Sherlock Holmes
August 12th, 2008
booksFor some reason–I think it was when I read that Dr. Gregory House’s name is a sly reference–I decided to read some Sherlock Holmes stories. I checked out from the library The Complete Sherlock Holmes, a giant compendium of every word Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote about his brilliant amateur detective.
Dr. Conan Doyle started writing these stories as he waited for patients to come to his burgeoning medical practice. This first, a novel called A Study in Scarlet, introduces Holmes and Watson to us and to each other. The second half transports the reader away from London and oddly begins anew in Utah to tell a rather overcomplete backstory, but luckily I was compelled enough by the first half to trudge through. And it’s been worth it; the whole series is great fun.
The second story is also a novel (The Sign of Four), which opens with a description of Holmes’ left forearm pocked by needles: without a case to occupy his mind, he enjoys cocaine intravenously (”a seven percent solution”), several times a day for months at a stretch. I never knew that Sherlock is a total spaz; the calm persona and dry demeanor that I expected is only an act, a cover for the raw excitement he exhibits during a case as counterpoint to his natural morosity when he is bored.
Perhaps because of its unusual nature, I particularly enjoyed the singular Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton (from the Return of Sherlock Holmes collection). Unlike Dr. House, Sherlock rarely withholds conclusions from official detectives, and almost never actually steps outside the law, like he does in this cozy little story.
While reading these, I’ve been treated to a delightful battery of new vocabulary; so much so that, even as I could decipher the vague meaning of unknown words in context, I started writing them down so I could look up their more precise definition. Here’s a selection (many of which I plan on using assiduously):
| assiduously | with care and persistence |
| astrakhan | wool made from young lambs (from Russia) |
| baize | a material similar to green felt that covers billiards tables |
| barrow | a mound of earth or stones marking a grave |
| blackguard | an unprincipled contemptible person; a man who swears in front of women |
| chandler | a candle-maker |
| chevron | an inverted V as in insignia |
| claret | a dark-red color, like the wine |
| cruet | a carafe with a stopper or lid |
| dun | a light brown-gray color |
| fatuous | foolish or silly, especially in a smug or self-satisfying way |
| foolscap | yellow ruled writing paper (originally each sheet had a fool’s cap printed on it) |
| garrulous | Excessively or tiresomely talkative |
| hansom | a two-wheeled carriage with the driver outside, above, and behind the passenger cab |
| impecunious | lacking money |
| invidious | envious; offensively or unfairly discriminating |
| jemmy | a thieves’ crowbar |
| legation | a diplomatic representative office lower than an embassy |
| morass | A tract of soft, wet ground that sinks underfoot |
| obtrusive | noticeable; prominent, especially in a displeasing way |
| palimpsest | a manuscript that has been erased and written on top of again |
| parapet | a barrier at the edge of a roof or structure to prevent persons or vehicles from falling over the edge |
| paregoric | a camphorated tincture of opium, a medication known for its antidiarrheal, antitussive, and analgesic properties |
| philology | the humanistic study of historical linguistics |
| pince-nez | eyeglasses which pinch the nose instead of hooking the ear |
| portiere | a curtain hanging in a doorframe |
| rubicund | inclined to a healthy reddish complexion |
| russet | a dark-red color, like the potato |
| salver | a silver tray without handles used for serving food, drinks, and letters |
| stertorously | breathing heavily, like snoring |
| tarry | aromas and flavors that suggest fresh tar; a smoky aroma and taste associated with a smoked black tea |
| turbid | muddy, thick, or hazy, as water clouded with sediment |
| unctuous | Profusely and unpleasantly polite and insincerely earnest |
| valise | a small overnight bag for short trips; closes at the top with two carrying handles |
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One Response to “Sherlock Holmes”
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I read these stories for the same reason — having heard of the connection between House and Holmes.
My favorite word here is palimpsest, which I love the idea of. It’d so set up to spark a cool story.