or ought to be, an exact science, and should be treated in the same cold and unemotional manner." <span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><i>The Sign of Four </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">"Grit in a sensitive instrument, or
a crack in one of his own high-power lenses, would
not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in
a nature such as his." </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><span style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">A Scandal in Bohemia</span></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Here, I would like to insert a few of my own analytical quotes of Holmes from my stories. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">"And for the next quarter of an hour Holmes gave a talk on this subject and how when inferring the cause of something one must use reason to the conclusion that something is the cause of something else." </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><span style="font-family: times;"><i>The Bishopsgate Jewel Case</i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">"With a playful grin still on his face Holmes said, 'A man has been murdered! Can you believe the luck?'" </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><span style="font-family: times;"><i>Cold-Hearted Murder</i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;">"The world of London is my <i>milieu</i>, the study of the criminal classes my <i>metier</i>." </span><span style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><i style="font-family: times;">The Atkinson Brothers of Trincomalee</i><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;">"I said trifles, Watson... something small and seemingly insignificant to some but may be the key to a solution if observed by the trained reasoner." </span><span style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><span style="font-family: times;"><i>The Red Leech</i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;">"Let us look at each instance in the cold light of reason, shall we?" </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">—</span><span style="font-family: times;"> </span><i style="font-family: times;">The Mystery of Cliff's Edge</i></span></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stephen+gaspar&i=stripbooks-intl-ship&ref=nb_sb_noss"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">All of Stephen Gaspar's books can be found on Amazon!</span></a></p>stephen gasparhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04304511252320058397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111766123201786757.post-897677581903261292023-07-11T10:03:00.000-07:002023-07-11T10:03:22.258-07:00Holmes & The Abbey School<p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Holmes-Baker-Street-Adventures-Sherlock/dp/B0C6BT8TCN/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1685971371&sr=1-1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1561" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oujfzCIZDq9YIl7HHwmt99P-7wPwiJgoE-w6C4sUOkz8SJtdQlTw-8G7XUL_xY8u-0uDnaqn0IGM4od1nJ7Ko0v9vVtAb36DwOhrAKp-vG_PMknoXSgRCaaeiH5zckC-kzM9wkxICPYjuqKc8hKruYsoejKnphKwy-jd7GxofBVt9JAKlWfxyiE/s320/final%20cover%20alt%201.jpg" width="202" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">(1926), Holmes himself wrote; "</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span>It happened that at the moment I was clearing up the case which my friend Watson has described as that of the Abbey School, in which the Duke of Greyminster was so deeply involved."</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In this case, the Abbey School should not be confused with the Priory School.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In The Abbey School, we see a murder, a centuries-old mystery, and the return of an old client of Sherlock Holmes.</span></p><p><span><span style="font-size: x-large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Discover the mystery of <i>The Abbey School</i> in <b>Holmes of Baker Street</b>. Available on Amazon!</span></span></p><p><span><span style="font-size: x-large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stephen+gaspar&i=stripbooks-intl-ship&crid=1IJ0OV84HGJMX&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C173&ref=nb_sb_noss_1">All of Stephen Gaspar's books can be found on Amazon!</a></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stephen+gaspar&i=stripbooks-intl-ship&crid=1IJ0OV84HGJMX&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C173&ref=nb_sb_noss_1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="3275" height="485" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCXTD073ggMb61EWTXdtK4f80q2ROhhK5qAT7L7iRd5MwLAclFC6W6sTEF1OsGFQgIVxnffzJRQB01s1QquIJSXx5dTIA56881HayTD5HWLvGYsSmPiKdyGv2qRfzGCvWVNDoywC5PLb57rYXQhQ9bRiHK3uVd7cGdYw4ddI-zDUWQPn71k9ur9hs/w640-h485/cover%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span><p></p><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-0873e2d0-7fff-4d1b-6999-9e2750d7901c"></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p>stephen gasparhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04304511252320058397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111766123201786757.post-88006725431545286212023-07-05T05:54:00.002-07:002023-07-06T03:08:20.352-07:00Sherlock Holmes & Bert Stevens<p><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: x-large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Holmes-Baker-Street-Adventures-Sherlock/dp/B0C6BT8TCN/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1687140758&sr=1-1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1561" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2dQACQAj88DqjDqQ9enwweQvKw1B1OI8yUJHCC7WNj-CUle7QdNY-6_9yBtlta-V2iGPyhVFvl_BWp9xzPKSYEL0UG_aFhwE2dHlKjl_XQTUNCtOIpsqKKmZrSNH7GrM-CbNR6TRyXtEISdnK6Vs1rqw4frtncoDjfSzE8TjF_R-AjdrnG3bP9c/w225-h381/final%20cover%20alt%201.jpg" width="225" /></a></span><span style="font-family: times;"> <span style="color: black; font-size: x-large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In </span><span style="color: black; font-size: x-large; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Adventure of the Norwood </span><span style="color: black; font-size: x-large; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Builder </span><span style="color: black; font-size: x-large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">(1903), </span><span style="color: black; font-size: x-large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Holmes says to </span><span style="color: black; font-size: x-large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Watson, </span><span style="color: black; font-size: x-large; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“You remember … Bert Stevens, who wanted us to get him off in ’87? Was there ever a more mild-mannered, Sunday-school young man?</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: x-large; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">”</span></p><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large; white-space: pre-wrap;">In my latest book, <i>Holmes of Baker Street</i>, Sherlock Holmes is employed to help a young man, Bert Stevens, who is arrested for a series of heinous murders.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large; white-space: pre-wrap;">This story is loosely based on the <i>Thames Mysteries </i>or sometimes referred to as the <i>Embankment Murders, </i>that took place in London from 1887 to 1889. A number of dismembered victims, all women, whose bodies were discovered in or near the Thames. None of the murders were solved. Some speculated that these murders were linked to the Jack the Ripper killings in Whitechapel. Because of the difference in <i>modus operandi, </i>the police believed there was no connection between the two.<i> </i> Other similar murders took place between 1873 and 1902.</span></span><span style="font-size: xx-large; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stephen+gaspar&i=stripbooks-intl-ship&crid=PBGPDIZNR26Y&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C132&ref=nb_sb_noss_1">Stephen Gaspar's books can be found on Amazon!