Showing results by narrator "J. T. McDaniel" in All Categories

Is Sherlock Holmes really as rational as he seems? He talks about the importance of reasoning and logic, but why then does he sometimes seem like a “strange Buddha”? On the other hand, why in The Sign of the Four does Watson smash a Buddha? What is going on in all the original 60 stories in “the canon”? In this study of the stories, Sheldon Goldfarb explores questions like these, from the significance of the eggs in “Thor Bridge” to the reason Watson keeps leaving Holmes for an insubstantial wife.

The history of the world is marked by grand narratives of civilizations, rising and falling in a complex dance of social, political, and economic forces. None, however, quite compare to the power, influence, and sheer longevity of the Roman Empire. In this great saga of the ancient world, the Roman Empire stands as a pinnacle of administrative sophistication, military might, and cultural achievement.

Sherlock Holmes has been a beloved character from his first story, and his mystique endures to the modern age in print and on screen, but he has had a long life in the theater, as well. Where did it begin? What are the themes, stories, and characterizations that make his stage presence unique and just as enduring?

A master criminal known as The Voice has returned from retirement to mastermind a new crime. Unfortunately, Jerry finds he has several highly diverse matters on his hands: the protection of a visiting diplomat's headstrong daughter, a shipment of gold by rail, and a scientist who claims to have discovered the trick of creating gold in the laboratory. Is The Voice's planned caper connected with any of these events?

Following his second marriage in 1907, Arthur Conan Doyle was looking to the future. The years ahead would see the birth of three children, fresh literary success and the discovery of his new faith. Those same years would also see the First World War, the final adventures of Sherlock Holmes, and ridicule from the religious and scientific communities for his beliefs.

The late 1890s saw Arthur Conan Doyle return to England after several years abroad. His new house, named Undershaw, represented a fresh start, but it was also the beginning of a dramatic decade that saw him fall in love, stand for parliament, fight injustice, and be awarded a knighthood. However, for his many admirers, the most important event of that decade was the resurrection of Sherlock Holmes—the character that he felt had cast a shadow over his life.

In 1901, Arthur Conan Doyle "resurrected" Holmes for what turned out to be his most popular story, The Hound of the Baskervilles. It first appeared as nine episodes in the British edition of The Strand Magazine. The first episode was accompanied by a brief footnote that acknowledged the assistance provided by a young journalist called Bertram Fletcher Robinson. Almost immediately, there was speculation about the extent of Fletcher Robinson's contribution to the narrative of the story. Fletcher Robinson's early death did little to end such speculation.

East meets West as one of the most talented British Sherlockian scholars, John Hall, and a Japanese member of the Baker Street Irregulars, Hirayama Yuichi, argue important Sherlockian questions. One offers the other three questions, and the other answers them with all their Sherlockian knowledge. They are serious Sherlockian battles between an English Knight and Japanese samurai! This volume also includes Hirayama's Sherlockian papers published in The Musgraves, The Baker Street Journal, The Canadian Holmes, and The Shoso-in Bulletin.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is one of the most written about men who ever lived but despite this, some parts of his life get little attention. One such period is between 1891 and 1894 when he lived in South Norwood in present day south east London. During this period, he wrote and published much of his best work including the first two series of Sherlock Holmes short stories. This book looks at his life during this period and, in contrast to other biographies, spends time looking at some of his input into local Norwood life.

Sherlock Holmes returns to London after three years away. Traveling from New York to Liverpool he faces death-defying challenges. He finds his city in the grip of a mass murderer and No. 221B Baker Street under siege. He reforms his partnership with Dr. John H. Watson in "The Adventure of the Empty House". Miss Rachel Marcello and other characters from These Scattered Houses, a new young Inspector Chandra Das, the Baker Street Irregulars, and the usual London crew, plus a few surprises, have their parts to play.

The Keys of Death is Baker Street bedrock. In Gretchen Altabef’s 1880 novel, Sherlock Holmes, Doctor Watson, and Mrs. Hudson begin something great in the world.

Dragons, mythical beasts, mighty warriors, and perilous forests. This is England in AD 1066. The Anglo-Saxon king Harold is bound north to repel a strong force of Norsemen - unaware of the approaching threat upon the southern shores of his kingdom. Among his army of thousands, from noble thegns to battle-hardened housecarls and staunch fyrdmen, is the ambitious, loyal, and proud Leofwin.

The Sherlockian Canon, as prolific as it is, contains few accounts in which Mr. Holmes and his medical colleagues Doctors Watson and Verner solve cases involving frightening medical conditions. It strikes me that many more such cases were successfully solved by Mr. Holmes and his associates. It is unlikely that Doctors Watson and Verner would allow such mysteries remain unsolved.

A tale set during the start of World War II that involves the passengers of a cruise ship on its maiden voyage from New Brunswick to Iceland to pick up some European refugees. Once the new passengers are on board a group of Nazis take over the ship with the hope of finding the inventor of a doomsday bomb. The noble captain uses a snowstorm to head the ship straight into an ice-field at the Arctic Circle, thus leaving them snowbound. Decisions have to be made as to staying with the ship or making a dangerous trek across the snow and ice to a remote village.

Soon, an entire British army will climb out of their trenches to attack the German lines, only a few deadly yards away. For Lieutenant Oliver Black, this will be his third attack. He's wondering if his luck will hold. Only five of the original 30 platoon members are still with him. The rest have been killed, or so badly wounded they'll never return to the line. The replacements are green, mostly untried. One of them manages to get himself shot in the head only hours before the attack.

Speedway, Indiana native Ricky Wills is a hotshot racecar driver with a chip on his shoulder. As one of the brightest rising stars in the racing world, Ricky competes for a chance to race in the legendary Indianapolis 500, and struggles to maintain his small-town identity as he is swept up by industry fame and the charms of big-city celebrities.

A collection of new one-act plays, on such subjects as the fate of Jack the Ripper, just why Claudius killed Hamlet's father, the motives of an obsessive-compulsive killer with a computer fixation, a brother and sister at their father's funeral, and a 45-year marriage starting to come apart as the husband begins to forget his life. Written by the author of Coming Out, these five plays are a wonderful addition to any night of one-acts.

Sugar gliders are amazing creatures and a wonderful pet; however, they are not as easy to raise as one may think. This book explains the difficulties of owning a glider and some great techniques for caring for them.

Never done Shakespeare before? Wondering what's in store? This brief guide gives an overview of acting in Shakespeare's plays. It covers traditions, the use, or non-use, of accents, hints on characterization, learning to speak in iambic pentameter, and so forth. This audiobook includes a bonus chapter of Shakespearean content not found in the e-book.