A Balls-up in Bohemia

by NP Sercombe, Emily Snape (Illustrator)

Dr. Watson was the chronicler of every Sherlock Holmes adventure published in The Strand magazine between 1887 and 1927. He reported them with honesty in the bluff, army-style of a military doctor, so frank in their account of human behaviour that they were too risqué for the morals of Victorian England. George Newnes, the editor, purged each story before its publication. Newnes also replaced Watson’s jocular illustrations with Sidney Paget’s more innocuous portrayals. Newnes deleted everybody’s backgrounds but in these accounts Watson reveals Holmes’s his father, Professor Julian Cornelius Bortzoy Holmes; his wife, Wendy; his sister, Rachel, as well as Mycroft. Watson also exposes Mrs. Hudson’s property empire and he tells us how Professor Moriarty became “the Napoleon of crime.” Some of this new material is shocking, even by today’s standards! Book 1 synopsis, An esteemed new client engages the services of Sherlock Holmes. He embarks upon an adventure that takes him all the way across London whilst Dr. Watson tries to extricate himself from a very unwise marriage. Watson moves in to 221 Baker Street where he receives an unexpected early-morning call from Mrs. Hudson, who has something of great importance to share with him.

76 pages, Hardcover

Published January 14, 2020

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read all of the Sherlock Holmes stories the idea of a "naughty" Holmes and Watson appealed to me and I wasn't disappointed, the book, although short is very funny but retaining the excitement of the original story line. The characters, Mary and Mrs. Hudson's "evil" sister are great characters and add a different dimension to the tale. The books are in my view a little expensive but worth exploring

[Zyogs · Rating 1 out of 5]

Transphobic themes with Watson misgendering a character more then once. The rewriting is lackluster. Better off reading the original stories.