HAMMER, David L.

HAMMER, David. (Newton, IA--Newton, IA, Dec. 27, 2018). Hammer, a successful attorney with five decades of experience, established a second reputation as a writer with twenty-six books to his credit. He was one of America's foremost authorities on Sherlock Holmes, the fictional detective created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Hammer's first Holmes' book entitled The Game is Afoot: A Travel Guide to the England of Sherlock Holmes was published in 1983. His second book For the Sake of the Game: Being a Further Travel Guide to the England of Sherlock Holmes (1986) was sold nationwide and received favorable reviews from the American Library Association. He wrote To Play the Game: A Travel Guide to the North America of Sherlock Holmes(1991), Skewed Sherlock (1992)The Worth of the Game: Being a Final Travel Guide to the England of Sherlock Holmes(1993),My Dear Watson: Being the Annals of Sherlock Holmes (1995), The Before-Breakfast Pipe of Mr. Sherlock Holmes (1995),A Dangerous Game (1997), The Vital Essence (1999), The Travelers' Companion to the London of Sherlock Holmes (2001), The Game is Underfoot: The Memoir of a Sherlockian Publisher 2001, My Dear Holmes: Being the Continuing Annals of Sherlock Holmes (2003) and A Distinct Touch, Watson: Being the Finals Annals of Sherlock Holmes (2003). (1) The Nashville Scholars, a Sherlock Holmes literary society, rated Hammer as one of the top five sources for pursuing the "Higher Learning of the Sherlockian Canon." (2)

When Gaslight Publishing, an Indiana publisher of Holmes stories, went out of business, Hammer started his own publishing company, Gasogene Press, and served as its president. Hammer's The Twenty-Second Man tells of the search in Germany to determine whether Holmes was a German spy during WORLD WAR I-a prime example of the pseudo-serious examination Holmes' fans give their favorite character.

To develop his books, Hammer made numerous trips to England researching specific locations mentioned in the Sherlock Holmes stories. In 1979 Hammer organized a tour of sites in England and Denmark where the stories were set. The 17-day tour was based on evidence that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote about existing places but seldom used real names. Tour sites included St. Bart's Hospital where Holmes met Dr. Watson; Simpson and Strand, a favorite restaurant of the two crime-solvers; Cuckmere Haven, suggested retirement residence of Holmes; Lew House, the inspiration of Baskerville Hall; and Kronberg Castle, used as the castle in "King of Scandinavia." Hammer admitted that the location of 221B Baker Street would probably never be found. (3)

Hammer and Audrey Lowe HAMMER, his wife who died in 2011, traveled to every continent and supported Dubuque’s arts community and local health care. Hammer had a long association with UnityPoint Health-Finley Hospital, serving on the board from 1966 to 1985 and serving on the board of the hospital’s foundation from 1988 to 1995. Following Audrey's death, Hammer married Carol Soderblom, a former classmate from elementary school. (4)

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Source:

1. Advertisement. Amazon, Online: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_pg_2?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ADavid+L.+Hammer&page=2&sort=relevancerank&ie=UTF8&qid=1546540198

2. Hogstrom, Erik, "Longtime Dubuque Attorney, Prolific Author, Dies at 89--2 Days Before Wife," Telegraph Herald, January 1, 2019, Online: http://www.telegraphherald.com/news/tri-state/article_aa34dfa6-4993-5edb-a5b5-f06f8d151257.html

3. "Sherlock's Scenery on Dubuquer's Tour," Telegraph Herald, January 21, 1979, p. 1

4. Hogstrom