</a></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Hearted-Murder-Sherlock-Holmes-Myster-ebook/dp/B0BQKBDJHD/ref=sr_1_6?crid=ZDT0XJ5NNS56&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1688637920&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C121&sr=1-6" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1125" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhZk5Df-Gofipy3EcRRiGz13OMM0pEInTgSeCxWpEo8vQVnEeY_KgjVZYUznjO16A93rJD2UzW1DtuzLK2Ulmw5lJPhHW7haRWVovB-pVxYt2m8wtVPt4d0Y8YpliSQJjLQmva9bNydcCH_06Cb1h03_FuZIIRw62EhMADL3aAIrs_vXY0QjW0LU/s320/105597499_10213225243663951_7915064188245207972_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Canadian-Adventures-Sherlock-Holmes-ebook/dp/B007PHZVIM/ref=sr_1_5?crid=ZDT0XJ5NNS56&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1688637976&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C121&sr=1-5" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1125" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMpudnMzS1FjtahasF-QDft7RFMQHiQhHwu3yc9pGuhgcXfT-KQfNPUGnow7KDkDiHIl1gyq3LHGX5VionLu5vx5mkEQKSO0RD2dI6OUYHmwUy7BsTBk3ldt7NtT2KvkTi53OPDnm0d3oWP4BvutqudLKzWRHLwbCug8RGbY8rjrV0UPcEy2rYw4/s320/82510223_10213225241383894_7674080046680973755_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherlock-Six-New-Tales-Holmes-ebook/dp/B09764LK3F/ref=sr_1_2?crid=ZDT0XJ5NNS56&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1688637976&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C121&sr=1-2" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQzi7VtpShFH6N8P_RuRifnG_fptsoZM9F6Xcf_y3mpFVu6II87pHCVAIR7FrjW1I1FbdEQwnoKg7JMK5llke6udPE5tsT-MDOs2C9vVIcq8_TrILPDRStKmky2I4Ed5LmiKk-QBIs7oYsnpVZIPIdaviAQ3ZIvEa5NaDF5oPaGftuDMSoUavg98/s320/thumbnail_Sherlock%206%20-%202nd%20version%20.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;" /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-6da7a3c4-7fff-2985-3024-377cbdb88581" style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;"></span></span></p><p> </p><div><br /></div>stephen gasparhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04304511252320058397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111766123201786757.post-24197491431403837472023-07-02T13:51:00.000-07:002023-07-02T13:51:24.188-07:00Sherlock Holmes's Philosophy <p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgi3YyjhuW-h9h2S1VA_XCX-ETr-3T2LfFNvgUNwWG6doy-5N-zvppFJVkO0UZYCPcx8qMGyPoUcA3mJpEt9iOziNSEAqd3pyhEhhzhh7hq_n2EI44UzWFTeXndenZSdRlUrf4X2Ohz-PveSYqi1dCMu-ukDG2JNkPxskQD2huRIM5kkAasovvAGH0oug" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="232" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgi3YyjhuW-h9h2S1VA_XCX-ETr-3T2LfFNvgUNwWG6doy-5N-zvppFJVkO0UZYCPcx8qMGyPoUcA3mJpEt9iOziNSEAqd3pyhEhhzhh7hq_n2EI44UzWFTeXndenZSdRlUrf4X2Ohz-PveSYqi1dCMu-ukDG2JNkPxskQD2huRIM5kkAasovvAGH0oug=w185-h400" width="185" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">When Sherlock Holmes says things such as: "A client to me is a mere unit, a factor in a problem. The emotional qualities are antagonistic to clear reasoning." It is little wonder that Watson would refer to his friend as an automaton<span style="font-family: Arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;">—</span>a calculating machine. But we know Holmes was more than that. He was human, of course. He was educated, cultured, and refined to a degree. He studied and appreciated both music and history and every once in a while, we get a glimpse at the great detective's philosophical side.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Here is a limited list of Holmes's philosophical quotes from the canon.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"The sea air, sunshine, and patience, Watson<span style="font-family: Arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;">—</span>all else will come."</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;">—</span> <i>The Devil's Foot</i> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"How small we feel, with our petty ambitions and strivings in the presence of the great elemental forces of Nature." </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Sign of Four</span></i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherlock-Six-NEW-Tales-Holmes/dp/B095GSG4DY/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1687645508&sr=1-5" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strike><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvpkb4-Fw4K7YWVYOsIqOlJXnGYhg_hazwoK3saT4rH_weAjOw0ZlP_fKnD6OQS9d3o2GHFgT3oLzCDnlYMxKb3oUPW1Vv4pFBwF8SdA0dQF270XVfgIDCVxyqO_y_GV-KBhoHZaDR03fXlxIC6d_wko5Y_dJb1J2xORe3iIOipQnz0vjxeWHg1atHFA/s1600/thumbnail_Sherlock%20Six%20-%20final%20draft%20(1).jpg" width="200" /></strike></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">"When one tries to rise above Nature one is liable to fall below it. The highest type of man may revert to the animal if he leaves the straight road of destiny." </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><i style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Creeping Man</i></span><p></p><p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">"To a great mind, nothing is little."</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><i style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">A Study in Scarlet</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">"Is not all life pathetic and futile?... We reach. We grasp. And what is left in our hands at the end? A shadow. Or worse than a shadow</span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;">—</span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"> misery." </span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><i style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Retired Colourman</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">"Depend upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." </span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><i style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">A case of Identity.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">"Human nature is a strange mixture, Watson. You see that even a villain and a murderer can inspire such affection that his brother turns to suicide when he learns that his neck is forfeited." </span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><i style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Stockbroker's Clerk</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">"I think that I may go so far as to say, Watson, that I have not lived wholly in vain." </span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><i style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Final Problem</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </i><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">"My life is spent in one long effort to escape from the commonplaces of existence."</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><i style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Red-headed League</i></span></p><p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">"What is the meaning of it, Watson? What object is served by this circle of misery and violence and fear? It must tend to some end, or else our universe is ruled by chance, which is unthinkable. But what end? There is the great standing perennial problem to which human reason is as far from an answer as ever."</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Cardboard Box </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">"Your life is not your own. Keep your hands off it... The example of patient suffering is in itself the most precious of all lessons to an impatient world." </span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><i style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Veiled Lodger </i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">"In a modest way I have combatted evil, but to take on the Father of Evil himself, would, perhaps, be too ambitious a task." </span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><i style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Hound of the Baskervilles </i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Hearted-Murder-Sherlock-Holmes-Myster-ebook/dp/B0BQKBDJHD/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1U46WBDRSVS2V&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1687645508&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C118&sr=1-6" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPKaYRDLdZ3o-mCjpxUdzcBHHxLDPVhQsx6KgZNapk5F8NMr2WGRU1e_e5aL7OE0LdW5HnBb06_WC_GfJOvImH1quURn2TmAZe-UCLP4A4ApJ9R3V9oN_cQGfdtVQmZ9sbZ3OYy3_grx49W0UCex0LDRvW26Bz2AUWtEVWNbfqF0-8H6z4s0xApZo6w/s320/ColdHeartedMurder3.jpg" width="200" /></a></i></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">"One's ideas must be as broad as Nature if they are to interpret Nature." </span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><i style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">A Study in