Sherlock Holmes

Watson: Has not got over his Afghan experience yet. He has an
older brother, his father has been dead many years and he has
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known women of many nations. Has a weak bank balance.
Visited Ballarat. Keeps an old service revolver in his desk.
Drinks Beaune (a red burgundy wine) and objects to Holmes’
drug habit.
Elementary: Holmes knows Watson has been to Wigmore Street
post office to dispatch a telegram, and deduces the owner of a
watch Watson has recently been sent.
Quotable Quote: ‘I never guess. It is a shocking habit – destruc-
tive to the logical faculty.’
Problems:The narrative begins on 8 July 1888; then suddenly we
are told it is September with accompanying autumnal weather
conditions. But later Holmes says it will be light at 3am (!),
implying midsummer again.
Watson’s war wound has travelled from his shoulder to his
leg. Watson sees Holmes leaving dressed as a sailor, yet is
surprised when he is later revealed… dressed as a sailor.
Andamanese Negrito pygmies are peaceful, not cannibals, and
have an average height of over four feet. Crocodiles are not
known for amputating limbs cleanly. The Indian members of
the Four are supposed to be Sikhs, but two have Moslem names
and Mahomet Singh has an impossible combination of Moslem
and Sikh.
Disguise: An elderly sea dog.
Observations: In August 1889 Doyle and Oscar Wilde were
commissioned by JM Stoddard to write stories for the
American magazine Lippincott’s. Wilde penned The Picture of
Dorian Gray, while Doyle revived Sherlock Holmes in The Sign
of the Four, taking less than a month on the manuscript. He
received £100 for the magazine serial rights. It was later issued
as a book by Spencer Blackett (with one illustration by Charles
Kerr) for which the title was shortened to The Sign of Four,
remaining so in all UK editions.
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Verdict: Ultimately one long chase, this may be more adventure
yarn than detective story, but it’s undeniably exciting. Doyle
has learnt the lesson of A Study in Scarlet and the explanatory
flashback takes up less than one chapter. Holmes displays more
of the characteristics we expect here – detached coldness and
a reliance on cocaine to stave off depression – and Watson’s
romance is nicely handled. The implicit racism is unfortunate,
but at least Watson rails against Holmes’ sexism. 5/5
3) A Scandal in Bohemia
UK: The Strand Magazine (July 1891, SP)
The Case: A king wishes to reclaim compromising letters he
sent to an opera singer…
Date: 20–22 March 1888.
Characters: Wilhelm Gottsreich Sigismond von Ormstein, Irene
Adler (later Norton), Godfrey Norton, Mrs Turner, Mary Jane,
Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen.
Locations: 221B Baker Street; Briony Lodge, Serpentine’s
Avenue, St John’s Wood; Church of St Monica,Edgware Road; Gross
& Hankey’s, Regent Street.
Recorded Case: A Study in Scarlet.
Unrecorded Cases: Trepoff murder at Odessa, Atkinson brothers
at Trincomalee, mission for the Dutch royal family, Darlington
Substitution Scandal, Arnsworth Castle business.
Holmes: Has a bohemian soul but is still concerned about
receiving the correct payment for his work. Keeps a case of
cigars and a Continental Gazetteer. Walks arm in arm with
Watson and calls him ‘my Boswell’. Likes cold beef and beer.
Watson: Has left 221B Baker Street for a London practice,
marriage having separated him from Holmes’s company. Is
already used to the latter’s disguises.
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