A Case of Identity

Happy Christmas to Blooms84

BBC Sherlock

Rating: U

Prompt: Harry (the historian) and Sherlock, last word bloom/blooms


"How can you n-not have heard of Ulysses?" Harry protested. "I'm not expecting you to have read it, but it is a landmark of m-modernist literature."

"I know nothing about literature," Sherlock replied, smiling.

"It shocked p-people when it appeared. The British and American authorities banned it."

"Is it still banned?" That sounded more promising.

"N-no, they lifted the restrictions in the 1930s."

"Hence no longer a book provoking criminal activities, hence not my area."

There was a look on Harry's face that reminded Sherlock of John discussing the solar system. Followed by an even more alarming expression. Harry was a lecturer, after all, and she'd obviously decided this was a teachable moment.

"Why do I need to know about Ulysses?" he protested half-heartedly; knowing he'd be on firmer ground if he hadn't just spent forty minutes explaining what could be deduced from a five line e-mail.

"Because one day," Harry said triumphantly, "you'll get a case where someone claims as an alibi that they were in Dublin on 16^th June and you will kn-know they're lying because they haven't mentioned the Bloomsday celebrations."

"Which involve?"

"Book readings, pub crawls. People dress up."

Moriarty was a Dubliner. Perhaps it might be useful information.

"And why's it called Bloomsday?"

"After the central character of Ulysses," Harry began. "A man called Leopold Bloom..."