Scarlet</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">"The ways of Fate are hard to understand. If there is not some compensation hereafter, then the world is a cruel jest." </span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;">—</span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><i style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Veiled Lodger</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">"God help us! Why does Fate play such tricks with poor helpless worms?... There, but for the grace of God goes Sherlock Holmes!" </span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i>The Boscombe Valley Mystery</i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"My dear fellow, life is infinitely stranger than anything which the mind of man co</span>uld invent." </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i>A Case of Identity</i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">"There's an east wind coming all the same, such a wind as never blew on England yet. It will be cold and bitter, Watson, and a good may of us may wither before its blast. But it's God's own wind none the less, and a cleaner, better, stronger land will lie in the sunshine when the storm has cleared." </span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><i style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">His Last Bow</i><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">As I stated, this is not a definitive list. I am certain the reader can recall other philosophical quotes as well.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Here, I would like to insert a few of my own philosophical quotes of Holmes from my stories.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Holmes-Baker-Street-Adventures-Sherlock-ebook/dp/B0C6KYTFCR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1U46WBDRSVS2V&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1687645508&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C118&sr=1-1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1561" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifWOTUcFCR6cJTdvB7IlueYhPEIGMYa2lAVESdKli6hzM385jOvgklsqgwDbCrUNOfw0UhfbvdvJxOcesoHP5cxAomqhdCW4Jn2SsnJsAhjk3dfOH8-0A4ba6KJOZbF52wRLcQttlvTKdNXaEe_s7mHXO0A8GL2NNsx9QoxnOePnMpF2ogMOkcl9Ux_A/s320/final%20cover%20alt%201.jpg" width="202" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="font-size: large;">“What is the mark of man,
Watson?” he said, his face contemplative and sober as he stared out the window
of our carriage. “What makes us who we are? Is it our name, our reputation, our
accomplishments? Is it some title, some award, some honour? Is it who we think
we are or who others think we are?" </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><span><i>The Adventure of the Tired Captain</i></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"I plan to solve Westerbrook's murder, not out of pride, or ego, or vanity, but out of some sense of justice, and because he came to me for help and I denied him. God may forgive me for this, but I cannot forgive myself." <span style="font-family: Arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><i>Cold-Hearted Murder</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"O Watson, Watson, if a man ever finds himself doubting his faith in a Higher Power, let him put to sea so he may experience the great oceans. Let him smell the sea air and feel the tides that also course through his own being. Let him behold the night sky ablaze with stars that came into being long before him and shall exist long after he is dust. Once he is lifted on mountainous waves, only then may the Almighty's plan for him be realized." <span style="font-family: Arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><i>The Adventure Aboard the Dominion City </i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Canadian-Adventures-Sherlock-Holmes-ebook/dp/B007PHZVIM/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1U46WBDRSVS2V&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1687645508&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C118&sr=1-4" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1125" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizb5Gib-JrxqneSpPrHFCsoxw0vFxNWyx3BZ5683BL8TC8lX82NM0kRlIHyExAbgWOHbOkIgrfW3K1OQZRhYB0l6HkCulK6-CrgM1xMN8HbagU54bGc3pbostfHevpD57w1gl4KeVSI21Zf95tNl63GlXV4FXVJ_TcNA0V_q3T265xfqcRqK5cid0OOw/s320/82510223_10213225241383894_7674080046680973755_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></i></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">"As for sin: sin does exist, and it is man's folly to think it does not. The world is full of sin, but it is up to every man, woman, and child to guard against sin. But there is also goodness in the world; goodness, decency, respectability, and kindness. Let us all, with the Grace of Providence, focus ourselves on those."</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve;">— </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">The Nonpareil Club Scandal</span></i></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stephen+gaspar&i=stripbooks-intl-ship&ref=nb_sb_noss">All of Stephen Gaspar's books can be found on Amazon!</a></span></p>stephen gasparhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04304511252320058397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111766123201786757.post-72506247762978976152023-06-29T13:39:00.000-07:002023-06-29T13:39:01.455-07:00Sherlock Holmes & The Red Leech<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Holmes-Baker-Street-Adventures-Sherlock/dp/B0C6BT8TCN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=16S425ZU1YBEM&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1688041350&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C112&sr=1-1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2525" data-original-width="1587" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_ssVFqJ4QjXDjJZPr-0AwUnUX_Z_lcu-svKDgtmO7YowXKQCgBXw0VbmMd7KyR8qgGBqIX83nxq_sUgMv3BZErTFYcvTXPOlnhCL29U29_NaKtWlqEnvVDT3pwg4zMjk59_bAdOXUfci8jjrkX5oBwqWaUrSTD-Cpap9dbKb8CEH9pvsY80mx_c/s320/final%20kindle%20cover.jpg" width="201" /></a><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: x-large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Prior to relating the story of </span><span style="font-size: x-large; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">The Adventure of the Pince-Nez</span><span style="font-size: x-large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> (1904), Watson looks over his notes on the cases in the year 1894. He writes, "</span><span style="font-size: x-large; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">As I turn over the pages I see my notes upon the repulsive story of the red leech and the terrible death of Crosby the banker."</span><span style="font-size: x-large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Some may argue that these are two separate cases, but I combined them into one.</span></div></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">Clayton Crosby comes to Holmes for help, but because of Croby's haughty and uncooperative manner, Holmes turns him down. A few days later, Holmes receives a message that the banker has been found dead in his office. The manner of Crosby's death is bizarre, but stranger yet is finding a red leech in a small box upon the banker's desk. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">Discover the mystery of <i>The Red Leech</i> in <b>Holmes of Baker Street</b>.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-08e3d4fa-7fff-8d4d-fe48-8f5aa9329d73"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stephen+gaspar&i=stripbooks-intl-ship&ref=nb_sb_noss">Stephen Gaspar's books can be found on Amazon!</a></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stephen+gaspar&i=stripbooks-intl-ship&crid=1IJ0OV84HGJMX&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C173&ref=nb_sb_noss_1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1125" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMpudnMzS1FjtahasF-QDft7RFMQHiQhHwu3yc9pGuhgcXfT-KQfNPUGnow7KDkDiHIl1gyq3LHGX5VionLu5vx5mkEQKSO0RD2dI6OUYHmwUy7BsTBk3ldt7NtT2KvkTi53OPDnm0d3oWP4BvutqudLKzWRHLwbCug8RGbY8rjrV0UPcEy2rYw4/s320/82510223_10213225241383894_7674080046680973755_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherlock-Six-New-Tales-Holmes-ebook/dp/B09764LK3F/ref=sr_1_5?crid=16S425ZU1YBEM&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1688041442&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C112&sr=1-5" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQzi7VtpShFH6N8P_RuRifnG_fptsoZM9F6Xcf_y3mpFVu6II87pHCVAIR7FrjW1I1FbdEQwnoKg7JMK5llke6udPE5tsT-MDOs2C9vVIcq8_TrILPDRStKmky2I4Ed5LmiKk-QBIs7oYsnpVZIPIdaviAQ3ZIvEa5NaDF5oPaGftuDMSoUavg98/s320/thumbnail_Sherlock%206%20-%202nd%20version%20.