CONAN DOYLE PICKS 'EM

MY TWO OBSESSIONS THIS WEEK ARE ODDLY ENOUGH RICHARD NIXON AND SHERLOCK HOLMES. 

I can't tell you why these two now in this week -- things just happen like this sometimes.  I've recently re-watched the superb AMERICAN EXPERIENCE dvd on Nixon, I'm listening to the Smithsonian Folkways 5 volumes of WATERGATE albums (featured soon on Nov. 12th at my sister blog "THE DARK FOREST") and am reading Stanley Kutler's "THE WARS OF WATERGATE".  That's Tricky Dick spoken for.  But as for the world's greatest consulting detective, I've been re-listening to some of the exquisite 1950s radio series THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES starring Sir John Gielgud and Sir Ralph Richardson as well as re-watching the complete Granada TV series of THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES starring Jeremy Brett.  In that spirit, I thought it would be fun to find out what Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's favourite Sherlock Holmes stories were.  And we can by consulting the 1927 issue of THE STRAND MAGAZINE in which the author tell us his opinion that the best Sherlock Holmes stories were:

• THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND
• THE ADVENTURE OF THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE
• THE ADVENTURE OF THE DANCING MEN
• THE FINAL PROBLEM
• A SCANDAL IN BOHEMIA
• THE ADVENTURE OF THE EMPTY HOUSE
• THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS
• THE ADVENTURE OF THE SECOND STAIN
• THE ADVENTURE OF THE DEVIL'S FOOT
• THE ADVENTURE OF THE PRIORY SCHOOL
• THE ADVENTURE OF THE MUSGRAVE RITUAL
• THE ADVENTURE OF THE REIGATE SQUIRE

In an aside to this article, Sir Arthur also notes that it's a shame he cannot choose stories from the not-yet-published CASE-BOOK OF SHERLOCK HOLMES or else he'd have included THE ADVENTURE OF THE LION'S MANE and THE ADVENTURE OF THE ILLUSTRIOUS CLIENT.  Author Peter Haining has suggested that the mention of these two might be an attempt to boost the sales of the forthcoming book.  Either way, these are the stories the creator of Sherlock Holmes himself picked.  

And what are MY favourite Sherlock Holmes stories?   Hmmm, that's a good question.  Perhaps if I re-familiarise myself with the "Canon", I'll be able to get back to you with an answer to that.  I can say without fear of contradiction that quite a few of those mentioned above will be on my list as well.  Watch this space.