Sherlock: The Casebook (BBC Books) - Series 1 & 2 Spoilers

[Carol the Dabbler]

WARNING: Since this book covers both Series 1 and Series 2, the discussion of it in this thread may contain spoilers for those who have not yet seen all six of those episodes. (For basic, non-spoiler information, see the closed topic "Sherlock: The Casebook to be published by BBC Books" in "The News Stand" forum.)

 

Sherlock: The Casebook is due to be released by BBC Books this October (2012). Until release, the book can be pre-ordered from Amazon.co.uk; and after that, the same link should work for immediate purchases. (Yes, they will ship to just about anywhere; I've been ordering from them for years.)

 

Sherlockology has recently issued two news releases about this book, the first with general information about the book and its cover art, and the other with additional views of the cover, including this wrap-around view:

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

Apparently, the idea is that John Watson compiled this book from his blog entries, reports from DI Lestrade, and other materials.

Here are the blurbs from the two dust-jacket flaps that fold inside the book:

[from the back flap, apparently written by John Watson]

This book is my humble attempt to shine a light on the work of the best and wisest I have ever known. He has, I think it is safe to say, elevated the science of detection into an art form.

Having been at his side during some of his most remarkable cases, it has fallen to me to bring his achievements to the attention of the wider public. He is, quite simply, the Mozart of criminal investigation.

I would say more, but I am flattered and delighted to say that Sherlock Holmes himself has agreed to write a piece for the cover.

[from the front flap, apparently written by Sherlock Holmes]

Don't buy this book. The author has transformed what should have been a series of lectures into a gross and tasteless entertainment.

The science of deduction is a branch of human achievement requiring serious analysis and yet here I find it lavishly illustrated, disfigured with humour and infested with gossip. Apparently, this kind of sensationalism is required to engage the interest of the reading public, but it is rather like working an office romance into a paper on quantum physics. Only an idiot would be impressed. Help yourself.

One wonders whether John was still "flattered and delighted" after he read Sherlock's blurb!

I've been trying to figure out when Sherlock and John are supposed to have written these. The book apparently covers "The Reichenbach Fall," but nothing thereafter. John's latest blog entry was posted very shortly after Sherlock's apparent death, so perhaps the book actually ends with that. (I can't imagine that he would have felt much like finishing the book then, but perhaps he wrapped it up just to have something to do.)

Sherlock must have written his blurb when the book was still a work in progress, but far enough along for him to feel justified in forming an opinion. John's blurb must also have been written before his final blog entry (since he refers to Sherlock in the present tense), and perhaps he just didn't have the heart to change the wording before submitting it to the publisher.

[Banshee]

Ordered mine *goes wait by mailbox*

[Carol the Dabbler]

I just finished reading through the Casebook, and my overall impression is that it would be an excellent resource for those who don't have the DVDs, or cannot hear the commentaries. For the rest of us, the book is enjoyable, but hardly revelatory.

 

There are numerous photos throughout, a few of which (e.g., the full-page portrait of John and Sherlock on p. 5) I have not seen elsewhere. In addition to summaries of the six episodes to date, there are comments about the characters, interviews with everyone you'd expect, a short biography of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, comparisons between Sherlock and other screen adaptations of Holmes, etc.

 

The cover was described in a pre-publication press release as "holographic," but either they changed their minds, or else they didn't mean at all what I expected. The photos are printed in very high resolution, however, and the inner cover is the same as the dust jacket, nicely laminated. (In fact, I have set the dust jacket safely aside, since the inner cover is better suited to being handled.)

 

Here are a few random tidbits that interested me:

 

p. 14: Anderson's first initial is "S."

 

p. 16: John's meal at Angelo's was basil & parmesan fettucini.

 

pp. 18, 76, and 77: Conan Doyle took a year off from his medical training to serve as ship's doctor on the steamship Hope, enjoying it so much that he returned only reluctantly. In the first draft of A Study in Scarlet, the detective's name is Sheridan Hope. Of course the detective became Sherlock Holmes -- and the name Hope was bestowed upon the vengeful cabbie, Jefferson Hope (billed as "Jeff" in "A Study in Pink").

 

p. 109: The mantelpiece skull's name is "Billy."

 

p. 110-1: Those protruding "eyeballs" aren't actually part of the bovine skull (which John refers to as an antelope) -- that's where Sherlock stores his headphones!

 

p. 129: John refers to Sherlock's "Memory Palace" -- and Sherlock does not correct him! (It's Mind Palace, guys!) That's my only actual quibble with the book, by the way.

 

146: Sherlock's response to the judge's warning (following that deep breath) consisted of deductions regarding his honor's personal life!

[aely]

it would be an excellent resource for those who don't have the DVDs, or cannot hear the commentaries

OK, I'm sold on the necessity of this now - not that I needed much persuading. I have a couple of Christmas presents to request from family...