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;" /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-6da7a3c4-7fff-2985-3024-377cbdb88581" style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;"></span></span></p><p> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span></div></div><p></p>stephen gasparhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04304511252320058397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111766123201786757.post-26335842373934852382023-06-28T15:03:00.001-07:002023-06-28T15:03:42.523-07:00Holmes of Baker Street. NEW!<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjdLLC6_SmDanIbe3JYl93odcz0kFBQuqt-IEcR2sttv8L1U_xP8AHhJsFyeMaxhDMnxinUteKmxkZcuWE5DDy_oUourN3v_-4pvnIwEoXBItrbroLm_EMu70Ib3oyQ3EqgqwVKbo4WGSAj9ZC8q0-3uiePtf9G1rYLuS_dt0Icf9GM0ydKSCf66e-Gg/s3275/cover%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="3275" height="485" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjdLLC6_SmDanIbe3JYl93odcz0kFBQuqt-IEcR2sttv8L1U_xP8AHhJsFyeMaxhDMnxinUteKmxkZcuWE5DDy_oUourN3v_-4pvnIwEoXBItrbroLm_EMu70Ib3oyQ3EqgqwVKbo4WGSAj9ZC8q0-3uiePtf9G1rYLuS_dt0Icf9GM0ydKSCf66e-Gg/w640-h485/cover%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9d2ILzgOGa7qYpD0hSaxC1kHjMrNUNc8Hnj7Bl2y_bfRfnqyvkQZU2UXKtT8wKbRuOY6SgWfYjaOZ87wy0z3sUoBkedB2hq69IXYyTp6L_453p7SxrTdt_eUdKMzghuD6U7kMs-0tiML5sr3Iisd6DR5Ylh20uv1ONuG7eNdPAiz06YhE2P8_xQghLg/s3275/cover%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="3275" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9d2ILzgOGa7qYpD0hSaxC1kHjMrNUNc8Hnj7Bl2y_bfRfnqyvkQZU2UXKtT8wKbRuOY6SgWfYjaOZ87wy0z3sUoBkedB2hq69IXYyTp6L_453p7SxrTdt_eUdKMzghuD6U7kMs-0tiML5sr3Iisd6DR5Ylh20uv1ONuG7eNdPAiz06YhE2P8_xQghLg/w640-h484/cover%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />stephen gasparhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04304511252320058397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111766123201786757.post-35976020331768838382023-06-24T09:45:00.004-07:002023-06-25T16:25:28.190-07:00P. D. James & Sherlock Holmes<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stephen+gaspar&i=stripbooks-intl-ship&ref=nb_sb_noss" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="371" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9FoQ088DsiorxUzNjnnIRLOKAVlgY2gKdkAzVgStWyGWa5nivW4wq033jMlstGF3g0PhyxLbb9hVv3LgcrqKskwoLvAyPe-wtPzc-bCYPnhWtB_J0uxdu_ao7gvZafaaaAy86_p8vrIqgJBJps2W5qQ64dQDZ56HXfjW-yZ0n7Ekj-IoNATiP2yFADg/s320/james.webp" width="198" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Never having read any of P.D. James's detective stories, I did happen to pick up this book years ago. In Talking About Detective Fiction (2009), James traces the detective genre from Dickens and Wilkie Collins to the present day. </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Of Sherlock Holmes, she writes:</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><i>...he remains unique, the unchallenged Great Detective, whose brilliant deductive intelligence could outwit any adversary, however cunning, and solve any puzzle, however bizarre. </i></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stephen+gaspar&i=stripbooks-intl-ship&crid=1ALUEVJ914A6T&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C124&ref=nb_sb_noss_1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1561" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHCi_mAHBbWVWJfRC9qjNKLlTbLABuOnN53N6-57sMeOdSmLQfXifs28Fv-9VNBRmwR2ecMDnjLB0FE91TFwgHXUBnq_JvJqzzhRVqm9o678OqiDwceJwiyftRg-kIvyxr0SEF3NXEATyetDDOw7wFpo4wMIqR_zLFj8eyS6kqqAw3lYigHvo5h6tllQ/s320/final%20cover%20alt%201.jpg" width="202" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>This we know is not exactly true since Holmes admitted to being beaten four times, and was known to draw the wrong conclusion occasionally. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">James writes: </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">Despite the amount of detailed information about Holmes and his habits provided by Watson in the short stories, the core of the man remains elusive.</span></i></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">James lists Holmes's qualities thus: ...<i>clever with a practical, rational, non-threatening intelligence, patriotic, compassionate, resourceful and brave...</i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><i>He was an expert boxer and swordsman and had a good practical knowledge of the law and of poisons.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sherlock-Six-New-Tales-Holmes-ebook/dp/B09764LK3F/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1ALUEVJ914A6T&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1687618656&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C124&sr=1-5" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="799" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0SbKzfk_D53lZHzuVPD2xEIrK3KaCcGRCss1HRnCqOu2MCaaRaXs0peVQAmjrAvH4wMPEon6F1FZgn3oxrrtpXjYkhKzewcaNvYB-WkQf9wmyB7BRnT1UwYP5vrCwdB2L6ZhqUcSCWpaVP9-vEJmKIf5Qy_J4s8MA8nDbpyVuZgc83ttF4qjiXm5lA/s320/thumbnail_Sherlock%20Six%20-%20final%20draft%20(1).jpg" width="200" /></a></div><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">She quotes Arthur Conan Doyle commenting on his famous character: <i>...a man cannot spin a character out of his own inner consciousness and make it really life-like unless he had some possibilities of that character within him. </i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i>Still, on Doyle, James writes: <i>But his most attractive characteristic was undoubtedly his passion for justice... He imbued Sherlock Holmes with the same passion, the same courage.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">James goes on to state that not all of Holmes's qualities were so admirable. ... <i>he spent days on the sofa without uttering a word, regularly injecting himself with cocaine, and with his erratic lifestyle and habit of firing off his revolver in the sitting room...</i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Hearted-Murder-Sherlock-Holmes-Myster-ebook/dp/B0BQKBDJHD/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1ALUEVJ914A6T&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1687618913&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C124&sr=1-6" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TIi-LwZx6no2aayPjBVE8cAvpi92R-v_-HgbpUbFMX3nY0EWrwoPKw-p1kJhDRzP4ki2BJk8evGQER3TdFZTLo5_tfHMzo-8jSXBM-op7mCAktbWMQQA-c-AbE4LWlIPNFCqn6TohtslfNXrnOVMC9ihTjHm_KNU1lmneYlkcHMcGJGjq4BU3j2VFg/s320/ColdHeartedMurder3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">James lists The Speckled Band as the most popular, best-known, and most terrifying of the stories. She considers Dr. Grimesby Roylott as Holmes's most evil adversary. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">P. D. James writes: ...<i>the Sherlock Holmes canon is still in print and the stories are being read by new generations nearly eighty years after Conan Doyle's death.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><p></p></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSJWJRm5JpjzaNHCrkSmWZ517j044tQ6coZpvmvwKrObP8VTm1bskYSqr3210Kyq1Mj-c0twgTDv2awFSv6t_oKdIdS7aNVLhPmvd1wHD6wXAKE-XkucEeDO0bJyfDRjlmf_ODlfvFDXb-E4FRXcmHG9l5rvfg5kWDkz5OFdJ51UUZxa1sgq6AkVWNQ/s1800/82510223_10213225241383894_7674080046680973755_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1125" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSJWJRm5JpjzaNHCrkSmWZ517j044tQ6coZpvmvwKrObP8VTm1bskYSqr3210Kyq1Mj-c0twgTDv2awFSv6t_oKdIdS7aNVLhPmvd1wHD6wXAKE-XkucEeDO0bJyfDRjlmf_ODlfvFDXb-E4FRXcmHG9l5rvfg5kWDkz5OFdJ51UUZxa1sgq6AkVWNQ/w250-h400/82510223_10213225241383894_7674080046680973755_n.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stephen+gaspar&i=stripbooks-intl-ship&ref=nb_sb_noss">All of Stephen Gaspar's books can </a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stephen+gaspar&i=stripbooks-intl-ship&ref=nb_sb_noss">be found on Amazon!