I realized recently that I never reread Sherlock Holmes. I received collected SH for Christmas when I was nine, and read it all (with the exception of Hound of the Baskervilles, which I skipped at the time because I was afraid it might involve bad things happening to dogs) over vacation. I enjoyed the stories very much but at this point only remember colorful details and quirky solutions -- some orange seeds, a secret snake, men with red hair, different colors of mud.

I don't know what happened to that nice hardbacked volume of my childhood. I certainly haven't seen it since leaving for college. For this reread I got the Everyman edition from the library. The previous borrower had also checked out Shirley Jackson ( Hill House, Richard Matheson (Hell House) and three books on raising chickens. She ordered all those, they weren't the result of casual browsing. I guess if you're raising chickens you need some thrilling reads.

I can see why this held such appeal to Victorians. Smart, yet not difficult, not exclusive to those with less education. Yes, there are some classical allusions, but if you don't get them the story still makes sense. It's not like some English lit with important dialog in French. (I love you, Dorothy Sayers, but really?) And the long Mormon flashback section was probably quite exotic at the time, although I could've done without it.

Once I started, it turned out that I mostly did remember the plot, but I still enjoyed this and look forward to more rereading.

Despite having read the other 3 Sherlock Holmes novels, I had somehow missed this one, even though it was the first in the series. I'm not sure how I managed to order the books the way I did, but it's not untypical of me, as my reading tends to be unplanned. I've just finished listening to an audio version, along with my wife, during a couple of long car journeys. We chose the book as one we were both interested in.

I enjoyed listening to the story in the knowledge that, when ACD wrote it, he had no idea he was creating a character of such enormous popularity. Likewise I enjoyed Watson's early meetings with Holmes, and the first appearance of some long-running characters in the series, such as the Baker Street Irregulars, and Inspector Lestrade. In this novel Lestrade has a rival within Scotland Yard, Inspector Gregson, who gets equal billing with him. From what I remember, Lestrade is much more prominent than Gregson in subsequent stories, although in the US TV show Elementary, Gregson reappeared as Captain Gregson of the NYPD.

Some years back I posted a very short "review" on this site of The Valley of Fear, in which I expressed puzzlement that ACD had written that almost as two separate novels. About half of that book was taken up with an extensive backstory set in the USA, in which Holmes and Watson did not appear at all. What I hadn't realised was that in this aspect The Valley of Fear very much followed the format of A Study in Scarlet. Holmes gets a telegram from Gregson asking him to assist Scotland Yard with an unusual case. Holmes is deliberately vague in the way he deals with the Police, evading their questions and generally withholding information (which is also withheld from the reader) until the case is suddenly solved half way through the book. We then get the backstory explaining the motivation of the culprit, this time involving the 19th century Mormon Church. The Mormons get an extremely negative portrayal within these pages. I did wonder whether this might have sprung from Victorian public opinion being outraged over the polygamous practices of the early Mormon Church.

Still, this was actually pretty entertaining. I preferred it to both The Sign of the Four or The Valley of Fear. Then again, I didn't feel it was as good as The Hound of the Baskervilles.

Ah, the first Sherlock novel. The one that introduced us to the world's greatest detective. The one he seemingly hands over to another narrator for a third of the book…

Do you want to hear Doyle rant about Mormons for a good third of the book? If that is the case, you my dear friend are in luck! For everyone else, the mystery of this book is fairly interesting, but the long section where we break away from our leads is more of a sad story with more than a touch of the author standing up and ranting.

The most entertaining aspect about the novel for me was, as someone who has read many of the stories prior to the novel, is how the characters changed after the initial book. I always think of Watson as something of the man of action, and here he talks about being lazy and being in such poor health that he feels it unlikely that he will fully recover. Seems quite a different Watson from the one most people I think generally know.

Overall I found the book entertaining, but I think Doyle greatly improved as he went on. Particularly in terms of his short stories plotting. 3/5 stars

(A-) 82% | Very Good
Notes: Despite its mediocre sojourn to Utah, it's an enjoyable read, and an interesting look at the original version of Holmes.

Sherlock Holmes is a dick. And I don’t mean that as a reference to the character being a private detective.

Sure, he may be brilliant, but he’s also arrogant, condescending, cold, rude, self-absorbed and generally an insufferable douche bag. If Watson wasn’t such a brown-noser, he’d have snapped and pimp slapped the shit out of Holmes about five minutes after meeting him.

It’d been a long time since I’d read any of the stories, and I thought I’d check some out after watching Robert Downey Jr. play Holmes. And while RDJ’s version was an action hero that made Holmes purists bleed from the eyes and ears, at least he was a likeable rogue. Where as reading original recipe Holmes makes you want to jump into the book and strangle him just for being such a prick.

But I guess that’s part of the mythos around the character as the cool analytical logic junkie. I may have liked him better if this was one of the stories where he was freebasing cocaine out of boredom because at least he would have come across as more human then.

Holmes may be a key character in crime fiction, and while I actually found the mystery and detailed background of the motives in this pretty interesting, I was cringing every time Sherlock opened his mouth.

”Most people, if you describe a train of events to them, will tell you what the result would be. They can put those events together in their minds, and argue from them that something will come to pass. There are few people, however, who, if you told them a result, would be able to evolve from their own inner consciousness what the steps were which led up to the result. This power is what I mean when I talk of reasoning backwards, or analytically.”

