The Book Report Episode #23

Episode #22

The Complete Stories of Sherlock Holmes By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Story One: A Study In Scarlet

The Book

Another book from my to-be-read bookshelf. I received this book as a gift from a friend, who passed a few years ago when we took a trip to the Sherlock Holmes museum, in London.

This edition of the book: was published by Wordsworth Editions Limited. Part of the Wordsworth Library Collection in 2007. Published with the original illustrations from the Strand magazine. The first complete stories book was published in 1928.

A Study In Scarlet was published in 1887 in Beeton’s Christmas Annual. There are very few copies left. So it might be worth a look in your great-grand family’s attic or basement.

What Did I Think

This is the first story of the great detective and his companion Dr. Watson. And also an introduction to the characters that make up many of the following stories.

Spoilers Ahead

It begins with Dr. Watson having left the army as a medical doctor through the various battles which happened at the time. And requires a permanent residence after living in a hotel for a while. He is lost in his mind of being, a little depressed, and a tad shell-shocked. At the time an early undiagnosed version of PTSD. And even then it wasn’t termed until WW1. But the great Dr. Watson is British and doesn’t adhere to that sort of thing. So it is unknowingly nurtured with the help of his companion.

One day he meets an old friend and he introduces him to Sherlock Holmes they arrange to meet up at, what will be the headquarters of their future adventures: 221b Baker Street.

Are you a viewer of the BBC Sherlock with Benedict Cumberbatch? You will know this story as A Study in Pink. Now the difference is mainly due to the reasons behind the crimes.

Utah

The original story is a revenge story, instead of a because I can because I am dying. The original threw me a little when the story diverts to an Oregon trail-type western of a group of Mormons heading for a new settlement in Utah. This happens halfway through the book when the murderer shows himself and turns out to be a cabbie, the same as in the TV episode. But is then caught there and then.

The Mormons meet up with a couple of nearly dying people lost on the rocky plains. They rescue them and allow them to join their group. Over the years the older man adopts the little girl and tries to protect her from being married off to one of the Head Mormon sons. Who already have several wives.

The young lady was already betrothed to a travelling rancher. Who arrived too late to find out that they had both died. The old man was murdered and the lady killed herself. The man was of course pissed at this and chased both men across the world. Twenty years later, he finally caught up with them in London and was able to kill them.

My Sherlock

The story is, as always written from the point of view of Dr. Watson. As he is the storyteller and witness to the adventure.

I didn’t find the story compelling but enjoyable. Like I said before I wasn’t expecting the huge jump for the second part to find out it was an explanation. The story is told from the murderer’s point of view after being captured but still written down by Dr Watson. This I thought was brilliant after the fact.

I think I have diluted it for myself after spending some of my life watching and rewatching other people’s versions of the original art. Jeremy Brett has always been my Sherlock. It’s a shame he never made his version of this mystery. But that doesn’t stop the fact I went in with other versions already sitting in my mind.

Maybe I can try again with the next story.

A Study in Scarlet

Would I Recommend

For those who are interested in the world of Sherlock Holmes. And or have watched the many actors play the actor over the years in movies and TV shows. I recommend, taking a walk back to the original stories that started it all off. But do not go in with the notion that the TV or movie is the same as the book. Also remember it is a different period, to any modern version. Or rewrite. Go in as a newbie and enjoy.

Would you like to purchase your very own copy?

You could try these online stores: Amazon UK/USA. Waterstones. AbeBooks UK/ USA, Barnes and Noble and eBay UK/ USA.

Alternatively, you could try your local bookshop or even your local library.