The scientific Sherlock Holmes : cracking the case with science and forensics / James F. O'Brien.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

O'Brien, James F., 1941-

Series:

Oxford scholarship online.

Oxford scholarship online

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Forensic sciences--History.

Forensic sciences.

Chemistry, Forensic--History.

Chemistry, Forensic.

Criminal investigation--History.

Criminal investigation.

Detective and mystery stories, English--History and criticism.

Detective and mystery stories, English.

Holmes, Sherlock (Fictitious character).

Science in literature.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xx, 175 p. ) ill.

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

New York : Oxford University Press, c2013.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Arthur Conan Doyle's enduringly popular Sherlock Holmes has his own undeniable place in the public eye. Holmes is often seen applying concepts of some branch of science in his work, discussing scientific matters with Watson, or is involved in situations where the applicability of the formal sciences is apparent. 'The Scientific Sherlock Holmes' connects Holmes' vegetable poisons with concepts in botany, his use of fingerprinting with forensic science and carbon monoxide poisoning and hemoglobin tests with concepts in chemistry, thus integrating the Holmes stories with all branches of science.

Contents:

Cover

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Codes

The Sherlockian Canon: Review of the Contents

1. How Sherlock Holmes Got His Start

1.1. Arthur Conan Doyle

1.2. The Influence of Edgar Allan Poe

1.3. The Influence of Dr. Joseph Bell

2. Meet the Main Characters

2.1. Sherlock Holmes

2.2. Dr. John H. Watson

2.3. Professor James Moriarty

2.4. Other Important Characters

3. Sherlock Holmes: Pioneer in Forensic Science

3.1. The Methods of Bertillon

3.2. Fingerprints

3.3. Footprints

3.4. Handwritten Documents

3.5. Printed Documents

3.6. Cryptology

3.7. Dogs

3.8. Conclusion

4. Sherlock Holmes: Chemist

4.1. Introduction: Profound or Eccentric?

4.2. Coal-tar Derivatives and Dyes

4.3. Chemical Poisons

4.4. Asimov's View: Holmes the Blundering Chemist

4.5. Other Chemicals

4.6. Conclusion: Profound or Eccentric?

5. Sherlock Holmes: Other Sciences

5.1. Mathematics

5.2. Biology

5.3. Physics

5.4. Other Sciences

Conclusion

Appendix

References

Index

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

Y

Z.

Notes:

Previously issued in print: 2013.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 161-166) and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

0-19-931157-9

0-19-756316-3

1-299-45683-9

0-19-979503-7