Hi,
We are great Sherlock-Holmes-Fans, and
not only since the TV-series »Sherlock« came out. Today we want to
review the book series of the same name written by Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle. This is of course part of the »Time travel
through literature«.
»My name is Sherlock Holmes.
It is my business to know what other people don't know.«
»You see, but you do not observe.«
»It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data.
Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories,
instead of theories to suit facts.«
»When you have eliminated all which is impossible,
then whatever remains, however improbable,
must be the truth.«
The series includes four novels and 56
short-stories. The stories take place in London of the
years 1881 until 1914 and show the story of the genius detective
Sherlock Holmes and his friend Dr. John H. Watson. The first story –
the novel »A study in scarlet« – was published in 1887 and
presents their first meeting in 1881.
Watson is a veteran from the War of Afghanistan. He was an army doctor and because he was injured in war he returned to London earlier. There he lived a while, but now has got the problem that his disability pension is not enough for living in London. But luckily he meets an old friend – Mike Stamford – who has studied medicine together with him. They talk about Watson's financial problems and Watson has got the idea of sharing an apartment with someone, but he cannot imagine that anyone wants to live with him. Stamford answers that Watson is the second person who said this to him; the first person is Sherlock Holmes. After Holmes and Watson met for the first time they have a look at the apartment in Bakerstreet 221b together. They decided to live there together and a bit later Sherlock tells Watson of his profession and Watson decides to help him in the fight against crime.
Watson is a veteran from the War of Afghanistan. He was an army doctor and because he was injured in war he returned to London earlier. There he lived a while, but now has got the problem that his disability pension is not enough for living in London. But luckily he meets an old friend – Mike Stamford – who has studied medicine together with him. They talk about Watson's financial problems and Watson has got the idea of sharing an apartment with someone, but he cannot imagine that anyone wants to live with him. Stamford answers that Watson is the second person who said this to him; the first person is Sherlock Holmes. After Holmes and Watson met for the first time they have a look at the apartment in Bakerstreet 221b together. They decided to live there together and a bit later Sherlock tells Watson of his profession and Watson decides to help him in the fight against crime.
There are many great adventures and we decided to present you our favourites. We really like the case »The Beryl Coronet«. It is about a banker who works in the credit system and has taken an enormous treasure for borrowing. As he is afraid that the bank may be robbed he takes it with him home. In the night he wakes up hearing some strange noises from the room where the coronet is hidden. When he goes to the room he sees his own son trying to break out some of the very valuable beryl-stones. But some of the stones are already lost and even the police cannot find them. The son is suspect of the robbery but he doesn't say anything. The banker is totally desperate and asks Holmes for help. In this case Sherlock Holmes shows a lot of sympathy and compassion. He is assured of the innocence of the son and of course he helps. The case is very interesting and the solution isn't foreseeable.
Another great case is the novel »The Sign of the Four«. It is the case where Watson meets his big love Mary Morstan. Together with her, Holmes and Watson have to investigate the devise of a major from the Indian Revolution, which was about 20 years ago. Besides that a murder has to be explained. While this action is happening Watson often thinks about Mary Morstan and of the question if he can maybe marry her.
A character who has to be mentioned is the »Napoleon of Crime« – Professor James Moriarty. He is the greatest enemy of Sherlock Holmes and the only one who has ever been coequal to him. In the case »The Final Problem« they dual at the famous Reichenbachfällen in Switzerland. Watson watches this from a the only path that leads there and because there is no one there, when he arrives at the lookout point – where the dual took place – he thinks that Sherlock and Moriarty both fell down the waterfall and are dead. The author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wanted to write other stories and that's why he made Holmes die. But the readers of the stories wrote angry letters that he should bring their favourite detective back. So three fictional years later – Watson is still sad about Holmes' death and works now as a doctor in London – Sherlock Holmes returns in the case »The Empty House«. The explanation why he survived is that he won the dual against Moriarty and climbed up the mountains to not be found by some of Moriarty's henchmen. During the three years in absence he worked hard to defeat Moriarty's organisation and on the evening of his return to London is the final move. For this he needs Watson's help and so he discloses his secret to Watson. He is shocked at the first moment and very angry – what we can really understand – but after a little bit of explanation on the part of Holmes he understands the necessity of Holmes' actions.
