The Pursuit of the House-Boat Being Some Further Account of the Divers Doings of the Associated Shades, under the Leadership of Sherlock Holmes, Esq.

"The Pursuit of the House-Boat" by John Kendrick Bangs is a comical fiction story from the 1800s. Famous literary characters, especially Sherlock Holmes, find themselves in a crazy situation when Captain Kidd, the pirate, steals their House-boat and kidnaps historical women like Queen Elizabeth. Led by characters like Sir Walter Raleigh and Socrates, the group of famous spirits, called the "Associated Shades," tries to get back their floating home and rescue their friends using a mix of strange encounters, smart talk, and goofy logic. They eventually ask Holmes for help, who figures out that Kidd has taken the House-boat to London, kicking off a funny adventure full of smart jokes and silly moments where characters from books and history come together in a comical way.