TCDE-Team at 21:46, 27 March 2026

2026-03-27T21:46:20Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:46, 27 March 2026
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	'''Reviewed by Christopher Roden'''		'''Reviewed by Christopher Roden'''

	For some reason, this book was published in America as The Encyclopaedia Sherlockiana, inviting an immediate comparison with Jack Tracy's book of the same name or perhaps hoping to confuse the unsuspecting purchaser into snapping up a long-sought volume. It is a pity, therefore, that in re-naming the book, the British publishers did not trouble Mr Bunson to clarify the reference in his Introduction to 'the brilliant work of the same name by Jack Tracy".		For some reason, this book was published in America as The Encyclopaedia Sherlockiana, inviting an immediate comparison with Jack Tracy's book of the same name or perhaps hoping to confuse the unsuspecting purchaser into snapping up a long-sought volume. It is a pity, therefore, that in re-naming the book, the British publishers did not trouble Mr Bunson to clarify the reference in his Introduction to 'the brilliant work of the same name by Jack Tracy'.

	There will inevitably be comparisons with The Encyclopaedia Sherlockiana proper, though it is fair to say that this book attempts to cover topics which Jack Tracy's work did not. For example, film, stage, and radio adaptations receive coverage here-perhaps too much coverage and there are entries for many of the leading portrayers of [[Sherlock Holmes\|Holmes]]. Inexplicably, while Nigel Bruce warrants a column of his own, Edward Hardwicke, by far and away the best Watson of all time, does not even merit his own entry. Come, come, Mr Bunson!		There will inevitably be comparisons with The Encyclopaedia Sherlockiana proper, though it is fair to say that this book attempts to cover topics which Jack Tracy's work did not. For example, film, stage, and radio adaptations receive coverage here-perhaps too much coverage and there are entries for many of the leading portrayers of [[Sherlock Holmes\|Holmes]]. Inexplicably, while Nigel Bruce warrants a column of his own, Edward Hardwicke, by far and away the best Watson of all time, does not even merit his own entry. Come, come, Mr Bunson!

TCDE-Team: Created page with "{{Cargo_Reviews_Articles |Date=1995-04-01 |Book=The Sherlock Holmes Encyclopaedia |BookAuthor=Matthew E. Bunson |Reviewer=Christopher Roden |Topics=Encyclopedia }} This review of the book ''"The Sherlock Holmes Encyclopaedia", by Matthew E. Bunson'' was written by Christopher Roden and published in the The Parish Magazine (No. 12, april 1995). This review finds Bunson's encyclopaedia broad in scope, especially for its inclus..."

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Created page with "{{Cargo_Reviews_Articles |Date=1995-04-01 |Book=The Sherlock Holmes Encyclopaedia |BookAuthor=Matthew E. Bunson |Reviewer=Christopher Roden |Topics=Encyclopedia }} This review of the book ''"The Sherlock Holmes Encyclopaedia", by Matthew E. Bunson'' was written by Christopher Roden and published in the The Parish Magazine (No. 12, april 1995). This review finds Bunson's encyclopaedia broad in scope, especially for its inclus..."

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{{Cargo_Reviews_Articles
|Date=1995-04-01
|Book=The Sherlock Holmes Encyclopaedia
|BookAuthor=Matthew E. Bunson
|Reviewer=Christopher Roden
|Topics=Encyclopedia
}}
This review of the book ''"The Sherlock Holmes Encyclopaedia", by Matthew E. Bunson'' was written by [[Christopher Roden]] and published in the [[The Parish Magazine (newsletter)|The Parish Magazine]] (No. 12, april 1995).

This review finds Bunson's encyclopaedia broad in scope, especially for its inclusion of adaptations and pastiche, but questions many of its editorial choices and judgments. Although it covers material beyond Jack Tracy's classic reference work, the reviewer remains largely unconvinced of its value and points to several questionable entries and omissions.

== Review ==
[[File:the-parish-magazine-n12-1995-04-p25.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[The Parish Magazine (newsletter)|The Parish Magazine]] (No. 12, april 1995, p. 25)]]
[[File:the-parish-magazine-n12-1995-04-p26.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[The Parish Magazine (newsletter)|The Parish Magazine]] (No. 12, april 1995, p. 26)]]

: [[File:pavilion-books-1995-encyclopedia-sherlockiana.jpg|100px]]
: '''The Sherlock Holmes Encyclopaedia'''
: by Matthew E. Bunson
: Pavilion Books, 1995; xxii+ 326pp; £17.99

'''Reviewed by Christopher Roden'''

For some reason, this book was published in America as The Encyclopaedia Sherlockiana, inviting an immediate comparison with Jack Tracy's book of the same name or perhaps hoping to confuse the unsuspecting purchaser into snapping up a long-sought volume. It is a pity, therefore, that in re-naming the book, the British publishers did not trouble Mr Bunson to clarify the reference in his Introduction to 'the brilliant work of the same name by Jack Tracy".

There will inevitably be comparisons with The Encyclopaedia Sherlockiana proper, though it is fair to say that this book attempts to cover topics which Jack Tracy's work did not. For example, film, stage, and radio adaptations receive coverage here-perhaps too much coverage and there are entries for many of the leading portrayers of [[Sherlock Holmes|Holmes]]. Inexplicably, while Nigel Bruce warrants a column of his own, Edward Hardwicke, by far and away the best Watson of all time, does not even merit his own entry. Come, come, Mr Bunson!

Pastiche of [[Sherlock Holmes|Holmes]] also finds its way into these pages, though why synopses of non-Doylean [[Sherlock Holmes]] justify consideration in what purports to be a serious Sherlockian textbook will remain a mystery to me. Even Mark Frost's ''The List of 7'' is given half a column, presumably because Mr Bunson feels that Jack Sparks, the detective in that tale, has similarities to [[Sherlock Holmes|Holmes]]. 'As the story progresses,' writes Bunson, 'in fact, it assumes increasingly the feel of a Holmesian pastiche, with [[Arthur Conan Doyle|Doyle]] fulfilling the Watson role to the eccentric and secretly tormented [[Sherlock Holmes|Holmes]] in Sparks.' My, my! Freudian sub-plots in pseudo-[[Sherlock Holmes|Holmes]] pastiche. I really must have missed something!

For the rest, it told me nothing I could not find in Tracy — except that [[The Arthur Conan Doyle Society (1989-2003)|The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] is an 'Active Sherlockian Society (other)'. I probably don't need to remark that that particular piece of information is, for want of another word, duff!

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Review:The Sherlock Holmes Encyclopaedia/Christopher Roden - Revision history

TCDE-Team at 21:46, 27 March 2026