Laurie R. King and Sherlock Holmes

I confess, I'm a bit of a romantic, and romance isn't something you see a lot of in Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories. If you, too, have a thing for the Victorian detective, you might like Laurie R. King's Mary Russell books. Most re-imaginings of a classic aren't that successful, but I love these. King really seems to connect with the character, and her protagonist Mary Russell is formidable, to say the least. The series is great until Locked Rooms, but I don't love the newer books as much as the early ones. And they are mainly mysteries, not romance, but that element is present.

King's Holmes owes a lot to Jeremy Brett, and that's the way I like it. Anybody else a Jeremy Brett gal/guy? Or do you all like Cumberbatch?

To those making gagging noises right now, go check out Neil Gaiman's brilliant short story A Study in Emerald. I can pretty much guarantee you'll love it.

Etymology Expeditions: The Sherlock Holmes Edition

I've always wondered where Conan Doyle's unsual character names come from. Let's find out!

Sherlock comes from Old English scir "bright" + locc lock of hair. So fair-haired? Hmm. That's kind of disappointing.

What about Mycroft? It's actually a surname deriving from Old English mýðe "mouth of a river" + croft "enclosed field."

The origins of Holmes I kind of guessed. At least in East-Anglia, it's derived from Norse-Viking holmr for "island," but another possibility is the Old English holegn meanin holly woods or holm for holm oak.

Maybe Conan Doyle meant to imply that Holmes is an island?

Okay, okay, I give up.

He probably just thought the names sounded cool... 

Sources:
http://www.etymonline.com
http://www.behindthename.com/name/mycroft/submitted
http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/holmes