Why it’s essential
’s sharp-witted detective is, without a doubt, the most well-known fictional crime solver of all time, and he still influences the mystery genre to this day.
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What is Sherlock Holmes about?
Sherlock Holmes is a following the eponymous Holmes, a detective whose peculiar methods are justified by his stellar record as Britain’s greatest investigator.
Editor’s review
Sherlock Holmes is, without a doubt, a character who transcends his series. While the majority of people I know have not read a single one of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic stories, they all have a clear picture of Sherlock Holmes in their mind. The pipe, hat, and long overcoat are just what people think of when they hear the word "detective." Despite the fact that general knowledge of Holmes doesn’t go far beyond the phrase, "Elementary, my dear Watson," there is so much more to this character than meets the eye.
My relationship to this series began in middle school, when I spent six months as an exchange student in Switzerland. During that time, I was living in an Italian-speaking home and going to a school where nobody spoke any English. This was amazing for language and cultural immersion but was, at times, exhausting and frustrating. My one bit of English companionship came in the form of the Sherlock Holmes omnibus, a dusty old edition featuring all of Holmes’s classic capers that I found in the school’s library. This book became something like a security blanket or stuffed animal to me; I took it everywhere I went, slowly making my way through the thick tome.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created his character in 1887 and would write four novels and 56 short stories starring Holmes and his sidekick, Watson. This large body of work is full of classics, with some of my favorites being "," , , and . The audiobook version, like the one I read, is a comprehensive anthology of every published Holmes adventure, with the added bonus of Stephen Fry’s absolute spot-on voice work. Doyle wrote Sherlock Holmes mysteries between 1886 and 1927, and over those 41 years, the character underwent subtle but relevant growth. Holmes may seem like a static character at first, but the man is plagued by a number of traumas and character flaws that he addresses over time.While it is fun to aspire to be the shrewd detective while reading a Sherlock Holmes caper, the calculating crime solver would be nothing without his trusty sidekick, John Watson. While intelligent and ambitious like Holmes, Watson is a far more relatable character. He is often used as an earpiece for Holmes to explain his genius deductions to the reader. Despite his lower status in the duo, Watson is far more passionate and empathetic than his boss, acting like a "normal human" might in most scenarios.I have not revisited the grim world of Sherlock Holmes in many years, yet I still retain many of his best lessons. I always check behind the door when I enter a new room, and aspects of deductive reasoning are still applied when I need to solve a complex problem. Yes, most people have not actually read any Sherlock Holmes, but I contend that there is much to be gained from cracking open one of his stories. As the man himself once said, "Education never ends, Watson. It is a series of lessons, with the greatest for the last."
