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Sherlock Holmes: Sir Richard Burton's Final Chapter
(This is a revised version of the short story The Loss of Chapter Twenty-One, which was previously published in the anthology Encounters of Sherlock Holmes).
Sir Richard Francis Burton is dying, and the manuscript he considers the crowning achievement of his life has been stolen. His friend, Algernon Swinburne, consults with the one man who might be able to recover the document: Sherlock Holmes!
A short story for fans of the Burton & Swinburne steampunk series and, of course, for fans of Sherlock Holmes.
Sir Richard Francis Burton is dying, and the manuscript he considers the crowning achievement of his life has been stolen. His friend, Algernon Swinburne, consults with the one man who might be able to recover the document: Sherlock Holmes!
A short story for fans of the Burton & Swinburne steampunk series and, of course, for fans of Sherlock Holmes.
32 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 3, 2017
2 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Mark Hodder
77 books529 followersBritish author living in Valencia, Spain.
Burton & Swinburne Novels:
THE STRANGE AFFAIR OF SPRING-HEELED JACK (Winner of the Philip K. Dick Award 2010)
THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE CLOCKWORK MAN
EXPEDITION TO THE MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON
THE SECRET OF ABDU EL YEZDI
THE RETURN OF THE DISCONTINUED MAN
THE RISE OF THE AUTOMATED ARISTOCRATS
Other Novels:
A RED SUN ALSO RISES
THE SILENT THUNDER CAPER
A DARK AND SUBTLE LIGHT
Novels in Collaboration with Michael Moorcock:
CARIBBEAN CRISIS/VOODOO ISLAND
THE ALBINO'S SECRET (forthcoming)
THE ALBINO'S HONOUR (forthcoming)
THE ALBINO'S EYE (forthcoming)
As Editor:
SEXTON BLAKE AND THE GREAT WAR
SEXTON BLAKE VERSUS THE MASTER CROOKS
SEXTON BLAKE'S ALLIES
SEXTON BLAKE ON THE HOME FRONT
SEXTON BLAKE'S NEW ORDER
Burton & Swinburne Novels:
THE STRANGE AFFAIR OF SPRING-HEELED JACK (Winner of the Philip K. Dick Award 2010)
THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE CLOCKWORK MAN
EXPEDITION TO THE MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON
THE SECRET OF ABDU EL YEZDI
THE RETURN OF THE DISCONTINUED MAN
THE RISE OF THE AUTOMATED ARISTOCRATS
Other Novels:
A RED SUN ALSO RISES
THE SILENT THUNDER CAPER
A DARK AND SUBTLE LIGHT
Novels in Collaboration with Michael Moorcock:
CARIBBEAN CRISIS/VOODOO ISLAND
THE ALBINO'S SECRET (forthcoming)
THE ALBINO'S HONOUR (forthcoming)
THE ALBINO'S EYE (forthcoming)
As Editor:
SEXTON BLAKE AND THE GREAT WAR
SEXTON BLAKE VERSUS THE MASTER CROOKS
SEXTON BLAKE'S ALLIES
SEXTON BLAKE ON THE HOME FRONT
SEXTON BLAKE'S NEW ORDER
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 26, 2025
”Sir Richard’s achievements will be remembered not because he followed the mob, or did as he was told, or allowed others to make decisions for him, but because he didn’t.”
Author Mark Hodder is best known for his wild, steampunk series of six novels that follow heroes Sir Richard Burton and poet Algernon Swinburne through time traveling shenanigans and constantly altering alternative histories. This short story is not related to Hodder’s fun steampunk adventures. But apparently, Hodder is well grounded in Burton’s actual history, because the details he presents in this story are perfectly in line with Burton’s final years, and his last, great project — the translating of the unexpurgated Perfumed Garden. Weaving the aged Burton and his sad final chapter into a fine Sherlock Holmes pastiche is a fitting tribute to both the fictional detective and the irascible and roguish genius that was Sir Richard Francis Burton. Hodder’s portrayal of both Lady Isabell Burton, and, particularly, the final, poignant meeting between Watson and Swinburne were nicely done, indeed!
Author Mark Hodder is best known for his wild, steampunk series of six novels that follow heroes Sir Richard Burton and poet Algernon Swinburne through time traveling shenanigans and constantly altering alternative histories. This short story is not related to Hodder’s fun steampunk adventures. But apparently, Hodder is well grounded in Burton’s actual history, because the details he presents in this story are perfectly in line with Burton’s final years, and his last, great project — the translating of the unexpurgated Perfumed Garden. Weaving the aged Burton and his sad final chapter into a fine Sherlock Holmes pastiche is a fitting tribute to both the fictional detective and the irascible and roguish genius that was Sir Richard Francis Burton. Hodder’s portrayal of both Lady Isabell Burton, and, particularly, the final, poignant meeting between Watson and Swinburne were nicely done, indeed!
March 4, 2020
Great Burton Short Story!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews