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The Scandalous Bohemians is the informal name adopted by the Sherlock Holmes Chat (on AOL) when it was still a part of Mysteries From The Yard. The chat has four co-hosts: InspectorHopkins (Joe Dierkes, creator of the database referenced below); Violet Hunter; and Mr Frankland. Ms Violet Hunter is Regina Stinson aka Ribpip715, founder of her own scion, The Ribston-Pippins, and recently installed as "A Little Ribston-Pippin" in the BSI (Baker Street Irregulars). Sherlockia (Jacquelynn Morris) is our newest co-host. In our early days, PGMKS [Sir Henry Baskerville]was a (now emeritis) co-host.
A modest proposal for a constitution (never formally adopted) has been appended to this Web site.
Meetings are held at 8:00 pm Eastern Time every Sunday in the Mystery Chat Room which is located on AOL [Sorry, to participate you must belong to AOL.]. To reach the chat from the main AOL screen is almost impossible, but all invitations (see below) from the co-hosts contain a link which will take you to it directly.A weekly invitation is sent out from the co-hosts, as are occasional advisements of tentative longer term schedules. The mailing list is maintained by Mr. Frankland, so if you wish to be placed on it (or placed off it), send email to MrFrankland@aol.com.
We follow an regular pattern (occasionally broken) of alternating chats which discuss specfic stories with chats on topics of Sherlockian interest, games, quizes or just general get-togethers. The stories are taken in rotation, following the order of The Oxford Sherlock Holmes (our rationale is explained here). For those of you who have (Microsoft) Word, a single page listing of the Canon is available here.
Sherlockians refer to the stories as The Canon, or the Sacred Writings, and the many papers written about it are called The Writings upon the Writings, or The Higher Criticism, terms derived from Biblical scholarship. The Lower Criticism concerns the more mundane matters about the Text, and two pages of basic material have been provided for members of the chat.
The abbreviations used for the stories and the paginations of the main editions. The chronology of Watson's publications. We are pleased to be able to provide a link to our InspectorHopkins' (aka Joseph E. Dierkes -- to give his ful name) latest Canonical database (the man keeps updating it!). It is a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet that gives, for all 60 cases, such information as chronologies, clients, crimes, villains, and on and on for some 50-plus categories.
NEW!! The 'Just the Facts' Canonical Database
Enjoy!
The Database
All scions derive their name from either one of the stories (e.g., The Hounds of the Internet) or some other Canonical reference. Our name, quite obviously, derives from A Scandal in Bohemia, the first of the 56 short stories that Doyle wrote. The story is, in many respects, unique, and we present here our own 'take' on it, and a text (rft) file of it, intended for downloading rather than viewing.
We have recently [March 2004] added our own 'edition' of the story, intended for reading. It is augmented with a Cast of Characters and a Glossary which seeks to explain some of the more unusual words, and to be interpretationally neutral.
Other Scions and Discussion Lists
Sherlockians tend to be gregarious and sometimes quite chatty, and they form scions, chat on the internet, and attend symposia whenever they are able. Listings of active societies can be found on Chris Redmond's Sherlockian.Net at:Societies and Events
The granddaddy of all internet email lists is The Hounds of the Internet. A description, along with information as to how to subscribe is contained on:The Hounds of the Internet
Another lively internet group is the more recent Welcome Holmes mail list. Its home page may be found at:The Unofficial WelcomeHolmes Page
Quirks
All groups have little customs that endear them to themselves. The Scandalous Bohemians begin their meetings with little trips to the spirit case (whose contents run from Usquaebach to Evian) and one of the noisest sideboards -- it positively groans -- found on the internet (it has been known to mutter in Swedish when another dish is placed on it).Meetings often end with a cheer or a toast. Mr. Frankland insists that the only proper toasting liquid is Imperial Tokay, as this was the congratulatory wine shared by Holmes and Watson in His Last Bow.
