The Book Report #59
Episode #58
The Complete Stories of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
The Book
This edition, of the book, was published by Wordsworth Editions Limited. It became part of the Wordsworth Library Collection in 2007 and was published with the original illustrations from the original work. The first complete stories book was published in 1928.
This is continuing with the 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.
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes is a collection of small short stories originally printed in the Strand magazine from December 1892 to December 1893 and brought together to create an omnibus book in late 1893 in the UK by George Newnes Limited and then in America in February 1894 by Harper & Brothers.
What Did I Think
This book is a bundle of short stories, written by the 19th-century blogger Dr John Watson. Some of these stories are cases that hadn’t seen the light of day before but Dr Watson felt they should have a place with the already published cases. This is also because some of the cases needed to be cleared up and concluded once and for all.
This is something I was waiting for. I have always wanted to find out how he died and the final short story in this book is the end of Sherlock Holmes. Or is it? But I didn’t know the destruction that Moriarty would throw at Holmes. To find out that 221b Baker Street would be destroyed in the process. I also wanted to know how Sir Doyle would do in Sherlock.
I know the story, played out on various TV and movie formats but not much from the source. And I was a little disappointed as not a lot is written. There wasn’t much detail in the story. Something happens, it is assumed and Dr Watson with his vague attempt at what Sherlock does and his limited training, can work out how certain things happened but gives up to easy conclusions and then goes home.
But it is too easy.
Most have been left to the imagination and although everything has been implicated as to how it happened, it isn’t confirmed. The other thing I noticed: as much as it has been portrayed Moriarty isn’t as intelligent as everyone makes him to be. Sherlock has been able to prevent and stop most of Moriatys crimes and Sherlock during the stories has been able to avert his assassination attempts, which leads to the death at the waterfall.
And even though Moriarty, is Sherlock’s greatest challenge/ rival, in the end, he always seems to fall short whereas other media says differently.
I know that Sir Doyle; was going to leave it at that and call it a day. But due to the fan base at the time, demanding the return of Sherlock, we know that Sir Doyle brought him back. So I will have to read the next book The Return of Sherlock Holmes to find out what happened.
Another bonus is that we get to meet Sherlock’s brother Mycroft. Who turns out to be an introvert and has better observation skills than his younger sibling. He is a “civil servant” working for the British government.
Probably the best thing about Sherlock is that Dr Watson discusses the losses. Even if Sherlock solves the case it may have been too late to save the victim. Sherlock is affected by them and Dr Watson describes his mood during the process of the investigations.
The Audiobook
Would I Recommend
I know I may have said this in the past but everyone should read at least one of the Sherlock Holmes novels. It is a classic set of stories that have been adapted many times for so many generations. I do recommend this and other books by Sir Doyle.
Please give this a go.
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.
