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[ MS HOLMES OF BAKER STREET THE TRUTH ABOUT SHERLOCK BY BRADLEY, ALAN C.](AUTHOR)PAPERBACK
Sherlock Holmes strides into our imagination, deerstalker hat jauntily set on his head, pipe protruding from his mouth, and a formidable intellect from which he painstakingly masters the mysteries he investigates. Yet the qualities that set Holmes apart as a masterful sleuth are rather commonplace—perhaps even universal—in any woman. In a deep investigation of the literature of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, C. Alan Bradley and William A.S. Sarjeant uncover the surprising truth about Sherlock Holmes.
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First published January 1, 1989
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 22, 2019
I've just finished a thought-provoking little book by Alan C. Bradley* and William A. S. Sarjeant entitled Ms. Holmes of Baker Street: The Truth About Sherlock. Their thesis is, of course, summed up in the work's title: Sherlock Holmes was a woman.
At first glance, this seems like a ludicrous idea, if not positively heretical. Yet the authors support their claim with quote after quote and incident after incident taken from the Holmes canon -- instances which, taken individually, are insufficient to prove the authors' case, but which in the aggregate do perhaps appear to suggest a female in disguise. Most telling to my mind are Holmes's periodic indisposition and tendency to take to his (her) bed -- periodic being the operative word. Too, there is Irene Adler's emphasis on the masculine appellation when, disguised as a boy, she brushes past Holmes in front of his apartments with a quiet, "Good night, Mister Sherlock Holmes!" Moriarty, in his turn, threatens not to kill Holmes but to destroy him, something Moriarty would have been able to do with ease, had he penetrated Sherlock's disguise.
The authors, like most Sherlockians, treat the Conan Doyle stories as fact. Working within the canon, they believe that even Watson was unaware of Holmes's femininity for many years. (There is no suggestion that Conan Doyle himself ever intended to place Holmes's gender in doubt.)
Their premise is of course an intriguing and amusing or infuriating one, depending on the strength of the reader's own perception of Holmes. Their argument is slightly marred by the fact that the authors, having first conceived of the idea, then looked exhaustively for evidence in support of their thesis without examining in much detail the evidence to the contrary -- the mark of an enthusiast rather than a truly impartial investigator. However, I thoroughly enjoyed "playing the game," temporarily suspending my own concept of Holmes in favor of the authors' as I read. In the end, however, what keeps me from embracing their conclusion wholeheartedly is my own partiality. Holmes to me is not merely the detective of the Conan Doyle stories but the much more complex, human, and admirable man in Laurie R. King's Mary Russell series - a series and a Holmes which have become more "real" to me than the Conan Doyle canon ever did.
ETA (4/22/2019): There are now at least two genderbent Sherlock Holmes pastiches available, Sherry Thomas's Lady Sherlock series and Claire O'Dell's Janet Watson Chronicles. Both are worth reading.
Review originally published on 4/15/2010 at The Bookwyrm's Hoard.
At first glance, this seems like a ludicrous idea, if not positively heretical. Yet the authors support their claim with quote after quote and incident after incident taken from the Holmes canon -- instances which, taken individually, are insufficient to prove the authors' case, but which in the aggregate do perhaps appear to suggest a female in disguise. Most telling to my mind are Holmes's periodic indisposition and tendency to take to his (her) bed -- periodic being the operative word. Too, there is Irene Adler's emphasis on the masculine appellation when, disguised as a boy, she brushes past Holmes in front of his apartments with a quiet, "Good night, Mister Sherlock Holmes!" Moriarty, in his turn, threatens not to kill Holmes but to destroy him, something Moriarty would have been able to do with ease, had he penetrated Sherlock's disguise.
The authors, like most Sherlockians, treat the Conan Doyle stories as fact. Working within the canon, they believe that even Watson was unaware of Holmes's femininity for many years. (There is no suggestion that Conan Doyle himself ever intended to place Holmes's gender in doubt.)
