Remembering Jon Lellenberg

"It is with a heavy heart" [FINA] The worlds of Sherlock Holmes and Arthur Conan Doyle enthusiasts have lost a giant. Jon Lellenberg, invested in the Baker Street Irregulars as "Rodger Prescott of Evil Memory" in 1974, passed away on April 24, 2021 after a short illness. Jon's contribution to our hobby was almost too immense for words. He was a confidant and representative of the Conan Doyle Estate for many years, extending back to a close relationship with Dame Jean Conan Doyle. As an author and editor, he contributed to a number of books on Conan Doyle's life, including A Life in Letters and Dangerous Work, both co-edited with Dan Stashower, BSI ("Thurston"). Jon's knowledge of early Irregularity and the times in which those Irregulars lived and worked was unrivaled, which made him the perfect person to tackle the BSI Archival History Series. During that time, he was known as the Thucydides of the Baker Street Irregulars. With four appearances on I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere, Jon gave us so much material with which to work, so we pulled some clips from previous episodes to pepper our memories of him. If you have memories, please share them in a comment below and see the links for more information. Plus, we have an announcement about a very rare piece of Sherlockian/Irregular history related to Jon Lellenberg that is available for auction.

The Canonical Couplet quiz winner this time will win a copy of Jon Lellenberg's The Quest for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: Thirteen Biographers in Search of a Life. Answers are due by May 29, 2021 at 11:59 a.m.

Information on sponsors, links, and notes available below.

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Links

• This episode: ihose.co/ihose216
• Jon Lellenberg's website
• Jon's BSI Archival History series (including his five standalone chapters on Edgar W. Smith)
• Remembrances of Jon on the Conan Doyle Estate site (additional contributions welcome)
• Previous episodes mentioned:
• • Episode 13: Arthur Conan Doyle - A Life in Letters (with Dan Stashower)
  • Episode 29: Baker Street Irregular
  • Episode 37: The Lost Conan Doyle Manuscript (with Dan Stashower)
  • Episode 48: Dangerous Work (with Dan Stashower)
• On eBay: The 1998 Baker Street Journal Christmas Annual: "Entertainment and Fantasy": the 1940 BSI Dinner (RARE)

Many more links, articles and images are available in our Flipboard magazine at ihose.co/flipsherlock as well as through our accounts on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter. And would you consider leaving us a rating and review? It would help other Sherlockians to find us. Your thoughts on the show? Leave a comment below, send us an email (comment AT ihearofsherlock DOT com), call us at (774) 221-READ (7323).
Transcript We are so grateful for your support on Patreon! The transcript will be available soon at ihose.co/ihose216.

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