The names of literary giants and great philosophers spawn adjectives, ‘Shakespearian’, ‘Marxist’, and ‘Platonic’, for instance. Few scientific celebrities are so honoured, although ‘Darwinian’ has entered the lexicon.

The man who inspired Dr Holmes was so astute that the police enlisted his help to catch the ripper, writes Robert Hume.

Over 170 years ago two Irishmen began a killing spree — and then sold the corpses. Michael Brennan reports.