Sherlock Holmes is a great character and he is very brave and loyal although you often think that he hasn't got feelings. His ability to unravel mysteries is amazing. What is also very interesting about him is that Doyle created a character who is so real that some people may think that he really lived and isn't only a fictional character. Indeed there was a model for him – a professor of medicine who taught Doyle and who could deduct in the medical sector as Holmes in the criminal – but Sherlock Holmes is and stays only fictional.Watson is the narrator of the stories. He admires Holmes very much and is consistantly impressed by Holmes' ability to deduct. We think that taking Watson as narrator is very clever because Watson never understands anything about the case. That's why there is always a surprise for the readers and in addition it is very funny.
We think that the stories about Sherlock Holmes are legendary and belong to the best detective stories of literature history. So if you are interested in mysteries and strange crimes you definitely have to read »Sherlock Holmes«.
Maybe I will see one of the cases tonight – live in my dreams. ~Liv
The London of this time seems to be very interesting… I think i'll visit it. ~Gwen
source: Sffbookreview
Another great case is the novel »The Sign of the Four«. It is the case where Watson meets his big love Mary Morstan. Together with her, Holmes and Watson have to investigate the devise of a major from the Indian Revolution, which was about 20 years ago. Besides that a murder has to be explained. While this action is happening Watson often thinks about Mary Morstan and of the question if he can maybe marry her.
A character who has to be mentioned is the »Napoleon of Crime« – Professor James Moriarty. He is the greatest enemy of Sherlock Holmes and the only one who has ever been coequal to him. In the case »The Final Problem« they dual at the famous Reichenbachfällen in Switzerland. Watson watches this from a the only path that leads there and because there is no one there, when he arrives at the lookout point – where the dual took place – he thinks that Sherlock and Moriarty both fell down the waterfall and are dead. The author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wanted to write other stories and that's why he made Holmes die. But the readers of the stories wrote angry letters that he should bring their favourite detective back. So three fictional years later – Watson is still sad about Holmes' death and works now as a doctor in London – Sherlock Holmes returns in the case »The Empty House«. The explanation why he survived is that he won the dual against Moriarty and climbed up the mountains to not be found by some of Moriarty's henchmen. During the three years in absence he worked hard to defeat Moriarty's organisation and on the evening of his return to London is the final move. For this he needs Watson's help and so he discloses his secret to Watson. He is shocked at the first moment and very angry – what we can really understand – but after a little bit of explanation on the part of Holmes he understands the necessity of Holmes' actions.
Sherlock Holmes is a great character and he is very brave and loyal although you often think that he hasn't got feelings. His ability to unravel mysteries is amazing. What is also very interesting about him is that Doyle created a character who is so real that some people may think that he really lived and isn't only a fictional character. Indeed there was a model for him – a professor of medicine who taught Doyle and who could deduct in the medical sector as Holmes in the criminal – but Sherlock Holmes is and stays only fictional.Watson is the narrator of the stories. He admires Holmes very much and is consistantly impressed by Holmes' ability to deduct. We think that taking Watson as narrator is very clever because Watson never understands anything about the case. That's why there is always a surprise for the readers and in addition it is very funny.
We think that the stories about Sherlock Holmes are legendary and belong to the best detective stories of literature history. So if you are interested in mysteries and strange crimes you definitely have to read »Sherlock Holmes«.
Maybe I will see one of the cases tonight – live in my dreams. ~Liv
The London of this time seems to be very interesting… I think i'll visit it. ~Gwen
source: Sffbookreview