The Sacred Writings – 99 Years since the last Sherlock Holmes Story
By Mahons On January 26th, 2013I was doing some house organizing today and uncovered a copy of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes in the attic. As one who has read every single one of the 56 short stories and 4 novels I have to admit that I am sad to say it has been 99 years since the last story was published in 1914. Holmes once went over the Reichenbach Falls and made it back, but with the death of Arthur Conan Doyle there is no chance of him being brought back to life again.
Mrs. Hudson, brother Mycroft, Professor Moriarty “The Napoleon of Crime”, Inspector Lestrade, Irene Adler, and of course Dr. John H. Watson. The Adventure of the Red-Headed League, The Adventure of the Speckled Band and The Hound of the Baskervilles. The Master with his disguises, his pipe, his violin and his cocaine.
A world where it will always be Victorian England of 1895, the moon over the moors, the fog falling on London and the shadows cast by the gaslights. Oh well, as a poet once wrote of the residents of 221 Baker Street, two men who never lived and thus never will die. I sit down on the box storing the Christmas decorations, open up the book to the first story, the game’s afoot, and I begin the journey again. Elementary!
An English bloke Called Conan Doyle in the 19th Century ! Wow !
And there was I thinking Guy Richie (along with Jude Law and Robert Downey Jnr.) had invented Sherlock Holmes ?
You learn something new every day
Timeless stuff. I’ll get around to re-reading my collection too one day. Any chap in the English world who hasn’t read them all really should have his backside kicked.
Note to first timers: Holmes and Watson tend to venture out with guns. Try to not drop the book in shock.
//A world where it will always be Victorian England //
It’s very typical that the man who created the quintessential Englishman was of Irish background. That kind of thing happens so often – and not just in Irish/English – it’s more the rule than the exception.
Uuhmm, have to raise my hand as a red-faced Englishman. I haven’t read any of them. Do you want to come to South London and kick my backside Pete ?
PS – Yeah Holmes and Watson tended to venture out with guns… that’s why it was called FICTION..
Colm -
There’s more than enough violence already where you live.
Pete
Yes, it’s me neighbours. Those Pre-permissive era old Saaf London geezers, bashing the missus coz she’s gone and started getting a bit stroppy and disobedient, polluted with some lefty feminist ideas
Being a girly, I am sure I will be excused.
Agatha Christie is one of my guilty pleasures but I never got into Holmes.
Some great films from Christie books. Loved the black and white version of “and then there were none”
(one of the best films ever was the black and white Kind Hearts and Coronets
Even lower brow I am into the Agatha Raisin books too.
Never heard of Agatha Raisin.
First off it was 221 B Baker St or are you lost in his solution of passing 7% of the time away.
I have read these stories over and over they hold a special place. I always considered myself a member of the Baker Street Irregulars.
The stories were the perfect length that as a child my father would read them to me before he put me to bed when he was pulling third shift. Every third week I would sit there in my pajamas and he in his Uniform and I would get lost in my mind on the Moors or the Gaslight streets.
Grand memories. Thanks Mahons.
I love these books. I have them all on my beloved Kindle, and also have my even more beloved ‘real’ copies on the bookshelf, alongside my Pratchetts and Wodehouses.
Colm
too low brow for you
Thttp://www.tumblr.com/tagged/baker+street+underground+station
London has the 150 year old Baker St Tube station, which is decorated with multiple images of the good detective.
That was the tube station I used to and from work for many years. It was a good area to work in.
Troll – I was sitting out for dinner tonight and it hit me I wrote the wrong address, thanks for catching it.
elementary sir, elementry
Phantom -
Baker Street is one of the original stations on the Metropolitan Line, which was the very first tube line.
Last month was the 150th anniversary of its opening so a steam train (they were used until electrification) was run through it. Video here.
Thanks for that
The London Underground was a revolutionary thing. It is nearly impossible to believe that they did that around the time of the US Civil War.
I love these books and have them all in hardback. I read them often.