A. C. Doyle – The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes

The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

LONDON JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W.

8 Sherlock Holmes stories first published in The Strand Magazine, October 1921 to April 1927
First UK book edition: John Murray, London, 1927
First US edition: George H. Doran Co., New York, 1927

Table of Contents

The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes Preface

I. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone
Sherlock Holmes Story 49, Case 57, The Strand Magazine, October 1921

II. Sherlock Holmes The Problem of Thor Bridge
Sherlock Holmes Story 50, Case 48, The Strand Magazine, February-March 1922

III. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Creeping Man
Sherlock Holmes Story 51, Case 58, The Strand Magazine, March 1923

IV. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire
Sherlock Holmes Story 52, Case 40, The Strand Magazine, January 1924

V. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Three Garridebs
Sherlock Holmes Story 53, Case 51, Collier’s Weekly, October 25, 1924, The Strand Magazine, January 1925

VI. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Illustrious Client
Sherlock Holmes Story 54, Case 53, Collier’s Weekly, November 8, 1924, The Strand Magazine, February-March 1925

VII. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Three Gables
Sherlock Holmes Story 55, Case 56, Liberty, September 18, 1926, The Strand Magazine, October 1926

VIII. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier
Sherlock Holmes Story 56, Case 55, Liberty, October 16, 1926, The Strand Magazine, November 1926

IX. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Lion’s Mane
Sherlock Holmes Story 57, Case 59, Liberty, November 27, 1926, The Strand Magazine, December 1926

X. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Retired Colourman
Sherlock Holmes Story 58, Case 45, Liberty, December 18, 1926, The Strand Magazine, January 1927

XI. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger
Sherlock Holmes Story 59, Case 39, Liberty, January 22, 1927, The Strand Magazine, February 1927

XII. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place
Sherlock Holmes Story 60, Case 50, Liberty, March 5, 1927, The Strand Magazine, April 1927

The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes Preface

I fear that Mr. Sherlock Holmes may become like one of those popular tenors who, having outlived their time, are still tempted to make repeated farewell bows to their indulgent audiences. This must cease and he must go the way of all flesh, material or imaginary. One likes to think that there is some fantastic limbo for the children of imagination, some strange, impossible place where the beaux of Fielding may still make love to the belles of Richardson, where Scott’s heroes still may strut, Dickens’s delightful Cockneys still raise a laugh, and Thackeray’s worldlings continue to carry on their reprehensible careers. Perhaps in some humble corner of such a Valhalla, Sherlock and his Watson may for a time find a place, while some more astute sleuth with some even less astute comrade may fill the stage which they have vacated.

His career has been a long one—though it is possible to exaggerate it; decrepit gentlemen who approach me and declare that his adventures formed the reading of their boyhood do not meet the response from me which they seem to expect. One is not anxious to have one’s personal dates handled so unkindly. As a matter of cold fact Holmes made his début in A Study in Scarlet and in The Sign of Four, two small booklets which appeared between 1887 and 1889. It was in 1891 that “A Scandal in Bohemia,” the first of the long series of short stories, appeared in The Strand Magazine. The public seemed appreciative and desirous of more, so that from that date, thirty-six years ago, they have been produced in a broken series which now contains no fewer than fifty-six stories, republished in The Adventures, The Memoirs, The Return, and His Last Bow, and there remain these twelve published during the last few years which are here produced under the title of The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes. He began his adventures in the very heart of the later Victorian Era, carried it through the all-too-short reign of Edward, and has managed to hold his own little niche even in these feverish days. Thus it would be true to say that those who first read of him as young men have lived to see their own grown-up children following the same adventures in the same magazine. It is a striking example of the patience and loyalty of the British public.

I had fully determined at the conclusion of The Memoirs to bring Holmes to an end, as I felt that my literary energies should not be directed too much into one channel. That pale, clear-cut face and loose-limbed figure were taking up an undue share of my imagination. I did the deed, but, fortunately, no coroner had pronounced upon the remains, and so, after a long interval, it was not difficult for me to respond to the flattering demand and to explain my rash act away. I have never regretted it, for I have not in actual practice found that these lighter sketches have prevented me from exploring and finding my limitations in such varied branches of literature as history, poetry, historical novels, psychic research, and the drama. Had Holmes never existed I could not have done more, though he may perhaps have stood a little in the way of the recognition of my more serious literary work.

And so, reader, farewell to Sherlock Holmes! I thank you for your past constancy, and can but hope that some return has been made in the shape of that distraction from the worries of life and stimulating change of thought which can only be found in the fairy kingdom of romance.

ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE.