The Sultan and the Detective: Sherlock Holmes’ Curious Adventures in the Ottoman Empire
The Friends of the Arthur Conan Doyle Collection: 2026 Cameron Hollyer Memorial Lecture Historical fact: the last great Ottoman sultan, Abdülhamid II, fell asleep each night to the adventures of Sherlock Holmes, read aloud to him by a palace attendant. This unlikely obsession is the starting point for Andrew Finkel's novel The Adventure of the Second Wife. In this talk, Finkel explores how the world of Arthur Conan Doyle intersected with the late Ottoman Empire, and what this reveals about storytelling, translation, and the unexpected ways stories travel across languages, cultures, and empires to take on meanings the author never intended.
Plan your visit
🅿️ Parking: 2 options listed near Toronto Reference Library — nearest: Green P Carpark 304 ($3.50/half hour; day max $17.00 Mon-Fri, $16.00 Sat-Sun; night max $8.00), 850 m away.
🍽️ Eat nearby:
- Lee Chen Asian Bistro — Chinese Restaurant · ⭐ 4.3 (91 reviews) · 🚶 1 min walk
- Balzac's Reference Library — Cafe · ⭐ 4.4 (9 reviews) · 🚶 1 min walk
- Jack Astor's Bar & Grill — Bar & Grill · ⭐ 2.0 (2 reviews) · 🚶 2 min walk
Parking and restaurant details as published by their providers — please confirm before you go.
🏨 See hotels near Toronto Reference Library (via Stay22 — may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you)
More like this
1-Hour Toronto Harbour Tour with Live NarrationTue, Oct 20, 2026 · 145 Queens Quay W, Toronto, ON27th Annual Planet in Focus International Environmental Film Festival
Tue, Oct 20, 2026 · Paradise Theater, Toronto, ON2hr Shared Sailing Experience in Toronto
Tue, Oct 20, 2026 · 415 Queens Quay W, Toronto, ON2nd Annual Security Spectrum - Build Your Brand. Build Your Network.
Tue, Oct 20, 2026 · CIBC SQUARE, Toronto, ON
Details and prices are shown exactly as the sources publish them — please confirm on the event page before booking. Ontario Events Buzz does not sell tickets.