Sherlock Holmes C O L L E C T I O

September 2008 D S O F N Volume 12 Number 3 E T Klinger to Appear at the Andersen Library I H R E he University of Minnesota F Libraries are happy to announce Dracula has gripped readers since its of Holmes. I considered the story in the following: first publication in 1897. While the light of historical and scientific evi- T book has been studied by scholars dence to determine its veracity.” World- in virtually every academic disci- renowned pline, none have accepted Bram This isn’t the first time that Les Klinger Sherlockian Stoker’s declaration that the work has appeared at the Andersen Library. Sherlock Holmes Leslie S. was based on historical fact. For the He’s been a featured speaker at Klinger’s anno- first time, Klinger examines all of the Sherlockian conferences, and did a simi- COLLECTIONS tated volumes evidence, both internal and external, lar book debut and signing for The New of Sir Arthur including contemporary travel Annotated Sherlock Holmes. “Everyone “Your merits should be publicly recognized” (STUD) Conan Doyle’s books, scientific texts, Victorian knows that the Andersen Library is the short stories encyclopedias, as well as Stoker’s center of the Sherlockian universe, and and novels met notes for the narrative and the origi- I’ve always been treated there as a very Contents Serpentine Muse-ings Photo by Brian Braff with delight nal manuscript itself (the document special guest,” Les noted in a recent com- Leslie Klinger and enthusi- is owned by a private, anonymous munication. “Minneapolis has also been By Julie McKuras, ASH, BSI asm from crit- collector, and Klinger is one of only very welcoming to my friend Neil Serpentine Muse-ings ics and readers alike upon publica- two researchers to have seen it in Gaiman, who wrote the introduction to he Adventuresses of Sherlock Holmes, known as ASH, were originally formed tion. Now, Les Klinger focuses his recent years). my book. The New Annotated Dracula is 1 in the “Spring of 1967 at Albertus Magnus College.”1 Then, as now, Evelyn critical eye and keen wit on Bram an attempt to introduce the Sherlockian Herzog served as the Principal Unprincipled Adventuress of ASH. It was a Stoker’s classic novel in The New “I’m fascinated by the Victorian age, ‘game’ to the world of Dracula — to treat 100 Years Ago T group for women, who were excluded from The Baker Street Irregulars at the Annotated Dracula, to be published and Dracula is its other great iconic the story as true and apply traditional 2 time, until 1991 when four men received their investitures in ASH: Peter Blau, Thomas by W.W. Norton in October 2008 figure (Sherlock Holmes being the research techniques to the ‘facts’ present- Stix Jr., William S. Baring-Gould (posthumously), and John Bennett Shaw. In 2008, with an introduction by Neil first)” says Klinger. “There’s a lot of ed in the book. Sherlockians already 50 Years Ago nineteen men joined the ranks. Gaiman. cross-over in fan literature, with appear to be intensely interested in Holmes and the vampire as twin Dracula (the other great Victorian icon), 3 In April 1975 Mary Ellen Couchon Rich produced Join the Friends of the Sherlock poles—Holmes standing for reason and I hope to reach a whole new audi- the first ASH Newsletter. Over the years, the for- Holmes Collections on October 27, and justice, Dracula for unreason ence! (And of course it’s a great excuse to Musings mat, publication schedules and the title changed. It 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in the Elmer L. and evil. I also saw an opportunity see my many Minneapolitan friends!)” 4 was Mary Ellen Rich who named the publication Andersen Library to hear Klinger to bring a fresh new approach to The Serpentine Muse. She served as editor of the speak and sign copies of his new Dracula, one that Sherlockians have Join us on October 27 as we welcome Allen J. Hubin publication, as have Kate Karlson, Susan book. applied for a century to the stories Les Klinger. Dahlinger, and Patricia Moran, with the Principal 4 Unprincipled Adventuress Evelyn Herzog always playing a role. In the winter of 1996, Susan An Update from Diamond and Marilynne McKay assumed their the Collections roles as joint editors of the quarterly journal. As 5 Susan noted, “I think we put out a good looking publication on a very modest budget. And, of Remembrances course, there’s the whole evolution from typewriter For any inquiries contact: From the President In supporting the Sherlock Holmes Collections, many donors have made Timothy J. Johnson, Curator copy to the electronic world. When Marilynne and contributions either in honor or in memory of special persons. 