The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes

By: Arthur Conan Doyle

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

Length: 8 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's Summary

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes are overshadowed by the event with which they close - the meeting of the great detective and Moriarty, the Napoleon of Crime. When "The Final Problem" was first published, the struggle between Holmes and his arch nemesis, seemingly to the death, left many readers desolate at the loss of Holmes, but it also led to his immortality as a literary figure. The stories that precede it included two narratives from Holmes himself - on a mutiny at sea and a treasure hunt in a Sussex country house - as well as a meeting with his brilliant brother, Mycroft.

Included in The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes are "Silver Blaze", "The Yellow Face", "The Stock-Broker's Clerk", "The Gloria Scott", "The Musgrave Ritual", "The Reigate Puzzle", "The Crooked Man", "The Resident Patient", "The Greek Interpreter", "The Naval Treaty", and "The Final Problem".

©1923 Public Domain (P)2010 Tantor

Good narrator, Incorrect product description

The narration provided by Simon Prebble is excellent. He's a good voice actor and manages to make each character distinct no matter how big the cast of a given story.

I would give this book 4 stars, but there is one critical problem. There is a story missing. "The Final Problem," in which we are first introduced by Doyle to the character of Professor Moriarty, is nowhere to be found.

This particular production company has seen fit to include it as an extra on their recording of "The Valley of Fear." It makes sense, from a certain point of view. Given the ending of the story and the role of Moriarty in both tales, there is a certain logic to packaging it with "The Valley of Fear." However, the description of this audio book EXPLICITLY STATES THAT IT INCLUDES "The Final Problem," which it does not. Listeners will therefore be surprised when the audiobook ends with, "The Naval Treaty."

It's a good audiobook, and Prebble's performance is excellent. If you're working your way through the Holmes cannon, this isn't a bad production. But unless you buy "The Valley of Fear" as produced by the same company, you're going to feel a bit cheated.

Does include "The Final Problem."

This edition of the book that I downloaded in May of 2012 does include "The Final Problem."

It seems to follow the 1894 American book edition, in that "The Cardboard Box" is *not* included, and several paragraphs of that story are inserted into "The Resident Patient." You can see the Wikipedia entry for the most singular circumstances surrounding the publication.

Spectacular!!

It was amazing. My favourite part has got to be the ending. Don't miss it.

Does include "The Final Problem."

This edition of the book that I downloaded in May of 2012 does include "The Final Problem."

It seems to follow the 1894 American book edition, in that "The Cardboard Box" is *not* included, and several paragraphs of that story are inserted into "The Resident Patient." You can see the Wikipedia entry for the most singular circumstances surrounding the publication.

Classic

This is one of my favorite books. Well read and something everyone should hear. The hard back should be in every collection

what a delightful visit

I've never read the sherlock stories. This reading was like visiting an old friend. the narrator's voice was inviting, friendly, and a pleasure to listen to. I liked the way he pronounced all the French flawlessly. I will look for more of his performances. Thank you for a wonderful read.

Brilliant!

Can't go wrong with Doyle. Sherlock Holmes is a favorite. Simon Prebble does a fantastic job.

Good Old Tales and a Beautiful Reader

This volume contains only a few of the very best Sherlock Holmes stories, a couple of stories that are barely detective stories, and a finale so melodramatic and improbable that brings the Story rating down. Indeed, “The Final Solution” makes the reader appreciate the brilliance of the thinking behind “The Seven Percent Solution,” which presented Moriarty as the paranoid fantasy of a cocaine addict in the advanced stages of his illness. Simon Prebble makes all these stories, the good, the out-of-genre, and the implausible, worth revisiting. He is one of those actors who makes you forget that he is acting, or even that he is not speaking in his natural voice. And a beautiful voice it is, not so much for its depth or resonance as for its lovely, trust-inspiring timbre. If you want to go to detective story heaven, listen to him read all of Ellis Peters’ Inspector Felse mysteries.

Original stories refreshing

After the spate of modernized versions, to get back to real sleuthing is assuring that Doyle’s inventiveness is the most entertaining of all. Simon Prebble’s expert voicing of the characters keeps my attention on the place and times. A. Rainey

Candy for fans of Mr. Holmes

This is a collection of the last series of Sherlock Holmes adventures. They are engaging (so much so that I've listened through twice) but are a small dip from the earlier stories. The reader is extraordinary! His articulation of each character leaves no doubt as to who's center stage. Remarkable!

Best reader of Sherlock Holmes

Simon Prebble is the best reader of these stories in my opinion, with beautifully distinct voices and a sensitivity for the text and era.