Listmania!
To Write a Sherlock Holmes Story, You Need to Study ...
The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes - Vols. 1 & 2 The Short StoriesThe New Annotated Sherlock Holmes - Vols. 1 & 2 The Short Stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Buy new: £38.00 / Used from: £25.87
The latest Annotated edition of Doyle's Sherlock Holmes short stories, aka 'The Canon'
The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes: Novels v. 3The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes: Novels v. 3 by AC Doyle
Buy new: £28.50 / Used from: £17.50
The latest annotated edition of the Sherlock Holmes novels.
The Annotated Sherlock HolmesThe Annotated Sherlock Holmes by William Baring-Gould
Buy used from: £13.77
The first Annotated edition of the stories. Sherlockians will swear by Baring-Gould or dispute him, but they will quote this book as an authority.
The World of Sherlock HolmesThe World of Sherlock Holmes by Martin Fido
Buy new: £16.98 / Used from: £3.12
One of my favourite 'World of Sherlock Holmes' books. Profusely illustrated
Sherlock Holmes: The Major Stories with Contemporary Critical Essays (Bedford Series in History & Culture)Sherlock Holmes: The Major Stories with Contemporary Critical Essays (Bedford Series in History & Culture) by Arthur Conan Doyle
Buy used from: £12.97
Holmes has become a subject for scholarship, whether about Victorian/Edwardian life and crimes, the Detective in Literature, or his enduring status as an icon.
London of Sherlock HolmesLondon of Sherlock Holmes by Michael Harrison
Buy used from: £14.00
All of Michael Harrison's books are a must for background on Sherlock Holmes world. This one is my favourite.
Sherlock Holmes CompanionSherlock Holmes Companion by Michael Hardwick
Buy used from: £3.67
Another pair of authors who wrote about Sherlock and his world. They also wrote the 'Upstairs/Downstairs' books - another must read for background 'feel'.
Dickens's Dictionary of London 1888: An Unconventional HandbookDickens's Dictionary of London 1888: An Unconventional Handbook by Charles Dickens Jr.
Buy new: £9.09 / Used from: £5.48
I haven't read this one, but it was first published in 1888, so it's certainly appropriate.
Baedekers Great Britain, 1890 (Baedeker's Great Britain) (Baedeker's Great Britain)Baedekers Great Britain, 1890 (Baedeker's Great Britain) (Baedeker's Great Britain) by Karl Baedeker
Buy new: £11.19 / Used from: £7.50
This is reprinted? Oh, Amazon.co.uk has got such good stuff!! This is a must have!
Enquire Within Upon Everything 1890: A Comprehensive Guide to the Necessities of Domestic Life in Victorian BritainEnquire Within Upon Everything 1890: A Comprehensive Guide to the Necessities of Domestic Life in Victorian Britain by Houlston
Buy new: £10.49 / Used from: £10.35
Another reprint? I thought this was only in libraries! So many good books, so little shelf space.
The Victorian Hospital (Shire Album)The Victorian Hospital (Shire Album) by Lavinia Mitton
Buy used from: £6.06
This may predate Dr. Watson's experience; but the Shire books are always informative.
Victorian London Street Life in Historic PhotographsVictorian London Street Life in Historic Photographs by John Thomson
Buy new: £11.99 / Used from: £9.54
Full of photographs. Holmes as an osler, or as Escott the plumber? These are the actual people.
The Victorian House: Domestic Life from Childbirth to DeathbedThe Victorian House: Domestic Life from Childbirth to Deathbed by Judith Flanders
Buy new: £6.99 / Used from: £1.95
This is a favourite, and since I can't find The 1900 House, I'll recommend this one though it's earlier than our period.
Mrs.Beeton's Book of Household Management (Oxford World's Classics)Mrs.Beeton's Book of Household Management (Oxford World's Classics) by Isabella Beeton
Buy used from: £6.84
Although this is an abridgment of the 1860's 'Mrs. Beeton', and Mrs. Hudson would have had a later edn. this Oxford Press is a good affordable reference.
Last Dinner on the Titanic Menus and Recipes from the Great Liner: Menus and Recipes from the Great LinerLast Dinner on the Titanic Menus and Recipes from the Great Liner: Menus and Recipes from the Great Liner by Rick Archbold
Buy new: £16.90 / Used from: £7.23
Holmes last recorded case (by Doyle) was in 1914. This book has good ideas about life and food aboard the transatlantic liners of his later years.
A Sherlock Holmes HandbookA Sherlock Holmes Handbook by Christopher Redmond
Buy used from: £50.54
From one of Canada's finest Sherlockians. I can't emphisize enough that you must know about Holmes to write about him.
The Victorian UnderworldThe Victorian Underworld by Donald Thomas
Buy used from: £19.59
This book and a simular one by Kellow Chesney are must haves for the seemy side of Victorian life.
How to Write and Sell Historical FictionHow to Write and Sell Historical Fiction by Persia Woolley
Buy used from: £22.62
A Sherlock Holmes story is as much historical as it is mystery fiction.
Black Edwardians: Black People in Britain, 1901-14Black Edwardians: Black People in Britain, 1901-14 by Jeffrey Green
Buy new: £28.49 / Used from: £20.00
Remember Steve Dixie? There is so little about Black British History. This is going on my must read list.
Victorian and Edwardian Fashion: A Photographic SurveyVictorian and Edwardian Fashion: A Photographic Survey by Alison Gernsheim
Buy new: £8.44 / Used from: £6.00
Mostly pictures of women's clothing, but they are photos of real people of the time.
Life in Edwardian England (English Life S.)Life in Edwardian England (English Life S.) by Robert Cecil
Buy used from: £1.40
The Batsford Books publications are usually quite informative.
The Victorian and Edwardian City of London from Old PhotographsThe Victorian and Edwardian City of London from Old Photographs by James L. Howgego
Buy used from: £5.99
Fast Set: World of Edwardian RacingFast Set: World of Edwardian Racing by George Plumptre
Buy used from: £2.46
Racing, boxing and the like were part of Doyle's life and find their way into the Canon.
Writing Mysteries: A Handbook by the Mystery Writers of AmericaWriting Mysteries: A Handbook by the Mystery Writers of America
Buy new: £12.99 / Used from: £8.10
Not everyone can write like Doyle, and usually those who try fail. But to write a mystery, you must study how mysteries are written. Who knows that better than mystery writers?
Research for Writers (Writing Handbook)Research for Writers (Writing Handbook) by Ann Hoffmann
Buy used from: £0.01
A writer's guide to research, and you have to do a lot of research when writing a historical story.