Their premise is of course an intriguing and amusing or infuriating one, depending on the strength of the reader's own perception of Holmes. Their argument is slightly marred by the fact that the authors, having first conceived of the idea, then looked exhaustively for evidence in support of their thesis without examining in much detail the evidence to the contrary -- the mark of an enthusiast rather than a truly impartial investigator. However, I thoroughly enjoyed "playing the game," temporarily suspending my own concept of Holmes in favor of the authors' as I read. In the end, however, what keeps me from embracing their conclusion wholeheartedly is my own partiality. Holmes to me is not merely the detective of the Conan Doyle stories but the much more complex, human, and admirable man in Laurie R. King's Mary Russell series - a series and a Holmes which have become more "real" to me than the Conan Doyle canon ever did.
ETA (4/22/2019): There are now at least two genderbent Sherlock Holmes pastiches available, Sherry Thomas's Lady Sherlock series and Claire O'Dell's Janet Watson Chronicles. Both are worth reading.
Review originally published on 4/15/2010 at The Bookwyrm's Hoard.
February 13, 2017
So obviously I read this for any bits I could tease out that had anything to do with Holmes and Watson being like, totally in love with each other, like fer serious. And... that is basically the entire book. Well, not counting the parts about Holmes's periods, pregnancies and menopause (which read like the authors had no idea what they were talking about btw). Just the same, this could be the beginnings of a really, really awesome Sherlock Holmes pastiche. Actually, with an idea as intriguing as this, it should be a pastiche. I want the adventures of Ms. Sherlock Holmes!
July 31, 2016
I didn't realize until I read this book just how involved fans of Sherlock Holmes could be. He and John Watson are two characters that have caused many people over the years to study, theorize and outright speculate about. One equivalent may be the Harry Potter series, where fans have gone over every word of each book and have put out some spectacular - and some not so spectacular - ideas about that particular world and its inhabitants.
This book puts forth the idea that Sherlock Holmes may have been a woman in disguise. It then goes through the stories and points out bits of dialogue, as well as certain actions on Sherlock's part to support the claim.
A bit of familiarity of the stories in Canon is needed to understand some of the things presented here, although I noticed that I could relate quite a few things to the four seasons of Sherlock that is on PBS. (Granted, the TV show has does not always follow the stories and has developed its own canon.)
I found this book an interesting read. The authors have done a good solid job in presenting their case. When it comes to the literary Sherlock Holmes, I may not think of 'him' in the same way ever again.
This book puts forth the idea that Sherlock Holmes may have been a woman in disguise. It then goes through the stories and points out bits of dialogue, as well as certain actions on Sherlock's part to support the claim.
A bit of familiarity of the stories in Canon is needed to understand some of the things presented here, although I noticed that I could relate quite a few things to the four seasons of Sherlock that is on PBS. (Granted, the TV show has does not always follow the stories and has developed its own canon.)
I found this book an interesting read. The authors have done a good solid job in presenting their case. When it comes to the literary Sherlock Holmes, I may not think of 'him' in the same way ever again.
March 29, 2010
An amazing study of instances in the mysteries of Sherlock Holmes that show he was actually a female--Charlotte, perhaps! This book will be especially intriguing to avid readers of Sherlock Holmes.
April 13, 2010
Quite an interesting take on the classic stories. I enjoyed the writing and found it plausible. I recommend it to anyone who is a Holmes fan.
December 2, 2017
Fascinating and full of great observations, but they were interpreted very wrongly.
March 20, 2017
I love most things by Alan Bradley so this is no different.
Not as well-read on Conan Doyle to agree or not but still entertaining.
Not as well-read on Conan Doyle to agree or not but still entertaining.
March 15, 2016
I started reading this because I thought it would be an interesting take on one of my favourite characters in popular literature. I found myself... less than impressed. While the authors try to assure at the beginning of the book that their ideas may seem sexist from a modern perspective but are only in time with the time period in which the works of ACD are published, most of it just comes across as blatant sexism (i.e., feminine moods, supposed jealousy over other women such as Mary Morstan Watson, irregular eating as a diagnostic trait of women, and including "noticing unshaven spots on men's faces" as something only women would notice).
