Everyone knows Holmes, but there is so much more to learn and enjoy. In the first of five classes, we will explore his context and style. Arthur Conan Doyle set his 56 stories and 4 novels (The Canon) in London from 1890 to 1904, a time of huge scientific progress and changing social classes and roles. But Doyle was not alone; dozens of writers were creating detectives (The Rivals) and similar crime stories with female detectives, on railroads, etc. In Doyle after Sherlock, he created similar stories (Professor Challenger), wrote medical mysteries, historical novels, and explored communicating with the dead. Our fourth class will survey the thousands of pastiches (Sherlock after Doyle) with the beloved characters and set all over the world and in all times. Our last class will examine Holmesian thinking from several perspectives, from which we may profit. We will read the best for each class.
((Edward Zuckerman - In Person: CMU Campus - Wednesday))
