Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes (1854–1957, according to William S. Baring-Gould) is a fictional detective of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, created by British author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Holmes is famous for his prowess at using logic and astute observation to solve cases.

The canon

Conan Doyle wrote four novels and fifty-six short stories about Sherlock Holmes. Almost all were narrated by Dr. Watson, with the exception of two narrated by Holmes himself and two more written in the third person. The stories first appeared in magazine serialization, notably in The Strand, over a period of forty years. This was a common form of publication in those days; Charles Dickens wrote in a similar fashion. The stories cover a period from around 1878 up to 1903, with a final case in 1914.

Related Topics:
Magazine - The Strand - Charles Dickens - 1878 - 1903 - 1914

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In addition to the canonical Sherlock Holmes stories, Conan Doyle's "The Lost Special" (1908) features an unnamed 'amateur reasoner' clearly intended to be identified as Holmes by his readers. His explanation for a baffling disappearance, argued in Holmes' characteristic style, turns out to be quite wrong – evidently Conan Doyle was not above poking fun at his own hero. Another short story by Conan Doyle using the same idea is "The Man with the Watches." Another example of Conan Doyle's humour is "How Watson Learned the Trick" (1924), a parody of the frequent Watson-Holmes breakfast table scenes. Another parody by Conan Doyle is "The Field Bazaar"; he also wrote other material, especially plays, featuring Holmes.

Related Topics:
The Lost Special - 1908 - How Watson Learned the Trick - 1924 - Parody

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Novels

• A Study in Scarlet (serialized 1887)
• The Sign of Four (published 1890)
• The Hound of the Baskervilles (serialized 1901-1902; original illustrations by Sidney Paget)
• The Valley of Fear (serialized 1914-1915) (briefly involves Professor Moriarty)

Short stories

The following are organized by collection.

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;Note : Frequently, "The Adventure of ..." is dropped from some story titles in current-day anthologies. However, in their original appearance in The Strand, this is how the titles were given in many cases.

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The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Contains stories published 1891–1892 with original illustrations by Sidney Paget.

Related Topics:
1891 - 1892 - Sidney Paget

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• "A Scandal in Bohemia"
• "The Red-Headed League"
• "A Case of Identity"
• "The Boscombe Valley Mystery"
• "The Five Orange Pips"
• "The Man with the Twisted Lip"
• "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle"
• "The Adventure of the Speckled Band"
• "The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb"
• "The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor"
• "The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet"
• "The Adventure of the Copper Beeches"

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes

Contains stories published 1892–1893 with original illustrations by Sidney Paget.

Related Topics:
1892 - 1893 - Sidney Paget

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• "The Adventure of Silver Blaze"
• "The Adventure of the Cardboard Box" (this story is included as part of His Last Bow in American editions of the canon)
• "The Adventure of the Yellow Face"
• "The Adventure of the Stockbroker's Clerk"
• "The Adventure of the Gloria Scott" (Holmes's first case, described to Watson)
• "The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual" (another early case, told by Holmes to Watson)
• "The Adventure of the Reigate Squire"
• "The Adventure of the Crooked Man"
• "The Adventure of the Resident Patient"
• "The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter" (Mycroft appears for the first time)
• "The Adventure of the Naval Treaty"
• "The Adventure of the Final Problem" (Watson reports the death of Holmes)

The Return of Sherlock Holmes

Contains stories published 1903–1904 with original illustrations by Sidney Paget.

Related Topics:
1903 - 1904 - Sidney Paget

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• "The Adventure of the Empty House" (the return of Holmes)
• "The Adventure of the Norwood Builder"
• "The Adventure of the Dancing Men"
• "The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist"
• "The Adventure of the Priory School"
• "The Adventure of Black Peter"
• "The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton"
• "The Adventure of the Six Napoleons"
• "The Adventure of the Three Students"
• "The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez"
• "The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter"
• "The Adventure of the Abbey Grange"
• "The Adventure of the Second Stain"

His Last Bow

Contains stories published 1908–1913, 1917.

Related Topics:
1908 - 1913 - 1917

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• "The Singular Experience of Mr. John Scott Eccles"
• "The Tiger of San Pedro"
• :(the above make up a two-part story usually listed in anthologies as "The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge", but originally published simply as A Reminiscence of Mr Sherlock Holmes)
• "The Adventure of the Cardboard Box" (this story is in The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes in British editions of the canon)
• "The Adventure of the Red Circle"
• "The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans" (Mycroft appears)
• "The Adventure of the Dying Detective"
• "The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax"
• "The Adventure of the Devil's Foot"
• "His Last Bow" (told in third-person)

The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes

Contains stories published 1921–1927.

Related Topics:
1921 - 1927

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• "The Adventure of the Illustrious Client"
• "The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier" (narrated by Holmes)
• "The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone" (told in third-person)
• "The Adventure of the Three Gables"
• "The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire"
• "The Adventure of the Three Garridebs"
• "The Problem of Thor Bridge"
• "The Adventure of the Creeping Man"
• "The Adventure of the Lion's Mane" (narrated by Holmes)
• "The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger"
• "The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place"
• "The Adventure of the Retired Colourman"

Lists of favorite stories

There are two famous lists of favourite stories: that of Conan Doyle himself, in 1927, and that of the Baker Street Journal in 1959.

Related Topics:
1927 - Baker Street Journal - 1959

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Conan Doyle's list:

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• The Adventure of the Speckled Band
• The Red-Headed League
• The Adventure of the Dancing Men
• The Final Problem
• A Scandal in Bohemia
• The Adventure of the Empty House
• The Five Orange Pips
• The Adventure of the Second Stain
• The Adventure of the Devil's Foot
• The Priory School
• The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual
• The Adventure of the Reigate Squire

The Baker Street Journal's list:

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• The Adventure of the Speckled Band
• The Red-Headed League
• The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle
• The Adventure of Silver Blaze
• A Scandal in Bohemia
• The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual
• The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans
• The Adventure of the Six Napoleons
• The Adventure of the Dancing Men
• The Adventure of the Empty House