What do "slop shops," "scissorizing," "agony aunts," and "foolscap" have in common?

These and other Victorian references appear throughout the original Sherlock Holmes tales. What was part of everyday existence to the Victorian has the modern day reader running to references books to discover its significance. These twenty-four short essays explore various aspects of life mentioned in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s original Sherlock Holmes tales, providing modern-day insight into the nineteenth century world. Topics include: 

Violins 

Electric vs. Gas Lighting

Scrapbooking

Agony Columns

The Agra Fort

Cardboard

Sound Recordings

Telephones

Jellyfish

Rugby

Brandy

The Opera

The Crown Jewels

Yellow Fever

Snakes

Italian Political Organizations

Banks

Diabetes

Pocket Watches

Writing Paper

Coroners

Pawnshops

Clothing

Calling Cards

This collection also includes a bonus essay—"Evil Women: The Villainesses of the Canon," originally published in the Baker Street Journal.