As well, many of their arguments amount to Holmes' depressive moods as evidence of menstruation, a lone trip to France being a guise for Holmes giving birth to an illegitimate child, and Holmes having romantic feelings for Watson. With regards to menstruation, while depressive moods are quite common, they are not a diagnostic tool. Many cisgender men experience depressive moods, and to use these as a tool to claim a character is biologically female is irresponsible. As for the illegitimate child in France, this is purely a matter of speculation with no evidence to support the claim. In fact, logic and Occam's Razor seem to suggest the opposite. Surely Watson, who at this point the authors assure is unaware of Holmes' condition of being a woman, would have noticed his tall and thin friend getting rounder around the middle. A medical man would certainly have noticed something like this. As for the father of this supposed child, the authors simply say "we don't know who that is" and ignore that point entirely.
This book reads like two people who see the relationship of Holmes and Watson as one of a romantic nature but do not want to see them in a homosexual light. Therefore they find supposed evidence of Sherlock being a woman to support their "ship" as heterosexual. While these characters are open to interpretation and Holmes certainly could be read as a woman hiding her true gender to find a place for herself in a man's world, or even as a transgender man although the books does not seem to support this view, basing arguments in sexism under the guise of being the "truth" is less than tactful.
tl;dr, This book is purely speculative which, while going deep into text, does not do an effective job at analyzing or translating subtext
As well, many of their arguments amount to Holmes' depressive moods as evidence of menstruation, a lone trip to France being a guise for Holmes giving birth to an illegitimate child, and Holmes having romantic feelings for Watson. With regards to menstruation, while depressive moods are quite common, they are not a diagnostic tool. Many cisgender men experience depressive moods, and to use these as a tool to claim a character is biologically female is irresponsible. As for the illegitimate child in France, this is purely a matter of speculation with no evidence to support the claim. In fact, logic and Occam's Razor seem to suggest the opposite. Surely Watson, who at this point the authors assure is unaware of Holmes' condition of being a woman, would have noticed his tall and thin friend getting rounder around the middle. A medical man would certainly have noticed something like this. As for the father of this supposed child, the authors simply say "we don't know who that is" and ignore that point entirely.
This book reads like two people who see the relationship of Holmes and Watson as one of a romantic nature but do not want to see them in a homosexual light. Therefore they find supposed evidence of Sherlock being a woman to support their "ship" as heterosexual. While these characters are open to interpretation and Holmes certainly could be read as a woman hiding her true gender to find a place for herself in a man's world, or even as a transgender man although the books does not seem to support this view, basing arguments in sexism under the guise of being the "truth" is less than tactful.
tl;dr, This book is purely speculative which, while going deep into text, does not do an effective job at analyzing or translating subtext
February 5, 2015
When I came across the title (through author Alan Bradley), I was very intrigued - even without reading so much as an outline on what the book was all about. Was Sherlock Holmes a woman in disguise? Now that was something I wanted to read about.
Once I started what I presumed would be some sort of essay or maybe even a story turned out to be something of a thesis - a discovery of references throughout the detective's adventures of what made the writers (C Alan Bradley and William A S Sarjeant) believe and prove that their analysis was the correct one. Are there more ways of interpreting what has been presented? Of course - even though only small sections of the various tales are used, recounted and analysed. It is an interesting and intriguing thought and has been well-presented throughout the book.
There is also a second part to this 'thesis' that has been incorporated. The first and major part is all about male versus female, and who has been privy to this information. In the second part - Appendix I - the discussion turns to dating the various cases which, apparently, is not obvious in every case. Again, not all cases are included - only the 'controversial' ones - and only parts of the story quoted, those relevant to making the point.
What made me wonder overall is that there are people out there willing to delve in-depth into trying to figure out what makes a fictional character tick - a fact that included in the analysis right from the start. I can understand, wanting to analyse and research facts about people who have actually lived ... although I will admit that it almost feels as if Sherlock Holmes has been an actual human being and having lived at 221B Baker Street in London.
In any event - I am glad I read the book and I did enjoy 'spending time with Ms Sherlock Holmes', finding the thesis and analysis appealing, even compelling as well as the references to life in the 19th century, particularly where women were concerned. A valiant effort indeed!