</a></span></div><div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>stephen gasparhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04304511252320058397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111766123201786757.post-31553121567986697062023-06-23T08:31:00.002-07:002023-06-23T08:31:58.791-07:00Holmes of Baker Street by Stephen Gaspar<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Holmes-Baker-Street-Adventures-Sherlock-ebook/dp/B0C6KYTFCR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3MISGXGIHKBEU&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1687533723&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C134&sr=1-1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1561" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQM_HkQ9Fs0ofMdQDeUGKwnzrVSLTkRF-3thvuXd67cT1V6WoK4U21X4Obvh-nscSn_LI-QjQpdbEckuzX5ntPpVE53i7DrBOIn0GzC0x3yJ2DAjifKhMefF8zY34DDF5JQQEc8pwDWYQHACbIqWYszp_PRKZF6yDCVEMrKUB9Xn7uk-AmCg3e7tfsDw/s320/final%20cover%20alt%201.jpg" width="202" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Holmes of Baker Street</b> by Stephen Gaspar is a collection of short stories in the tradition of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. In <b>Holmes of Baker Street</b> are stories referred to in the original canon. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As with all his books, Stephen Gaspar has gone to great lengths to preserve the characters and settings in <b>Holmes of Baker Street.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Holmes-Baker-Street-Adventures-Sherlock-ebook/dp/B0C6KYTFCR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3MISGXGIHKBEU&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1687533723&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C134&sr=1-1">Holmes of Baker Street is available in book form and on Kindle at Amazon!</a></span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Holmes-Baker-Street-Adventures-Sherlock-ebook/dp/B0C6KYTFCR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3MISGXGIHKBEU&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1687533723&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C134&sr=1-1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="3275" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgZWAagHE3t_tDL20ys4gtjp4o0QVdnNednf7LssGTYLmP107LGCHI7TFCwIWNx-_TUygCNxaqOoaj93Dm6vBryNpArbLZ0W4xMy59QLM6NAv-aU0DR-X3xSkHQYkpBYt9gYgsaWrVyGDJIgEvN9VSQjf576HiT3wYhNa6oAJGLJBe2qFI4jqnGKPxQ/w640-h484/cover%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>stephen gasparhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04304511252320058397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111766123201786757.post-53920565974813349562023-06-19T11:41:00.000-07:002023-06-19T11:41:33.882-07:00Sherlock Holmes & The Tired Captain<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Holmes-Baker-Street-Adventures-Sherlock-ebook/dp/B0C6KYTFCR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=22FJ0YK0R66JL&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1687199879&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C130&sr=1-1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1561" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxbH2kctQkOGJbNnsUEqNlOvnd9FJ_iUJdmokMP4mr4nvmBAlTF4y51mSPkNpi0fgSjPfEkXsu4q4xqSI_83U-ysvBsDrmsrZ5lQVB96Bhiee952T2fbyjbXA43wiXWNDMf2Hbk12JOj3AU2hATs4SiW_t_c-Pa_gfdb7xqFmySMD3Ys8fymzg8o/s320/final%20cover%20alt%201.jpg" width="202" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Naval Treaty </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(1893</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, Watson writes about three cases of interest. </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I find them recorded in my notes under the headings of “The Adventure of the Second Stain,” “The Adventure of the Naval Treaty,” and “The Adventure of the Tired Captain.”</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Holmes of Baker Street, Sherlock Holmes investigates the death of a sea captain found dead in his bed. The case leads Holmes and Watson to a well-known philanthropist and an incredible revelation.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stephen+gaspar&i=stripbooks-intl-ship&crid=2UTGDC2CGK8MV&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C129&ref=nb_sb_noss_1">Stephen Gaspar's books can be found on Amazon!</a></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Hearted-Murder-Sherlock-Holmes-Myster-ebook/dp/B0BQKBDJHD/ref=sr_1_6?crid=22FJ0YK0R66JL&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1687199938&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C130&sr=1-6" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1125" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhZk5Df-Gofipy3EcRRiGz13OMM0pEInTgSeCxWpEo8vQVnEeY_KgjVZYUznjO16A93rJD2UzW1DtuzLK2Ulmw5lJPhHW7haRWVovB-pVxYt2m8wtVPt4d0Y8YpliSQJjLQmva9bNydcCH_06Cb1h03_FuZIIRw62EhMADL3aAIrs_vXY0QjW0LU/s320/105597499_10213225243663951_7915064188245207972_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMpudnMzS1FjtahasF-QDft7RFMQHiQhHwu3yc9pGuhgcXfT-KQfNPUGnow7KDkDiHIl1gyq3LHGX5VionLu5vx5mkEQKSO0RD2dI6OUYHmwUy7BsTBk3ldt7NtT2KvkTi53OPDnm0d3oWP4BvutqudLKzWRHLwbCug8RGbY8rjrV0UPcEy2rYw4/s1800/82510223_10213225241383894_7674080046680973755_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1125" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMpudnMzS1FjtahasF-QDft7RFMQHiQhHwu3yc9pGuhgcXfT-KQfNPUGnow7KDkDiHIl1gyq3LHGX5VionLu5vx5mkEQKSO0RD2dI6OUYHmwUy7BsTBk3ldt7NtT2KvkTi53OPDnm0d3oWP4BvutqudLKzWRHLwbCug8RGbY8rjrV0UPcEy2rYw4/s320/82510223_10213225241383894_7674080046680973755_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQzi7VtpShFH6N8P_RuRifnG_fptsoZM9F6Xcf_y3mpFVu6II87pHCVAIR7FrjW1I1FbdEQwnoKg7JMK5llke6udPE5tsT-MDOs2C9vVIcq8_TrILPDRStKmky2I4Ed5LmiKk-QBIs7oYsnpVZIPIdaviAQ3ZIvEa5NaDF5oPaGftuDMSoUavg98/s1280/thumbnail_Sherlock%206%20-%202nd%20version%20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQzi7VtpShFH6N8P_RuRifnG_fptsoZM9F6Xcf_y3mpFVu6II87pHCVAIR7FrjW1I1FbdEQwnoKg7JMK5llke6udPE5tsT-MDOs2C9vVIcq8_TrILPDRStKmky2I4Ed5LmiKk-QBIs7oYsnpVZIPIdaviAQ3ZIvEa5NaDF5oPaGftuDMSoUavg98/s320/thumbnail_Sherlock%206%20-%202nd%20version%20.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;" /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-6da7a3c4-7fff-2985-3024-377cbdb88581" style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;"></span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><p></p>stephen gasparhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04304511252320058397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111766123201786757.post-18297694916261490372023-06-15T10:34:00.014-07:002023-06-16T04:24:11.199-07:00Simpson's-in-the-Strand<p><span style="font-size: large;">"When we have finished at the police-station I think that something nutritious at Simpson's would not be out of place." --<i>The Dying Detective </i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In a previous blog, I stated that Baker Street was probably one of the most notable streets in the world. It is for Holmesians, at any rate. Another famous street for Holmes fans is Strand or the Strand. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYgVIXIPkVTYrDtiTlUQC9PbgulM8TI1sGotClosrQmy_WOi7DEkOQiAxxpZWfoieJZp6jpgxB3CO_sj5_qXDFBmPROMFF_-mMDgkKmwhrc_NqnWHtPE-en0NHiY0ckLjI_xWR_j032UBSUepGwYgfL_fDt3jzNio4D64STFB2ifmMhIxHkqIpNCg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="341" data-original-width="800" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYgVIXIPkVTYrDtiTlUQC9PbgulM8TI1sGotClosrQmy_WOi7DEkOQiAxxpZWfoieJZp6jpgxB3CO_sj5_qXDFBmPROMFF_-mMDgkKmwhrc_NqnWHtPE-en0NHiY0ckLjI_xWR_j032UBSUepGwYgfL_fDt3jzNio4D64STFB2ifmMhIxHkqIpNCg=w400-h170" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Strand was a great thoroughfare connecting London and Westminster. It ran along the north bank of the Thames, and its name is from the Old English <i>strond</i>, meaning the edge of the river. The Strand was known for its shops, theatres, and restaurants.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjO92n_FXLwtZAEuygZUu2u5xPPbuv_BiBVDAnID8PPKDiqL5nd-VECycIRDro6WPe6ZkFvToDscKyfbwt0MUOkDrBiUF3-vsDCC9kW7LbTl8OuFc3zVn79XhuWulv0p04mQTbIqCGklKRjXXNsghIkaEtR1TK-y9iwtw_efq-qjRnpZfne-sRnFQ0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="800" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjO92n_FXLwtZAEuygZUu2u5xPPbuv_BiBVDAnID8PPKDiqL5nd-VECycIRDro6WPe6ZkFvToDscKyfbwt0MUOkDrBiUF3-vsDCC9kW7LbTl8OuFc3zVn79XhuWulv0p04mQTbIqCGklKRjXXNsghIkaEtR1TK-y9iwtw_efq-qjRnpZfne-sRnFQ0=w400-h248" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The Strand is mentioned periodically in the canon. In <i>A Study in Scarlet</i>, Watson stayed in a private hotel in the Strand before moving into 221B Baker Street. Henry Baskerville bought his boots in the Strand. Holmes and Watson took a stroll through Fleet St. and the Strand in <i>The Resident Patient</i>.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One of the most notable locations in the Strand (for Sherlockians) is Simpson's, one of London's oldest traditional English restaurants, and located at no. 100 Strand. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In my latest book, Holmes of Baker Street, Holmes, and Watson have lunch at Simpson's. Watson described it this way:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Londoners familiar with The
