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

Author
O'Brien, James F., 1941-
Published
Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, [2013]
Copyright Date
©2013
Physical Description
xvii, 175 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm

Availability

HV8073.O36 2012 HV8073.O36 2013
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Contents
How Sherlock Holmes got his start. Arthur Conan Doyle -- The influence of Edgar Allan Poe -- The influence of Dr. Joseph Bell -- Meet the main characters. Sherlock Holmes -- Dr. John H. Watson -- Professor James Moriarty -- Other important characters -- Sherlock Holmes : pioneer in forensic science. The methods of Bertillon -- Fingerprints -- Footprints -- Handwritten documents -- Printed documents -- Cryptology -- Dogs -- Conclusion -- Sherlock Holmes : chemist. Introduction: Profound or eccentric? -- Coal-tar derivatives and dyes -- Chemical poisons -- Asimov's view: Holmes the blundering chemist -- Other chemicals -- Conclusion: Profound or eccentric? -- Sherlock Holmes : other sciences. Mathematics -- Biology -- Physics -- Other sciences.
Summary
One of the most popular and widely known characters in all of fiction, Sherlock Holmes has an enduring appeal based largely on his uncanny ability to make the most remarkable deductions from the most mundane facts. O'Brien provides an in-depth look at Holmes's use of science in his investigations. He reveals that Holmes was a pioneer of forensic science, making use of fingerprinting well before Scotland Yard itself had adopted the method, and discusses mathematics, physics, biology, astronomy, meteorology, and geology, always in the context of Holmes's exploits.
Subject(s)
ISBN
9780199794966 (alk. paper)
0199794960 (alk. paper)
Bibliography Note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 161-166) and index.
View MARC record | catkey: 9187143