Once I started what I presumed would be some sort of essay or maybe even a story turned out to be something of a thesis - a discovery of references throughout the detective's adventures of what made the writers (C Alan Bradley and William A S Sarjeant) believe and prove that their analysis was the correct one. Are there more ways of interpreting what has been presented? Of course - even though only small sections of the various tales are used, recounted and analysed. It is an interesting and intriguing thought and has been well-presented throughout the book.
There is also a second part to this 'thesis' that has been incorporated. The first and major part is all about male versus female, and who has been privy to this information. In the second part - Appendix I - the discussion turns to dating the various cases which, apparently, is not obvious in every case. Again, not all cases are included - only the 'controversial' ones - and only parts of the story quoted, those relevant to making the point.
What made me wonder overall is that there are people out there willing to delve in-depth into trying to figure out what makes a fictional character tick - a fact that included in the analysis right from the start. I can understand, wanting to analyse and research facts about people who have actually lived ... although I will admit that it almost feels as if Sherlock Holmes has been an actual human being and having lived at 221B Baker Street in London.
In any event - I am glad I read the book and I did enjoy 'spending time with Ms Sherlock Holmes', finding the thesis and analysis appealing, even compelling as well as the references to life in the 19th century, particularly where women were concerned. A valiant effort indeed!
July 26, 2011
sorry, but i just don't get it. this book reads like a university thesis and i only continued on with it because so many of the arguments seemed silly. i love sherlock holmes but i DO know that he's a fictional character. these constant references to holmes' 'malaise' being related to his periods made me laugh. let's assume he WAS a woman. he was living in rooms. if he was having periods, he was using (sorry to be so graphic) great wads of cloth that needed to be washed daily. was he/she doing it? where was he soaking these bloodied rags? was his landlady doing his laundry? not likely or SHE'D have known he was a woman (no mention of that in the book). And what's this business of holmes' crossing his legs left over right (ine the feminine manner) as opposed to right over left (masculine)? then there's the statement that it was 'curious' how mary marston always seemed to make herself scarce whenever watson was going to join holmes on one of his cases. this is fiction! Arthur Conan Doyle made her 'scarce'....he could make anything he wanted happen. oh, and having established holmes' was actually 'charlotte', not sherlock, the authors suggest parish records should be searched for this name. hello??
i love alan bradley's more recent works but his .....the mind boggles.
i love alan bradley's more recent works but his .....the mind boggles.
January 15, 2015
Arguments that Sherlock Holmes might be a woman could make for very interesting reading, but it felt like this academic-style book was full of sexist drivel. As I read the authors' arguments about how Holmes's periods of incapacitation were due to heavy menstual cycles, how his use of drugs was in response to menstual pain, how his described appearance would have made him an ugly woman who would have despaired of marriage, and how the fact he eats irregularly represents a female trait (?!), I could hardly keep from laughing but also feeling very offended. I rarely fail to finish a book, but in this case, I could hardly get started.
July 16, 2016
As much as I'd like to claim Sherlock Holmes for my gender, the theory put forth in this book is entirely fanciful. Conan Doyle is on record as being fairly contemptuous of his immortal creation and I'm more inclined to attribute any story glitches to his sloppiness than some grand underlying meta-story.
November 3, 2014
An amusing work of Sherlockan scholarship. I enjoyed the premise, but I'm not sold on the idea that Sherlock was a woman. Reading this did make me want to take a stroll through the Canon again.
This is only for hard core Sherlockians.
This is only for hard core Sherlockians.
Want to read
August 25, 2014I am a fan of Alan Bradley's Flavia de Luce novels and a Sherlock Holmes fan, so when I saw Bradley had co-authored a book supporting the thesis that Sherlock was a woman, I knew I would have to read it someday!
February 11, 2013
Thought it was fiction turned out to be an investigation of Sherlock Holmes being a woman. Very interesting. Never read a book of this sort. I liked it alot!!
February 13, 2013
stretching a little too far, I love Sherlock Holmes character and I love Alan Bradley's writing however I would not suggest this book.
September 21, 2013
I did not know when I started this that it was a thesis. How disappointing.
Read
August 6, 2014Not my thing.
June 22, 2025
This is a very interesting book...
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews