A doctor enjoys Sherlock Holmes

“A doctor enjoys Sherlock Holmes” by Edward J. Van Liere is a collection of essays written in the mid-20th century. The book presents an insightful and often lighthearted exploration of the Sherlock Holmes stories from both a medical and literary perspective. Its main topic is the intersection of medicine, science, and detective fiction, as Van Liere, himself a physician, analyzes the medical references, scientific accuracies, and character portrayals within the Sherlock Holmes canon. At the start of the book, Van Liere introduces his work with acknowledgments and a table of contents that signal a wide range of essays connecting Holmes' adventures to topics like anatomy, weather, poisons, and nervous maladies. The opening essay, “Doctor Watson and the Weather,” meticulously surveys how Dr. Watson frequently uses weather as an atmospheric and narrative device in the Holmes stories, offering numerous specific examples and discussing their function both as storytelling elements and as realistic details stemming from Watson's (and perhaps Conan Doyle’s) sensibilities as a medically trained observer. Subsequent sections in the opening continue this analytical and conversational style, breaking down instances of anatomical references, period medical terminology such as “brain fever,” and the depiction of poisons and psychological states within the stories. Throughout these essays, Van Liere not only shares medical facts and context but also displays a deep appreciation for the literary craft of Conan Doyle and Dr. Watson, blending medical insight with a reader’s enthusiasm for Holmesian mysteries.