Welcome to the Reichenbach Irregulars, the Sherlock Holmes Society of Switzerland
"The Reichenbach Irregulars", that's the Sherlock Holmes Society of Switzerland. We are keeping the memory of the Master and his creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930), green over here.
The Reichenbach Irregulars were founded in Meiringen in 1989 by a group of young Sherlockians lead by Marcus Geisser.
Since the 1990s, the Reichenbach Irregulars organised a number of meetings in Switzerland and elsewhere as well conferences with international experts on Sherlock Holmes and Conan Doyle. In May 1992, the Reichenbach Irregulars - together with the Bimetallic Question of Montréal - erected a commemorative plaque at the Falls of Reichenbach in memory of the fateful encounter between Sherlock Holmes and Professor Moriarty. The Reichenbach Irregulars also published a "Reichenbach Journal" as well as a newsletter (The Young Swiss Messenger).
Like the Master, the Reichenbach Irregulars are now back after a long Hiatus.
 NEWS: Missed our June outing in the Swiss Alps? Loved our June outing in the Swiss Alps? Read the wonderful account written and illustrated by Alex Katz, BSI, ASH here!
NEWS: The latest podcast on "Doings of Doyle", by Paul M. Chapman and Mark Jones, features "The Final Problem" - a "must listen" for every Sherlockian, Holmesian and Doylean!
NEWS: Our next adventure is in the making! "Musings on the amusements in the Canon" will take place in Leukerbad from June 1 to 4, 2023! Look here for more information. ATTENTA: The event is now SOLD OUT! Please contact us at reichenbachirregulars@gmail.com if you would like to be put on the waiting list.
NEWS: 30 years ago, in May 1992, the Bimetallic Question of Montréal and the Reichenbach Irregulars erected the now iconic commemorative plaque at the Reichenbach Falls. Read the fascinating personal recollections of Wilfried de Freitas and Marcus Geisser here!
Our book "Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle and Switzerland" is available - postage-free in Europe, or as an e-book! Order here, or through Amazon.
Part I, “Beyond Reichenbach”, starts with Eva Zenk Iggland, Guy Marriott and Bryan Stone who take us to truly alpine heights as they discuss the different mountain passes that Holmes might have taken when he “took to (his) heels [and] did ten miles over the mountains in the darkness” after his encounter with Professor Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls.
Enrico Solito then takes us further south. Enrico, himself a Florentine, presents fresh revelations about the activities Holmes undertook during his stay in Florence.
Catherine Cooke’s exposé provides a fascinating insight into who Conan Doyle could have been thinking of when he decided to send his hero Sherlock Holmes, in the disguise of Sigerson, all the way to Tibet.
Part II offers a diverse mix of Sherlockian reflections for which the world is finally prepared and starts with Marina Stajic’s striking and provocative thoughts about a hitherto unknown connection between Sherlock Holmes and a famous Swiss girl: Heidi.
Reinhard Hillich’s paper surprises us with a literary ‘engine’ comparison between the racing-car engine Sherlock Holmes and the heavy oil engine that is Swiss police officer Sergeant Studer.
Marina Stajic’s second startling exposé offers what we believe to be the definite answer to the vexed question of which Baden Lady Frances Carfax visited after her departure from Lausanne.
Julie McKuras ends part II with her immaculately researched account of the fathers of one of the very first Sherlock Holmes memorial plaques which, for more than 60 years, has greeted Sherlockians from all over the world as they ascend to the iconic Reichenbach Falls.
Part III then takes the reader on an extended journey through Arthur Conan Doyle’s multiple connections with Switzerland and the alps.
Marcus Geisser begins with an account of Conan Doyle’s numerous stays in the Swiss mountains, illustrated with rarely seen snapshots taken by Conan Doyle himself.
Michael Meer’s essay discusses how not only the beauty, but also the horror, of the Swiss Alps influenced Conan Doyle’s writing not only in “The Final Problem” but also in other stories.
The late Jon Lellenberg and Daniel Stashower examine the importance of The Stark Munro Letters in Conan Doyle’s oeuvre; it is a book that Conan Doyle wrote whilst in the alpine resort of Davos.
Cliff Goldfarb offers a lively portrait of the serial character Conan Doyle invented after disposing of Sherlock Holmes at the Reichenbach Falls: Brigadier Etienne Gerard.
Marcus Geisser ends this volume by retracing elements of what he calls the journey to The Final Return and we return to the very edge of the Reichenbach Falls where this volume of diverse Sherlockian and Doylean encounters in the alps began.
This handsome, illustrated 110-page volume in A4 format is eloquently introduced by Peter E. Blau. The book ends with a personal afterword by Akane Higashiyama and Mitch Higurashi – a reminder of the appeal of Sherlock Holmes, Conan Doyle and Switzerland across the world.
Missed our July 2021 online event with The Red Circle of Washington, D.C.? No (three pipe) problem, you can re-watch it on Youtube!
And: we got our first review! Thank you, Mark Jones, of Doings of Doyle! Read the review here:
https://www.doingsofdoyle.com/2021/05/give-me-morning-in-switzerland.html
Michael A. Meer
Chairman
P.S. Please note that not (yet) all parts of this website are available in English.
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