On the Shoulders of Giants

"I cultivate a large number of friends" [WIST]

What does it take to build a legacy that lasts nearly a century? Today we're joined by Peter Eckrich and Rob Nunn to discuss their new book, On the Shoulders of Giants. It's a portrait gallery of twenty-one of the influential men and women who founded and fueled the Sherlock Holmes literary scene from its infancy in the 1930s.

We dive into the lives of these bookish, clubbable people, who were all as knowledgeable as they were sociable. Whether you're a lifelong Sherlockian or a newcomer to the Great Game, our conversation takes a fresh look at the "Giants" whose scholarship and camaraderie created the community we know today.

Our "Learned Societies" segment kicks off with Sherlockian society activities in the second half of April. Then it's a new edition of "Examining the Pictures," with the film critic, journalist, and author Christian Monggaard, BSI. This time, Christian explores Disney's 1986 success, The Great Mouse Detective.

Then the Canonical Couplet quiz tests your Sherlock Holmes knowledge, with a copy of On the Shoulders of Giants for the winner. Send your answer to comment @ihearofsherlock.com by February 27, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EST. All listeners are eligible to play.

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Leave I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; listen to us wherever you listen to podcasts. Links

• On the Shoulders of Giants: Great Sherlockians Remembered (Wessex Press)
• Other episodes mentioned on the show:
• Episode 244: The Finest Assorted Collection
• Episode 283: Canonical Cornerstones
• Episode 290: Legends of the BSJ - James Montgomery
• Other links:
• The Learned Societies: Sherlockian Calendar
• And It Is Always 1895 conference
• I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere / Trifles Merch Store

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