Conan Doyle's Real-Life Model for Jonas Oldacre's Tailor

Abstract

In the Sherlock Holmes adventure, 'The Adventure of the Norwood Builder,' there's reference to the Norwood builder's tailor. The paper seeks to demonstrate that the tailor being referred to was a real-life company, Hyam & Co Limited. The paper also discusses anti-Semitism in the Sherlock Holmes Canon. In that connection, it supplies information about the original of the character "Sam Brewer" in "The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place." It also discusses, among other questions about Irene Adler, whether she was Jewish.

Keywords: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes, Hyam & Co Limited, anti-semitism in the Sherlock Holmes Canon, Sam Brewer, Sam Lewis