Strand would also be familiar with Simpson’s Divan Tavern west of Waterloo
Bridge. Simpson’s dates to 1828 and began as a smoking room, then a coffee
house, and by mid-century gained notoriety as a chess venue and restaurant noted
for good food at reasonable prices. The ambiance consisted of brass rails,
horse-hair stuffed black cushioned chairs, mirrors along the wall, and
candelabras hung from the tall ceiling.</span></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"></span></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0o7Nq5-4S3dIeUWVUNKzRZdULPzyIHh6ZbsPomFS_5teI5QxCIPHhxKwdQUGSmP2mrxJydAWb7zg5ai6bCJE0NWvO75JLj4jo6OnU1fPh95GDAqg2WxQYMrWNYVDBi0kzo0ua95--fEtsx7vJbTWSkbJupg4cn-Y1HXhs7n5vgvzWcvCxuFaTgaU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="306" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0o7Nq5-4S3dIeUWVUNKzRZdULPzyIHh6ZbsPomFS_5teI5QxCIPHhxKwdQUGSmP2mrxJydAWb7zg5ai6bCJE0NWvO75JLj4jo6OnU1fPh95GDAqg2WxQYMrWNYVDBi0kzo0ua95--fEtsx7vJbTWSkbJupg4cn-Y1HXhs7n5vgvzWcvCxuFaTgaU=w267-h400" width="267" /></a></span></i></div><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We arrived at the
restaurant just before one o’clock and we were greeted by the manager Edmund
Cathie, who showed us to our table by a ground-glass window. Cathie promised to
bring our guest as soon as he arrived. It was 1:17 by the ormolu clock in the room
when the dark-eyed Inspector G. Lestrade was shown to our table.</span></i><p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"></span></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3wLkQvOIob7jeAkTcXOnavvTx_HN6iKuWoX_dCEIM88duHRnjfXjlRRKPH9xnZD4SH3_xJwOFc4C0zfZ0TTqzuV7_1edRLjgRYZ-Tsnq3NDdxBpC5BIM6AScKaWrVuMYRaOY4nQh5cFmc-IJC0pVZStzrRaeiLAyS5bqMYN2rZCh4c02OfLMDXZE" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="600" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3wLkQvOIob7jeAkTcXOnavvTx_HN6iKuWoX_dCEIM88duHRnjfXjlRRKPH9xnZD4SH3_xJwOFc4C0zfZ0TTqzuV7_1edRLjgRYZ-Tsnq3NDdxBpC5BIM6AScKaWrVuMYRaOY4nQh5cFmc-IJC0pVZStzrRaeiLAyS5bqMYN2rZCh4c02OfLMDXZE=w400-h275" width="400" /></a></span></i></div><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">In the canon, Holmes and Watson dined at Simpson's after <i>The Adventure of The Dying Detective </i>and met there during <i>The Adventure of The Illustrious Client</i>.</span><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Holmes-Baker-Street-Adventures-Sherlock/dp/B0C6BT8TCN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1P3SJ3RZ1GCLY&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1686849881&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C141&sr=1-1">Holmes of Baker Street </a></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Holmes-Baker-Street-Adventures-Sherlock/dp/B0C6BT8TCN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1P3SJ3RZ1GCLY&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1686849881&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C141&sr=1-1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-large;">is available on Amazon!</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Holmes-Baker-Street-Adventures-Sherlock/dp/B0C6BT8TCN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1P3SJ3RZ1GCLY&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1686849881&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C141&sr=1-1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="3275" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpjW5ehrwACmzqWogYrfbhUw9EJdS84NFJWGIlm9pNCDo93tPxSadHYRM09UwHiLr9sltBX9OJi0Uh0FvJI0tjeRN5YvRZDzf7g-wUlZwf8aIhLflscactHkM25cvB3gJMSf_2LYfR4JSnCfqAsFcmABVZ4iAAN7QISIQ-QXgA46ilx2rqEaQ9bE/w400-h303/cover%203.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>stephen gasparhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04304511252320058397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111766123201786757.post-82759490099754351772023-06-12T07:16:00.000-07:002023-06-12T07:16:34.679-07:00Sherlock's on Sheppard<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">When Susan and I got married (40 years this Oct.) we honeymooned in Niagara Falls and Toronto. In Toronto, we dined at an elegant restaurant called Sherlock's on Sheppard. The restaurant is long gone, but that night I took an original paper menu (before they went with a less fancy laminated one) for a souvenir. </span></span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzc3oTx4CbHTAXq7vahbTY4oDEuVZR6UEbeiggb_fFPl3mvgzDHrR6jDVCGMlW1EVDQN9eqznkiTRH6ymUESnkMDENc1IVYsrMcNYmcOREqEjD3n3D-5v_M3t-afhYHZun_tos15CLsSfzH7VqScOh4jCGw1dZAyjkwYB4vPWIGbacc_f-7Zws2hc/s2448/IMG_0194%5B3795%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2214" data-original-width="2448" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzc3oTx4CbHTAXq7vahbTY4oDEuVZR6UEbeiggb_fFPl3mvgzDHrR6jDVCGMlW1EVDQN9eqznkiTRH6ymUESnkMDENc1IVYsrMcNYmcOREqEjD3n3D-5v_M3t-afhYHZun_tos15CLsSfzH7VqScOh4jCGw1dZAyjkwYB4vPWIGbacc_f-7Zws2hc/w400-h361/IMG_0194%5B3795%5D.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZJ81ITLwScsPFJJbe_9u8jHV0VyZh4g-rxai2U5fpag4qb-lqvxFJsGtcvvXPm23cLQAogGtHavyPuyOeE3CYMp5q0wdT5tauvGjtbMddXvjrwnFPoXrA3c8-kHncnfiFtC-Apky0us1N7kWHek3pjsNFk2pMSDa4XFIBJpXy3PpDPjCCg2mXoE/s3264/IMG_0197%5B3789%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2216" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZJ81ITLwScsPFJJbe_9u8jHV0VyZh4g-rxai2U5fpag4qb-lqvxFJsGtcvvXPm23cLQAogGtHavyPuyOeE3CYMp5q0wdT5tauvGjtbMddXvjrwnFPoXrA3c8-kHncnfiFtC-Apky0us1N7kWHek3pjsNFk2pMSDa4XFIBJpXy3PpDPjCCg2mXoE/w271-h400/IMG_0197%5B3789%5D.JPG" width="271" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><p style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;">I had the prime rib, Sherlock's cut, and Susan had the seafood grill. I recall the October night being cool and moody. The restaurant appeared out of place on some nondescript street, but once we stepped inside it was magical. It was a lovely restaurant and I was so happy to be there with my bride. </span></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here is a picture of my 40-year-old matches and sugar packs.</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUupR0UIKllPKgTriRHp1RH3KlYmChON29zGoIuGiN4yuazCnBjSY5rm6U_WqgQBJOQnYbPlZffMjJQedG_xBMuISZCKGj9E3OatA0VjYapJz2X349HFO_yEx42rOawMyD-iBlmxININOH5_oT3KOpBz3laL39HqRY5YGkp12w2c6qGoZswYzfCas/s2890/IMG_0198%5B3847%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2890" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUupR0UIKllPKgTriRHp1RH3KlYmChON29zGoIuGiN4yuazCnBjSY5rm6U_WqgQBJOQnYbPlZffMjJQedG_xBMuISZCKGj9E3OatA0VjYapJz2X349HFO_yEx42rOawMyD-iBlmxININOH5_oT3KOpBz3laL39HqRY5YGkp12w2c6qGoZswYzfCas/w339-h400/IMG_0198%5B3847%5D.JPG" width="339" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And here is a glass and my receipt from 1983. Up until then, it was the most I ever paid for a dinner for two. </span></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-5bNcW02IbhXOOXJgQaLBLEc7hZehS8mx9d-nFt0K0u51Ufn2ViflzLlUlFXJu_wCaDH5dYYIrV8yCcA8r4r3Wb_6s6-buRcFRIr9INTNDJx93g93E7VZ72h__GQIEqNgqIpuxJGphY6exo46EPlLunyFQ9yHzhOBfmcQQDMfBzNH2UNCw682nA/s1632/IMG_0201%5B3837%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1632" data-original-width="926" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-5bNcW02IbhXOOXJgQaLBLEc7hZehS8mx9d-nFt0K0u51Ufn2ViflzLlUlFXJu_wCaDH5dYYIrV8yCcA8r4r3Wb_6s6-buRcFRIr9INTNDJx93g93E7VZ72h__GQIEqNgqIpuxJGphY6exo46EPlLunyFQ9yHzhOBfmcQQDMfBzNH2UNCw682nA/w228-h400/IMG_0201%5B3837%5D.JPG" width="228" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We returned to Sherlock's on Sheppard a few years later with my brother and his wife. It did not feel the same, of course. The paper menus had been replaced with practical laminated ones, and also, we had gone during the day.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stephen Gaspar's latest book, Holmes of Baker Street can be found on Amazon.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Holmes-Baker-Street-Adventures-Sherlock/dp/B0C6BT8TCN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3D8B8A2HG8S6L&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1686579179&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C208&sr=1-1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="3275" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDIoNVurWarRbxWbM5uti2oPeWiuTrbjxp747cFcH11FsNhKfjCkjgEyGjszeYMNVsPJOcPDXHX8cIWkHUI2clOSPjESk-ivWBCHcg5pilGOory6SMv5Ze7ggfmF9u4tH2XJ2CEk7NolDF_l9qa8gKs3VigXwtifjL59aV233M3DeXpuOgvZrNOJ8/w400-h303/cover%203.