The ten topics I originally chose were crime, love, money, face words, “chillin’ like Sherlock” (my strangely-named topic for words like pipe, sat, fire, smoke, silence, and bachelor), male descriptive words, detective words, investigation, sailing, and death. The following graphs show how some of these topics relate and, in exceptional cases, reveal interesting correlations with historical events that took place at the time when the stories in which they appear were printed, which I found really intriguing to delve into and analyze.

Detective/Investigation

These topics seemed similar enough. Ironically, however, trends appeared somewhat sporadic throughout, though there was a strong correlation roughly from 1909 to late 1911, with a significant peak in early 1911. This correlates most strongly with the release of The Red Circle (http://sherlockian.net/), though I couldn’t find any historical relevance.

Crime/Death

These topics, clearly connected through the crime of murder, showed a close trend in March 1922, the time of release of Thor Bridge (http://www.sherlockian.net/). In this story, the crime is, of course, murder (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Problem_of_Thor_Bridge#Plot_summary). No related historical events were found.

Sherlock/Male

Yet again, these topics seemed to make sense together, but trends were very sporadic. There was, however, a directly correlated peak in March 1923, the time of release for The Creeping Man (http://www.sherlockian.net/), which makes perfect sense for obvious reasons. No direct historical relation was found.

Money/Sailing

Figuring sailing and money were both tied to trade, I decided to look for trends between these two topics. Interestingly enough, “sailing” peaked in March 1904, then dipped in April 1904, at which time “money” spiked. In April 1904, the Entente cordiale was signed (http://www.branchcollective.org/), which established peace between France and England, likely opening up trade between the two, which makes sense with the spike in money-related words. The cause of decline in sailing-related words at this time, however, still remains unclear (or possibly unrelated).

Love/Face

Figuring these words might be related through the written portrayal of how people respond to the people they love (with regard to facial expressions, at least), I thought it might be worth comparing the trends between the two. Sure enough, they peaked together in March 1922 and January 1924. March 1922 was the time of release for Thor Bridge (http://sherlockian.net/), which seems to be sort of a fluke in terms of trying to explain the relation to the prominence of these topics. January 1924, however, was when The Sussex Vampire was released (http://sherlockian.net/). This story, featuring a child as the culprit (http://sherlockian.net/), in conjunction with the obvious implications in its name, seems to fit the bill for a story that would predictably feature frequent mention of the topics of love and things having to do with the face. I was not, however, able to find any direct historical relation to the prominence of either topic.

100 topics, 20 words, 10,000 iterations

Crime: police found case evidence arrest charge constable undoubtedly appeared arrested court robbery official avoid credit unfortunate confession referred instantly jury

Love: woman wife husband love knew married loved women influence give daughter life lived power marriage strong died true fit beauty

Money: money business hundred pounds pay thousand worth price sum single paid check ruin fifty ten offer advance terms fifteen buy

Facial Expressions/Face: face eyes pale white nervous thin lips turned colour forehead angry cheeks told nerves frightened spoke excitement staring breath brow

Chillin’ Like Sherlock: pipe sat fire asked smoke tobacco silence opposite cigar lit room sitting armchair smoked fresh original rest habits dull bachelor

Male Descriptive Words: man hair dark cut middle white tall appearance beard handsome clean age features gentleman pleasant fashion elderly bore short bearded

Detective Words: case watson remarked interest interesting investigation answered methods prove client full cases clue exceedingly greatest contrary obliged result art afraid

Investigation: sherlock arthur adventure cases doyle conan friend public long facts problem notes details years series year famous practice feel record

Sailing: long wind ship sea peter captain boat carey rising london bound board securities spirit names rain pulled seaman cleared command

Death: body lay head found dead blow knife lying drawn shot weapon fell blood finally revolver heavy wound unfortunate carried bullet

1000 iterations, 50 topics, 20 topic words

Nationality: country England world American fear great English law real days present living set bound meet south date british year baron

Writing: paper read note letter book hand papers pocket table written put handed letters writing sheet post wrote write document held

Tracks: boy examined feet blow carefully examined feet blow carefully examination mark left ran wood found path marks stick impression marked showed edge foot unfortunate

Reaction: turned hand face instant moment rushed fell eyes voice felt dreadful horror air white lips arms milverton threw minutes cold

Numeral Values: years money time ago twenty sister hundred months thirty age considerable weeks ponds days club year month named sum

Simple Explanation: case point give points facts curious fact investigation obvious clue incident idea events theory admit solution simple connection criminal explanation

Suspense: head back struck suddenly sprang forward caught quick instant cry began sight eye held feet step dropped broke ears stepped

Family Scandal: woman lady wife husband love girl life child secret maid married beautiful dear character ferguson strong mistress ill daughter engaged

Stakeout: road side place carriage hall dog high direction miles drive house cottage pulled yards passed village bicycle houses trap mile

At Sea: line end thought water full lay place fall black wind ship peter sea memory forever walked captain stackhurst boat brandy

Top 10 topic models with specs of 50 topics, 2000 iterations, 20 number of topic words:

1)DETAILS: case points interest facts investigation follow remarked fact explanation clue simple observed theory mystery admit prove incident solution inquiry effect.

2)ASSETS/CURRENCY: business money asked work answered good hundred ten company red office week pounds pay thousand suggested fifty city paid bank.

3)WRITING: paper note read letter papers hand table book pocket put letters handed box written wrote writing sheet post drew write.

4)RELATIONS: wife woman husband girl love life child married mother months years heart daughter died ago ferguson secret boy mrs women.

5)LAW/GOVERNMENT: police inspector matter hands case yard law arrest scotland moment official charge found important missing court quietly reached arrested move.

6)CHARACTERISTICS/FEATURES:face eyes man looked features thin dark tall pale mouth lips figure raised manner appearance gray cut beard expression.

7)TRANSPORTATION: hour station train past minutes carriage waiting drive cab quarter time drove half late wait ten hurried started journey home.

8)DESCRIPTION/COLORS: black white hat hair red coat dress broad blue faced grey thick bird brown boots double colour pair yellow dressed.

9)MURDER/CRIME/CLUES: man dead found body lay blood shot son hand knife held revolver mccarthy dropped part pool weapon cunningham heavy wound.

10)TIMES OF DAY/TIME: morning day night evening days clock morrow mrs telegram early breakfast hours news received yesterday work back leave spent arrived.