Coin of the Canonical Realm by Nicholas Utechin “Rex.”

Coin of the Canonical Realm by Nicholas Utechin
Published in December 2013.
58 pages, perfect bound.
Price: $9.00 USD
US Postage: $3.00 USD
International Postage: $5.00 USD

In this, the first monograph published by the John H Watson Society, Nicholas Utechin sets out to make 21st century sense of all the 19th century mentions of money in the Sherlock Holmes stories.

Have you ever stopped to wonder exactly what a ‘half-sovereign’ would buy today? Find out what Mary Morstan stood to gain if the Agra treasure had not been hurled out of the Aurora. How much in dollars – then and now – would Neville St. Clair’s daily begging takings have amounted to? Could Sir Henry Baskerville’s $6 boots be bought for an equivalent sum in 2014?

Coin of the Canonical Realm is an important work whose validity might not survive all-engulfing world inflation, but currently provides the first ever detailed snapshot of the practicalities of Holmes’s financial world.

The Society is covering its printing and postage costs with $1.50 remaining to contribute to future publishing projects. Please support the Society’s efforts to further original research in Canonical topics. Payment may be made via PayPal or credit card.

About the author: NICHOLAS UTECHIN is a Director-at-Large of the John H. Watson Society (‘Rex’), a Baker Street Irregular (‘The Ancient British Barrow’) and an Honorary Member of The Sherlock Holmes Society of London (having edited “The Sherlock Holmes Journal” from 1976-2006). He is a freelance journalist and worked for many years as a producer and presenter on BBC radio. He lives in Oxford, U.K.

Monograph Review from Ron Lies “Chips”

This kind review of the Society’s first monograph publication was received from our appreciative member Ron Lies “Chips” in Denver. Thank you, “Chips”:

“I received my copy of Coin of the Canonical Realm written by Nicolas Utechin and edited and designed by Dr Joanne Yates. This first monograph by our society is a pleasure to read. It is full of information for each case that I now have at my fingertips. It is a great bargain for what little it costs. I feel there will come a day when you will not be able to obtain a copy and you will be sorry.”

Ron in Denver

The Monograph Mails Today: “Coin of the Conanical Realm”

Buttons has just returned from the Wigmore Street Post Office where he posted the monograph “Coin of the Canonical Realm” to all who ordered a copy. The printer shipped to the Drs office on time, but weather and the Christmas bustle seems to have delayed delivery from New Jersey to California until 31 December. But, all is well!  You should all receive your copies in 7 to 10 days, a bit longer for our European and Far East members.

Thank you very much indeed to all who purchased a copy of this fascinating and exceedingly detailed and well-researched monograph by Nicholas Utechin “Rex.”  The design and editing by our Editor, Dr Joanne Yates, is superb. This will be a monograph of historical canonical note.

There are still a few copies remaining. Please see the Society Publications page to order a copy.

 

Amazing & Extraordinary Facts: Sherlock Holmes by Nicholas Utechin, JHWS “Rex”

8303670.jpgAmazing & Extraordinary Facts: Sherlock Holmes

by Nicholas Utechin, JHWS “Rex”

Published by David & Charles, 2012. Available from Amazon   $11.00

Amazing & Extraordinary Facts – Sherlock Holmes brings to life the most celebrated fictional character in history, through all of Arthur Conan Doyle’s 60 stories, to his transition onto stage, radio, television and the big screen that continues today, along with the actors who have played him. Every aspect of the pipe-smoking, deer stalked character is explored, including his relationships with Dr. Watson, his long-suffering landlady Mrs. Hudson, Scotland Yard detectives, and his nemesis Professor Moriarty, as well as Holmes’ literary and musical tastes, bad habits, and his preferred disguises.Whether you enjoy the stories of Arthur Conan Doyle or the television shows and films that they have inspired, this latest title in the Amazing & Extraordinary Facts series celebrates the timeless detective who continues to be a firm part of popular culture for generations to come.

Reviews

At about the same time as Jean Upton and I were commissioned to write The Sherlock Holmes Miscellany, Nick Utechin was signing a contract for this volume in the Amazing & Extraordinary Facts series. Inevitably the two books cover much of the same ground, but the treatment and the emphasis in each case are individual. Nick’s approach is broadly chronological, beginning with “The Doyle Family” and concluding with “Holmes in the 21st Century”, and no passage (they aren’t called chapters) is longer than three pages — but nothing is rushed and nothing is too condensed. Among the passages are illuminating snippets about, for instance, the Langham Hotel, portrayals of Mycroft Holmes, and Basil Rathbone’s frustration at being typecast. The very brief observations on each of the sixty stories are pithy, pertinent and sometimes debatable — was the theft of part of the Beryl Coronet not a real crime? And how about the forced marriage of Violet Smith? The writing throughout is, of course, exemplary. I’d never really thought deeply about the effect that the first short story must have had on its readers when it appeared in The Strand Magazine, but Nick Utechin has, and his assessment is masterly. (Watson tells us, though, that Irene Adler was a contralto, not a  soprano. And, on a different matter, I’d love to know Nick’s authority for giving Lestrade the first name George.) The illustrations, sadly, don’t match the quality of the text. Otherwise this is as attractive a pocket volume as you could wish — an excellent introduction for the novice with plenty to engage and inform the experienced aficionado.

Roger Johnson, JHWS “Count”

What a beautiful and very useful book! I had a lot of fun reading it and it is indeed a very useful reference work, both for Sherlockians and newcomers to the universe of Conan Doyle.

I enjoyed all of it, I must say. Although I knew most of the facts (I must confess that I’ve learned some important facts reading this book, which was truly illuminating), it’s great to read a book from beginning to end, like a story in itself, that tell us so much about the Sherlock Holmes Holmes universe and its creator. I particularly enjoyed the references to Conan Doyle’s life and experiences, Utechin’s highly enjoyable one-sentence resumes on the Canon stories and the Sherlock Holmes audio and video Media information.

There are a lot of Sherlock Holmes reference books. Some good, some not so good. This one is great! I’ll keep it close by. I strongly recommend it. Nick Utechin is a truly great sherlockian and his knowledge is an inspiration.

Nuno Robles, JHWS “Oakley” (Portugal)

Welcome to Nick Utechin, BSI “The Ancient British Barrow,” SHSL, JHWS

The Society welcomes Mr. Nick Utechin, BSI, as a Founding Member. Mr. Utechin is among the world’s most well-regarded Sherlockians and is a prolific scholar, author and keeper of knowledge concerning the Sacred Canon and the Holmesian dialogue.

Nicholas Utechin joined The Sherlock Holmes Society of  London in 1966, aged 14, and ended up editing The Sherlock Holmes Journal from 1976-2006.   He is an invested Baker Street Irregular (1976) with the title ‘The Ancient British Barrow’.   Nick has contributed to Sherlockian scholarship for many years and enjoys sharing the fact that he is related to Basil Rathbone with those who may or may not be
interested..

In another life, he is a freelance radio broadcaster/producer and was on the staff of the BBC for many years. Other interests include the films of D.W.Griffith (he was once privileged to interview Lillian Gish, at the Savoy Hotel in London) and buying what fine wines he can afford in these ludicrously expensive times.

Please join in welcoming Nick with the Society’s greeting to members:

“You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”