"A Scandal in Bohemia," by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

In which Mr Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson engage in Royal Intrigue, and in which our narrator promptly forgets his forswearing of British Accents, acquitting himself "Passably," yet manages a German accent "Most Atrociously," or "Perhaps Russian?"



Sidney Paget's illustrations are not quite as well-known anymore as John Tenniel's ones for Alice, but they still helped create the visual image of Holmes that continues to this day:

15:28 - The King cannot conceal his identity.

A few handy notes: a landau is a heavy four-wheeled carriage where four people sat facing each other and the coachman drove four horse from a raised seat in front. A brougham is a light four-wheeler, drawn by one horse and carrying two passengers (three, if one rode with the driver.) A gasogene is a thing used to carbonate water, and I kinda want one. The "Boswell" Holmes refers to is James Boswell, the biographer of Samuel Johnson. A "cabinet" photograph is about 3 7/8" x 5 1/2".

I really apologize for the King's terrible, terrible German accent. Really. Just... terrible.

21:50 - A Cunningly Disguised Holmes

Another note: a Chubb lock is the first lock to have internal tumblers and a hilarious name.

27:54 - Holmes is drafted into a Most Hasty Wedding.

It's funny just how large the character of Irene Adler looms in the Sherlock Holmes canon. In adaptations, such as the recent movies with Robert Downey, Jr., the American-set TV series with Jonny Lee Miller, and the BBC series with Bumbershoot Cummerbund,* she frequently plays a quite major part, often as a recurring character and frequently as a love interest of Sherlock's. And yet, she only appears in this one short story and is mentioned, sometimes obliquely, in just a few others.
I mean, I can't blame writers for playing her up; there's kind of a dearth of interesting female characters in the original stories, and even Doyle refers to her as one of the only people (sometimes, the only one) to completely win out over Holmes. And yet, she only appears in this one short story and is mentioned, sometimes obliquely, in just a few others.

At least I can be fairly certain I nailed her New Jersey accent.

Oh, and a "plumber's smoke rocket" was used to test for leaks, and presumably for many hilarious pranks. Mr. John Hare, referred to by Watson in the narration, was a famous English actor of the day.

39:38 - "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes."

Irene Adler's expanded role might also be an attempt to make up for some of the more casual sexism displayed by Holmes in his assessment of women's characters.

42:39 - Mister Holmes has Been Had.

If you would like to read along, the text can be found at Project Gutenberg. No reading ahead, though!

*Bandicoot Crackerjack. Candlestick Bandersnatch. Bangarang Cuppa-tea.