612-624-3552 or 5 I started, I mailed her diskettes!” [email protected] In Honor Of From Acquisitions Susan Diamond recently donated the files for each David Galerstein Warren Randall Sherlock Holmes Collections 6 issue of Vol. 20, #1 through Vol. 22, #1, adding to David Galerstein Dorothy Stix Suite 111, Elmer L. Andersen Library the Muse archives of Vol. 13 through 19 previously University of Minnesota sent to the Holmes Collections. The files contained Tony Howlett Jean Upton and Roger Johnson 222 21st Ave. S. Visitors to the Collections Paul Smedegaard Dorothy Stix Minneapolis, MN 55455 articles submitted for publication and notes regarding editing; notes about subscriptions, 7 address changes, and everything related to getting the publication produced; notes and Jan Stauber Sue and Ben Vizoskie Telephone: 612-626-9166 Benton Wood Dorothy Stix FAX: 612-625-5525 feedback on those issues; and general correspondence. Klinger to Appear at the Mailing list corrections requested— Andersen Library With this material, one can see each issue of The Serpentine Muse from inception to pub- Because of the high cost of returned newsletters, lication. Susan commented about choosing The Sherlock Holmes Collections as the we would appreciate being informed of changes 8 recipient of the files: of address or other corrections. Continued on page 6 Timothy J. Johnson, Curator Remembrances 8 8 Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections 1 50 Years Ago...Continued from Page 3 they demonstrated why interpretation a watery bog. Later, when the amnesiac’s hard for even us who Free. From first to last, said Davis’s was important. His fourth principle was clothes were drying, the detective collect- knew it to recall, and New York Times obituary, he was “a “The chief aim of Interpretation is not ed from them the seeds of many grasses must be unimagin- consistent tough-minded believer in instruction, but provocation.” Tilden’s and flowers that had gathered in the able to those who freedom, in self-government, and in 100 ability to provoke as well as his propen- crease of the rambling man’s trousers. have been born democracy.” And more than just a YEARS AGO sity to burlesque may be seen in this sin- Obviously Holmes was invoking the since. Yet against all believer: more than most men, Elmer gular Sherlock Holmes parody. Exchange Principle of detection here. our disillusionments Davis made a difference. The Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections That is, whenever someone intrudes and disappointments is a quarterly newsletter published by the A Reflection on “The Last Return of In The Alternative Sherlock Holmes: upon nature, they not only leave evi- we can offset one And unlike many other Great Men, he Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections Sherlock of Holmes,” a parody by which seek to promote the activities, inter- Pastiches, Parodies, and Copies, the authors, dence at the scene, but they also take great and glorious did it all without affectation. He never, Freeman Tilden ests and needs of the Special Collections Peter Ridgeway Watt and Joseph Green, something away with them. Further, as memory—we saw in Oxford, New York, nor Washington and Rare Books Department, University of mention Tilden’s short story. “This is an Minnesota Libraries. One of the few setbacks experienced by Watson once noted, Holmes could tell at Sherlock Holmes D.C., stopped being a Hoosier, or tried interesting little tale in which the detec- Mail editorial correspondence c/o: Sherlock Holmes during his career was a glance different soils from each other. come back. to suppress his twangy accent. He was tive, with some difficulty, admits that God one he himself admitted: he was bested This expertise may have emboldened always himself. He believed in truth, Editor is a superior.” It is fashionable to reflect on by Irene Adler. In the broader literature Holmes to claim that he was “something Elmer Davis was far more than just a told it as a newsman, defended it in his Julie McKuras Holmes’s canonical defeat at the hands of 13512 Granada Ave. of pastiche, parody, and burlesque (of of a botanist,” and that prompted his man of those times, though. After work at OWI, and never stopped fight- “The woman.” Using Tilden’s fourth prin- Apple Valley, MN 55124 which there are hundreds), Holmes planting the seeds and examining their helping to win World War II, he ing for it as a citizen. When the Times’ 952-431-1934 ciple, it is provocative to consider how the endured many setbacks — most of them growth. However, he also detected over returned to journalism, staying in James Reston reported on Davis’s memo- [email protected] detective was discomfited by “The deity” of a humorous or satirical nature — for two hundred varieties of fungi which Washington to be a commentator for rial service at Washington’s National in Tilden’s parody.

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