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Introduction

A Study in Sherlock, Watson’s Notebook

Scottish born, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle may not have been the creator of the detective novel or short mystery story, but he certainly created the most famous literary detective of all time in Sherlock Holmes. The popularity of Sherlock Holmes was instantaneous when he first appeared in print in Beeton’s Christmas Annual Magazine in 1887 in“A Study in Scarlet”. According to Guinness Book of World Records Sherlock Holmes is the best known fictional detective of all time. His case solving genius is often related to the reader by his friend and narrator, Dr. John Watson, who often shared housing with Holmes at 221b Baker Street, London.

For more than 130 years Holmes has thrilled and fascinated readers, young and old alike, with his deductive reasoning skills, keen observations, master of disguises, almost unlimited knowledge and use of forensics science long before it became a highly utilized crime solving technique. Yes, for Conan Doyle’s “consulting detective” the solution to many baffling crimes was “elementary”.

From the very beginning, Sherlock Holmes was a multi media phenomenon. Shortly after he first appeared on the printed page he appeared on the theatrical stage. In 1899, actor William Gillette walked on the New York stage in the play “Sherlock Holmes” creating the Holmesian image of the deerstalker hat and contemplative look with a calabash pipe. Gillette reprieved this role on the then new entertainment medium, the silent movie. He is credited introducing the time honored Sherlock Holme’s phrase “Elementary, my dear fellow (Watson)”.

As media expanded and grew in the 20 century so did the adventures of Sherlock Holmes. He lived on the printed page, the stage, the silent film and in the minds of listeners with broadcasts on radio.

Logically Holmes and Watson crime solving popularity would be a box office success on the silver screen. Over the years more than 70 actors portrayed Holmes in films to include; John Barrymore, Peter Cushing, Christropher Lee, Raymond Massey, Nicol Williamson, and Ian McKellen as a elderly, dying Holmes in the film, “Mr. Holmes”. Basil Rathbone, who appeared in 15 films between 1937 and 1946 as the iconic super sleuth is perhaps one of the most associated with the role.

Yes before Columbo and Dick Tracy there was Sherlock Holmes. Today, in this era of high tech, digitally enhanced, action packed 007 super spies and Mission Impossible action heroes Sherlock Holmes still lives with Robert Downey Jr. in the fast paced, high tech Guy Richie movies.

The Holmes phenomenon continues today from the big screen to the not so small screen of 21st century television sets or home theaters. Modernized versions of his cases are telecast or streamed with British actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Johnny Lee Miller respectively, portraying a high tech Holmes in 20th century London and as a recovering drug addict solving cases in modern day New York with a female Dr. Joan Watson.

But the best way to enjoy a Sherlock Holmes mystery is to return to the beginning, the words of Arthur Conan Doyle. Sit back, relax and let your imagination take you to the second floor of 221b Baker Street, the back streets of Victorian London, the Baskerville moors or follow Holme’s helpful street urchins - the Baker Street Irregulars.

As a companion piece to all 56 short stories and 4 Sherlock Holmes novels a Study in Sherlock, Watson’s Notebook offers you a opportunity to revisit in an easy-to-read format all of the Sherlock Holmes cases in a fascinating new way. Each case is broken down in a unique, similar format with information on the characters, crime scene, victim, timeline, clues, evidence and of course Sherlock Holmes own observations and deductions.

It is a must read for any Sherlock Holmes aficionado or even a casual reader fascinated by the unique brilliance of this skillful consulting detective.

Yes, Sherlock Holmes is a true cultural icon of 19th, 20th and 21st century.

G. Garvin Haggerty