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>stephen gasparhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04304511252320058397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111766123201786757.post-65265524312776751272023-06-11T08:22:00.000-07:002023-06-11T08:22:29.635-07:00Holmes and The Abergavenny Murder<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Holmes-Baker-Street-Adventures-Sherlock-ebook/dp/B0C6KYTFCR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2UM0ANH0579HH&keywords=stephen+gaspar&qid=1686496476&s=books&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C127&sr=1-1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2525" data-original-width="1587" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmvV-s1yQT6onfE7RhVOq8NvUxAX19Q2s_9UYFFKvQQFS2YUJSOaT9ANlhwrrd2Lpm6-QtdhuTvAwt6E_LlN0n225t-IpJH5iiLG84Bv4G9zhWa379JPJ9Nd0Sns-DiL5FSWnxukjsF6dz08eWMwnIPz00_HEfyt2B5fDbUl1nXJs_7xjzuLLfM0/s320/final%20kindle%20cover.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In </span><span style="font-size: x-large; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Adventure of the Priory School </span><span style="font-size: x-large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(1904), Dr. Huxtable request Holmes come to his school in Mackleton. Holmes shakes his head and says, </span><span style="font-size: x-large; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“My colleague, Dr. Watson, could tell you that we are very busy at present. I am retained in this case of the Ferrers Documents, and the Abergavenny murder is coming up for trial.”</span><span style="font-size: x-large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> In this instance, Abergavenny is not the location of the crime as some might imagine, but rather the name of the victim.</span></span><p></p><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Holmes of Baker Street, Holmes and Watson travel to Abergavenny Hall in the county of Kent to investigate a renowned lawyer who is found murdered in his bedroom. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stephen+gaspar&i=stripbooks-intl-ship&crid=YGLNHETI7YAI&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C154&ref=nb_sb_noss_1">Stephen Gaspar's books can be found on Amazon!</a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMpudnMzS1FjtahasF-QDft7RFMQHiQhHwu3yc9pGuhgcXfT-KQfNPUGnow7KDkDiHIl1gyq3LHGX5VionLu5vx5mkEQKSO0RD2dI6OUYHmwUy7BsTBk3ldt7NtT2KvkTi53OPDnm0d3oWP4BvutqudLKzWRHLwbCug8RGbY8rjrV0UPcEy2rYw4/s1800/82510223_10213225241383894_7674080046680973755_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1125" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMpudnMzS1FjtahasF-QDft7RFMQHiQhHwu3yc9pGuhgcXfT-KQfNPUGnow7KDkDiHIl1gyq3LHGX5VionLu5vx5mkEQKSO0RD2dI6OUYHmwUy7BsTBk3ldt7NtT2KvkTi53OPDnm0d3oWP4BvutqudLKzWRHLwbCug8RGbY8rjrV0UPcEy2rYw4/s320/82510223_10213225241383894_7674080046680973755_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhZk5Df-Gofipy3EcRRiGz13OMM0pEInTgSeCxWpEo8vQVnEeY_KgjVZYUznjO16A93rJD2UzW1DtuzLK2Ulmw5lJPhHW7haRWVovB-pVxYt2m8wtVPt4d0Y8YpliSQJjLQmva9bNydcCH_06Cb1h03_FuZIIRw62EhMADL3aAIrs_vXY0QjW0LU/s1800/105597499_10213225243663951_7915064188245207972_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="font-size: x-large;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-6da7a3c4-7fff-2985-3024-377cbdb88581"></span></p><p style="font-size: x-large;"> </p><div style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></div><p style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p style="font-size: x-large;"><br style="font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: normal;" /></p></span></span></div><div><span id="docs-internal-guid-f7b5bdee-7fff-befa-bd50-0a9721110825"><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p></div></div>stephen gasparhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04304511252320058397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111766123201786757.post-4407483879053503742023-06-07T04:54:00.000-07:002023-06-07T04:54:06.374-07:00NEW! Holmes of Baker Street<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Holmes-Baker-Street-Adventures-Sherlock/dp/B0C6BT8TCN/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1686138633&sr=1-1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1561" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixMqEW9nk8d7DA8BgyHTESTVHQbdW_c75ELzUBS815NKDo3GxCAVA_bMufBMoV6dtbeyDssrtnEamYhNp3TqOSRDzOXGV5AcD7-dCc4WwqM1HA7pBfNX0-vg9njhdMv6xn1bPBZgyuz4PLZwkvTcXtLn6GSszqslpzEX34worqNsA1pgrD_2LLg-g/s320/final%20cover%20alt%201.jpg" width="202" /></a></div><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Writing the stories for </span><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Holmes of Baker Street</b> </span><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">I decided to continue </span><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">in the manner that I chose with most of the stories of my previous Holmes book, </span><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Sherlock 6</span><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">. In </span><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Holmes of Baker Street</span><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">, the reader will find stories alluded to in the original canon, and I try to duplicate the style of the author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I have endeavoured to be accurate historically, geographically, and with true points of interest.</span></div></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The title of this book came to me when I was rereading </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Adventure of the Reigate Squires</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (1893). Inspector Forrester said, </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I hope I don’t intrude, but we hear Mr. Holmes of Baker Street is here.”</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> After reading that, I was struck that those four words were as good a title as any.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-a817ebb4-7fff-534e-fc35-a491380f6bb3" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Holmes of Baker Street </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">also has a few original </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">clients from the canon making a reappearance!</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Holmes of Baker Street is available in book and Kindle, only on Amazon!</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stephen Gaspar's books can be found on Amazon!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=stephen+gaspar&i=stripbooks&ref=nb_sb_noss" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="3275" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sqR-AYTdiQjKxJ_0PLBGitOcooi9mUId3ivEqVGkT2WZb-7IvS7_xBwJ_ECdgAU7hM-kgHvgChjeWxxF3WWbEmb5fmLjFFqL99NkuNRccYnHLhuyrVqhqlBBGC6FoEXKZjk0mxZCTGmqFOFY2t01T-5IRFDzP-hgcPAdh-UjsNMKoq-a8nK5_FQ/w400-h302/cover%203.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>stephen gasparhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04304511252320058397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111766123201786757.post-34292732003132743022023-06-05T06:24:00.000-07:002023-06-05T06:24:11.188-07:00New Sherlock Holmes Book!<p> <b style="font-size: x-large;">Holmes of Baker Street </b><span style="font-size: x-large;">is now available on </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Amazon!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Holmes-Baker-Street-Adventures-Sherlock-ebook/dp/B0C6KYTFCR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=35AL7MDHJSH80&keywords=holmes+of+baker+street&qid=1685971371&s=books&sprefix=holmes+of+baker+street%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C116&sr=1-1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2525" data-original-width="1587" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWeBwlXQ2kdslxSFjbYkGUi9jHUtVHHarx-FBPMTbvEX4Cf6BZ_Jsuo5we1uhJNvQkG-hjzvZet6P57DDVBZiitXFD8Rq777QC7NpS0pxQS6hRu8V-nLBMW0YB9cPufhhA8OsZPVKeK1dRhnK63jvcpIlz6XlMtCWIBDkQtEHO-Tt8bxA0ByAZkc/s320/final%20kindle%20cover.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">No Kickstarter!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">No advanced orders!