Sherlock Holmes never actually uttered the words, “Elementary, my dear Watson!” but this and other iconic traces of the detective have lasted for over a century. There have been more than 60 film adaptations of Holmes, including versions in which he is portrayed by a mouse, a dog, and at least once as a woman. Arthur Conan Doyle, who wrote the original stories, was a medical doctor, a freemason, and a believer in spiritualism and clairvoyance. In this seminar, these and other curious facts will be explored (or should we say ‘detected’?). We will examine a cross-section of the Sherlock stories, and take a quick detour into Doyle’s supernatural stories. We will examine the enduring themes of Holmesiana by viewing film and television versions of the detective. There will be an examination of the history of the time, which will bring us to reading about psychology and science as they apply to Sherlock Holmes’ theories of knowledge. Finally, we will look at a real murder case and the trial at the Old Bailey. What is the enduring power of this mysterious figure, Sherlock Holmes? By the end, we will know much about his methods.

Please Note: This course is an updated version of the same course offered by Professor Berry in Summer 2016.