Dr. Watson was the chronicler of every Sherlock Holmes adventure published in The Strand magazine between 1887 and 1927. He reported them with honesty in the bluff, army-style of a military doctor, so frank in their account of human behaviour that they were too risque for the morals of Victorian England. George Newnes, the editor, purged each story before its publication. Newnes also replaced Watson's jocular illustrations with Sidney Paget's more innocuous portrayals. Newnes deleted everybody's backgrounds but in these accounts Watson reveals Holmes's family: his father, Professor Julian Cornelius Bortzoy Holmes; his wife, Wendy; his sister, Rachel, as well as Mycroft. Watson also exposes Mrs. Hudson's property empire and he tells us how Professor Moriarty became "the Napoleon of crime." Some of this new material is shocking, even by today's standards!Book 12 synopsis, Dr. Watson returns from a night out with The Strand magazine to find Sherlock Holmes manufacturing a brand new halucinogenic narcotic with his chemistry set. When professional nanny, Miss Violet Hunter, consults the great detective about a job offer in Winchester, Sherlock Holmes believes that his standard of client has hit rock bottom. Nevertheless, he finds her extremely attractive and when she asks for his help in her new position he answers her call without a second thought. After an intoxicating lunch in Winchester, Holmes and Watson supplement their wine intake with ‘chimps’ – the tablet form of the new narcotic – so when they reach the home of Miss Hunter’s employer they are orbiting Jupiter! They experience a myriad of mind-boggling spectacles, uncover a dainty secret about their client and use the Manstopper revolver without the respect it deserves.