[Carol the Dabbler]

Goody! Then we can discuss it!

[Brainy]

I bought the book when it was released and I think it's quite enjoyable. Although you won't get too many new information on the stories, I like it nevertheless. It was a good idea to put it together as a scrapbook. This way you'll get information on all the trivia (like John's meal at Angelo's, as Carol the Dabbler has already pointed out). I also like the comparison to the original stories by ACD. I think it's a good way to fill the gap between Series 2 and 3. No breaking news, but good entertainment for all the Sherlock-lovers.

 

 

Did you notice Sherlock's post-it on the last page? "It is a mistake to theorize without all the facts" - I like that!

[Carol the Dabbler]

Did you notice Sherlock's post-it on the last page? "It is a mistake to theorize without all the facts"

 

Yes!

 

The next question is -- did John notice it?!

[besleybean]

Got this for Christmas.

It is brilliant.

Along with The Canon and the BBC Sherlock DVDs...it is essential.

[aely]

I got myself this for Christmas but haven't had the time to read it yet as I'm now in the middle of 6 night shifts! Promising myself some downtime next week...

[Carol the Dabbler]

Enjoy!

[Carol the Dabbler]

I changed my computer wallpaper the other day -- it's now the cover of this book:



The first time I saw that photo of John, I noticed that it wasn't a typical shot of him (such as the similar pose on page 51) -- he looks, oh, far less approachable than usual. But I assumed (without really thinking) that John had merely put on a "tough detective" face especially for this book cover.

After seeing it every time I've booted the computer lately, though, it finally struck me that it's not a put-on at all, it's John's post-Reichenbach face. He looks utterly joyless and very wary, like a wounded animal. And look at his shirt -- he's uncharacteristically buttoned it all the way to the top -- a touching little detail.

Sherlock's photo also seems somewhat atypical, but I haven't been able to put my finger on anything specific.

[besleybean]

The evolving Sherlock?!

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

Maybe his....... yes, I had to leave....yes I had to lie to my friends...but I did what I feel I had to do and have no need to apologize....face?

[Carol the Dabbler]

Maybe his....... yes, I had to leave....yes I had to lie to my friends...but I did what I feel I had to do and have no need to apologize....face?

Thanks, Fox -- you're right. And now that you've put that into words, I think I see something else -- like he sees a vision of what he still has to do, and is determined -- no, wrong word -- he will see that it's done.

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

I agree. He will, if he survives, come back and he will face those he had to leave behind. But he knows some of the hurt the lies held because he came to know that he did not stand alone but to keep those few safe, he protected them the only way he knew how.

[Carol the Dabbler]

I wish him luck, explaining to that John!

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

Oh I can just imagine a battle royal in shouted words. John admitted he had his bad days and wasn't shy in decking Sherlock, well, he was provoked, Sherlock did hit him first, but I keep seeing his face when Sherlock finally released him from that cage in the lab in Hounds of the Baskervilles. It should be lively indeed.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Odd news from Sherlockology:

 

 

The bestselling first official tie-in book to the hit BBC television series by Guy Adams is finally arriving in stores in the United States in mid-July, but with a twist.

 

Instead of retaining the original title of Sherlock: The Casebook, the book will instead be retitled The Sherlock Files: The Official Companion to the Hit Television Series, and feature different imagery on the front cover.

 

Also, the book will be released as a paperback, instead of the original’s hardcover release. All interior content, and the page count of 160 pages, seems to be unaltered from the original UK release.

 

The Sherlock Files: The Official Companion to the Hit Television Series is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com ahead of its release on July 16 2013.

 

Sherlock: The Casebook, the original release of the title, remains available for order from Amazon.co.uk now, with worldwide shipping.

 

Read our review of Sherlock: The Casebook from last October.

 

 

Play our interactive games in The Casebook event from the original UK launch of the book.

 

So apparently, the moral of the story is, if you want the original hardback, order it from the UK Amazon. Or if you're a completist, order both!

[bborchar]

I'm in the states, but I ordered mine from amazon.co.uk and received it today. I've already read through it, but it was a fun book. I do prefer having the hardback, though.

[Carol the Dabbler]

I'm in the states, but I ordered mine from amazon.co.uk and received it today. I've already read through it, but it was a fun book. I do prefer having the hardback, though.

Yes, the hardback is a very sturdy book, with a nice laminated cover. I got my copy from amazon.co.uk as well.

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

I ordered mine as soon as it was mentioned on the Undershaw Trust website. It came in the original cover and hard bound as well.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Right. I actually removed the dust jacket from mine (and set it aside pending future inspiration), because the plastic-coated hard cover looks just the same, but won't be damaged by casual handling.

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

Wow, I never thought to look at that. And usually the dust cover is more desirable to collecters then the book itself. Thank you so much for the reminder Carol!

[Caya]

Yasmin from tumblr has made a nice set of images for facts from the casebook.