<br /><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">Short stories of Sherlock Holmes in the Conan Doyle style and tradition.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Available in print and Kindle!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">From the author who brought you:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">* </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Sherlock 6</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">* </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cold-Hearted Murder</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">* The Canadian Adventures of Sherlock Holmes</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Holmes of Baker Street is available on Amazon!</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Click here!</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMpudnMzS1FjtahasF-QDft7RFMQHiQhHwu3yc9pGuhgcXfT-KQfNPUGnow7KDkDiHIl1gyq3LHGX5VionLu5vx5mkEQKSO0RD2dI6OUYHmwUy7BsTBk3ldt7NtT2KvkTi53OPDnm0d3oWP4BvutqudLKzWRHLwbCug8RGbY8rjrV0UPcEy2rYw4/s1800/82510223_10213225241383894_7674080046680973755_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1125" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMpudnMzS1FjtahasF-QDft7RFMQHiQhHwu3yc9pGuhgcXfT-KQfNPUGnow7KDkDiHIl1gyq3LHGX5VionLu5vx5mkEQKSO0RD2dI6OUYHmwUy7BsTBk3ldt7NtT2KvkTi53OPDnm0d3oWP4BvutqudLKzWRHLwbCug8RGbY8rjrV0UPcEy2rYw4/s320/82510223_10213225241383894_7674080046680973755_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhZk5Df-Gofipy3EcRRiGz13OMM0pEInTgSeCxWpEo8vQVnEeY_KgjVZYUznjO16A93rJD2UzW1DtuzLK2Ulmw5lJPhHW7haRWVovB-pVxYt2m8wtVPt4d0Y8YpliSQJjLQmva9bNydcCH_06Cb1h03_FuZIIRw62EhMADL3aAIrs_vXY0QjW0LU/s1800/105597499_10213225243663951_7915064188245207972_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1125" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhZk5Df-Gofipy3EcRRiGz13OMM0pEInTgSeCxWpEo8vQVnEeY_KgjVZYUznjO16A93rJD2UzW1DtuzLK2Ulmw5lJPhHW7haRWVovB-pVxYt2m8wtVPt4d0Y8YpliSQJjLQmva9bNydcCH_06Cb1h03_FuZIIRw62EhMADL3aAIrs_vXY0QjW0LU/s320/105597499_10213225243663951_7915064188245207972_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQzi7VtpShFH6N8P_RuRifnG_fptsoZM9F6Xcf_y3mpFVu6II87pHCVAIR7FrjW1I1FbdEQwnoKg7JMK5llke6udPE5tsT-MDOs2C9vVIcq8_TrILPDRStKmky2I4Ed5LmiKk-QBIs7oYsnpVZIPIdaviAQ3ZIvEa5NaDF5oPaGftuDMSoUavg98/s1280/thumbnail_Sherlock%206%20-%202nd%20version%20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQzi7VtpShFH6N8P_RuRifnG_fptsoZM9F6Xcf_y3mpFVu6II87pHCVAIR7FrjW1I1FbdEQwnoKg7JMK5llke6udPE5tsT-MDOs2C9vVIcq8_TrILPDRStKmky2I4Ed5LmiKk-QBIs7oYsnpVZIPIdaviAQ3ZIvEa5NaDF5oPaGftuDMSoUavg98/s320/thumbnail_Sherlock%206%20-%202nd%20version%20.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-6da7a3c4-7fff-2985-3024-377cbdb88581"></span></p><p> </p><div><br /></div><p><br /></p></div>stephen gasparhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04304511252320058397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111766123201786757.post-85751175460306057392023-06-03T14:15:00.000-07:002023-06-04T17:13:17.980-07:00Holmes of Baker St. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hjU2A985OmsWMRYqfkm-Oi7my9hXKkw67s2oBK9YSsXnfMgysXsT61oQSU6XO9X1w0Dg-C3H-aZwSwaMIDYjuYN9iT6F1e7cZ1ideyGPSRqtrXQbqyoiKKNBVVNAew2MLKNinwE19nRcYtaJEdzAfPpb-cpxcznBjCLJDoEEBiciFurkGHohP_I/s463/Sherlock%20Holmes%20by%20Josh%20Reilly%204%20(2014_01_30%2000_15_29%20UTC).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hjU2A985OmsWMRYqfkm-Oi7my9hXKkw67s2oBK9YSsXnfMgysXsT61oQSU6XO9X1w0Dg-C3H-aZwSwaMIDYjuYN9iT6F1e7cZ1ideyGPSRqtrXQbqyoiKKNBVVNAew2MLKNinwE19nRcYtaJEdzAfPpb-cpxcznBjCLJDoEEBiciFurkGHohP_I/s463/Sherlock%20Holmes%20by%20Josh%20Reilly%204%20(2014_01_30%2000_15_29%20UTC).jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hjU2A985OmsWMRYqfkm-Oi7my9hXKkw67s2oBK9YSsXnfMgysXsT61oQSU6XO9X1w0Dg-C3H-aZwSwaMIDYjuYN9iT6F1e7cZ1ideyGPSRqtrXQbqyoiKKNBVVNAew2MLKNinwE19nRcYtaJEdzAfPpb-cpxcznBjCLJDoEEBiciFurkGHohP_I/s16000/Sherlock%20Holmes%20by%20Josh%20Reilly%204%20(2014_01_30%2000_15_29%20UTC).jpg" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-weight: 400; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Illustration by Josh Rile</span><span style="font-weight: 400; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: preserve;">y</span><span style="font-weight: 400; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">Baker Street </b>in London is undoubtedly one of the most famous streets in the world thanks to the wonderful work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.</span></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">Baker Street is a street in the Marylebone district in the City of Westminster in London. It used to run south from Regent's Park meeting Marylebone Road to the north.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">Baker Street was laid out in the 18th century by the builder William Baker. In 1835 Madame Tussauds Wax Museum opened on Baker St.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Baker St. crosses several streets including Oxford St., a busy retail thoroughfare, and the street where Dr. Watson was known to buy his boots.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When the Holmes stories were published, Baker St. did not go up to 221.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I live in Windsor, Ontario, and just over 160 km northeast is London, Ontario which has its own Baker Street.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">The title of my new book, Holmes of Baker Street, came to me when I was rereading </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">The Adventure of the Reigate Squires</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> (1893). Inspector Forrester said, </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">“I hope I don’t intrude, but we hear Mr. Holmes of Baker Street is here.”</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> After reading that, I was struck that those four words were as good a title as any. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=baker+street+song+studio+version&rlz=1C1CHBF_enCA853CA853&biw=1242&bih=590&tbm=vid&ei=Iid7ZJvvO6SQur8PlZeCKA&oq=baker+street+song+studio&gs_lcp=Cg1nd3Mtd2l6LXZpZGVvEAEYADIFCCEQoAEyBQghEKABMggIIRAWEB4QHTIICCEQFhAeEB0yCAghEBYQHhAdMggIIRAWEB4QHTIICCEQFhAeEB0yCAghEBYQHhAdMggIIRAWEB4QHTIICCEQFhAeEB06DQgAEIoFELEDEIMBEEM6BwgAEIoFEEM6BQgAEIAEOgYIABAWEB46BAghEBVQ4wFY-BxguzNoAHAAeACAAZkBiAHVB5IBAzEuN5gBAKABAcABAQ&sclient=gws-wiz-video#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:d0523892,vid:9TE8LruvSUQ">Gerry Rafferty's <i>Baker Street</i> (1978)</a></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3tIX7awIic9zb504qTrIcNZCAKploKgPHb5A6gWkZxrV0rplGx8uorX28KvWnDfsGZrFVhgc5u7eJXmsnDUp8nypsBRsiYuvDLE0MvbT5aUiAvrlrRdUGnVnDE2h8OmmrsCVdvRSPQwOeSxi4ryHzqEp6IHogtP2t0aFAooWv9hvMu9wE47bSFRQ" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><img alt="" data-original-height="341" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3tIX7awIic9zb504qTrIcNZCAKploKgPHb5A6gWkZxrV0rplGx8uorX28KvWnDfsGZrFVhgc5u7eJXmsnDUp8nypsBRsiYuvDLE0MvbT5aUiAvrlrRdUGnVnDE2h8OmmrsCVdvRSPQwOeSxi4ryHzqEp6IHogtP2t0aFAooWv9hvMu9wE47bSFRQ=s16000" /></a></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stephen+gaspar&i=stripbooks-intl-ship&crid=2AK3YR9KFXC0G&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C123&ref=nb_sb_noss_1" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">All of Stephen Gaspar's books can be found on Amazon! </span></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stephen+gaspar&i=stripbooks-intl-ship&crid=2AK3YR9KFXC0G&sprefix=stephen+gaspar%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C123&ref=nb_sb_noss_1" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">click here!</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxCmx161hnJ5yXID-4Dj8ibTHCbp1Kb7-rWO0AJGrQGLXhKUAJ-22SlSqxVQfowwxNNV5amacEtWUu98iEEIAVH1FvNJ8eVem5SVjEljAZ3bMaPvui6Nu8q8qSQDbbUClsdn2H9Z-QBKPw-xToTNpDzfw0YX20jAMH2IO9XbiRHp0nmfi1CeSy074/s2525/final%20kindle%20cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2525" data-original-width="1587" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxCmx161hnJ5yXID-4Dj8ibTHCbp1Kb7-rWO0AJGrQGLXhKUAJ-22SlSqxVQfowwxNNV5amacEtWUu98iEEIAVH1FvNJ8eVem5SVjEljAZ3bMaPvui6Nu8q8qSQDbbUClsdn2H9Z-QBKPw-xToTNpDzfw0YX20jAMH2IO9XbiRHp0nmfi1CeSy074/w251-h400/final%20kindle%20cover.jpg" width="251" /></a></div> <p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: start;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p>stephen gasparhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04304511252320058397noreply@blogger.com0