Commissionaire: Julian Wolff and his Baker Street Irregulars

“the little man was much more favourable to me” [REDH]  In their 86-year history the Baker Street Irregulars have had six leaders. Of them, Julian Wolff, BSI ("The Red-Headed League) seems to have been the least likely.   As Malvolio says in Twelfth Night, "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em." Julian was in the third category, as there was a leadership vacuum following the unexpected death of Edgar W. Smith in 1960, after 20 years of leadership, and Julian's name was put forth to fill Edgar's considerable shoes.   The latest entry in the BSI Press Biography Series is  by Sonia Fetherston, BSI ("The Solitary Cyclist"). Sonia returns to I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere to explore Julian's life inside and outside of the BSI, the secrets behind some of the back room jockeying, and the dry humor and self-control that powered this well-respected leader who saved the BSI from near extinction.   Inside this episode you'll find a very special flashback segment from  with Evelyn Herzog, BSI ("The Daintiest Thing Under a Bonnet") and Susan Rice, BSI ("Beeswing") where the two stories intersect.   The Canonical Couplet is back, with fresh new entries (as we blew through the first 60!). Enter to win our prize: a copy of Commissionaire from the BSI Press. Entries must be submitted by noon EDT on July 29, 2020.      Information on sponsors, links, and notes available below.     Please do consider becoming a . Your support helps us to ensure we can keep doing what we do, covering file hosting costs, production, and this year, transcription services.     Sponsors  is the premiere publisher of books about Sherlock Holmes, including the Sherlock Holmes Reference Library, scholarly work, and titles dedicated to the stage and screen.    has the largest collection of new Sherlock Holmes novels, biographies, graphic novels and short story collections in the world.   Would you care to advertise with us? You can find . Let's chat!   Links This episode:  Buy the book:  by Sonia Fetherston (BSI Press) Previous episodes mentioned: Many more links, articles and images are available in our Flipboard magazine at  as well as through our accounts on , , , and .   Please subscribe on the podcast provider of your choosing: And would you consider leaving us a rating and review? It would help other Sherlockians to find us.   Your thoughts on the show? Leave a comment below, send us an email (comment AT ihearofsherlock DOT com), call us at (774) 221-READ (7323).   Transcript Transcript costs have risen and you can help us to reach the  level on Patreon to cover these costs. Please consider signing up by clicking the link, for as little as $1 an episode. Transcript will be here soon (if you can contribute to making that happen). --