Solving murders almost always begins with the well…murder… requiring the detective to show the work that gave us this murderous result, much like an algebraic equation. Remember when the teacher would give us a problem with the answer and some parts of the equation and ask us to fill in the missing bits? Little did you know, while sitting in that school chair, that you were puzzling over the algebra equivalent of solving a murder.

So what Sherlock Holmes has with A Study in Scarlet is a murdered man, quite possibly poisoned, a woman’s wedding ring, the word “Rache” written in blood upon the wall, square-toed boot prints, and the muddy wheel prints of a carriage. Quite a lot for Holmes’ intellectual abilities. Despite the well-meaning but fumbling efforts of the detectives Lestrade and Gregson, Holmes is able to deduce, using the pieces of the equation, what further efforts will have to transpire to find the murderer.

The book is split into two parts. The first half is the initial investigation, and the second half is the backstory which takes place in America, among the Mormons of Utah. This transition feels rather abrupt, and for the first chapter of the second part, I was really missing Holmes and Watson, but soon I was swept up in this new narrative and waiting with great anticipation to see how the events in Utah would match up with the murder(s) in London.

We can’t imagine the detective genre without the looming shadow of Sherlock Holmes, but if a few things had gone differently, Sherlock Holmes might have remained a mere fancy in the mind of his creator Arthur Conan Doyle. We needed a few things to go wrong for Doyle, such as a physician partnership to go sour and then for him to move to Portsmouth to set up his own independent practice. Next, we needed the people of Southsea to ignore his practice, which would allow him the time to pick up his quill and start writing stories to while away the long hours while waiting for patients. We can imagine Doyle sitting there in his surgery, hoping every set of footsteps outside his door was a patient, but then as this character Holmes began to roam the corridors of his mind, we can understand why Doyle might have started hoping that the footsteps outside his door continued to pass on by.

Sherlock Holmes is partly modeled upon the characteristics of Doyle’s University of Edinburgh professor Joseph Bell. Another native of Edinburgh, the writer Robert Louis Stevenson was able to recognise the strong similarity between Joseph Bell and Sherlock Holmes: ‘My compliments on your very ingenious and very interesting adventures of Sherlock Holmes. ... can this be my old friend Joe Bell?’ Bell must have been a megalithic figure to inspire such admiration in Doyle and Stevenson, not to mention the legions of fans who saw his mind as a pinnacle of human achievement. While I was attending the University of Arizona, we had the celebrated M. Scott Momaday and Edward Abbey teaching classes. Getting confirmed to be able to attend those classes was equivalent to winning the lottery, with about the same odds of success. I never was able to secure one of those coveted desks in their classrooms, but I did meet Abbey at a book signing. The lecherous, old fart flirted outrageously with my girlfriend, and maybe glanced at me once disdainfully. Needless to say, this meeting was not a Bell worthy level of inspiration.

It has been a few decades since I’ve read A Study in Scarlet. It was a blustery afternoon, and there was something cozy about settling into a Doyle mystery with a cup of Earl Grey and a Scottish Terrier on my lap. I was not disappointed: the plot proved as good as I remembered. My plan is to reread the Sherlock Holmes stories in order, leading up to The Hound of the Baskervilles which will be one of the entries in the Gravelight Press Classic Horror Collection. This rereading journey is all part of my research for writing the introduction.

The aforementioned Robert Louis Stevenson wrote the first entry in Classic Horror Series. The Casebook of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde which includes my new introduction. I relate my Gravelight Press origin story in my review of this book: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
It was a blast to write, and the readers, so far, have had fun reading it. Next up will be The Picture of Dorian Gray, Frankenstein, followed by Dracula, and then The Hound of the Baskervilles.

If you find introductions to works of fiction boring, you won’t find that to be the case with mine. Those who have followed my reviews all these years know that I stoke the fire of burning curiosity rather than smother the spark of interest.

Please do sign up for my updates on my website: http://www.jeffreykeeten.com. I will keep you abreast of my journey through these horror classics and occasionally even tantalize you with excerpts from my novel and short stories.

El surgimiento de una leyenda. Con estudio en escarlata, Arthur Conan Doyle nos presentaría al personaje que cambiaría para siempre el género detectivesco convirtiéndose en su máximo referente. Sherlock Holmes. El maestro de la deducción, el astuto, estrafalario y endiabladamente brillante detective que reduciría cualquier misterio a una serie de conjeturas que hábilmente encaminadas darían por resultado único la verdad.

Dividido en dos partes, con la formidable virtud de resultar fresco, intrigante y ameno, el libro nos propone en primera instancia la presentación de Sherlock Holmes y su entrañable compañero de aventuras, John H. Watson. El autor nos explica brevemente cómo tuvo lugar su encuentro y cómo Watson, maravillado por el intelecto y los métodos de Holmes, llega a secundarlo en sus investigaciones. La aparición de un cadáver en una casa abandonada se convierte en el primer emblemático caso de este singular par.

La segunda parte, en cambio, nos transporta a los desiertos norteamericanos para hacernos testigos de un crimen y el surgimiento de un rencor que se traducirá en el caso que nuestro detective preferido acabará desentrañando. Una historia un poco menos ágil en principio, pero necesaria para proveer de fuerza y entidad al homicidio.

El autor logra sin dudas reinventar el misterio y ofrecernos una aventura endiabladamente entretenida.

It seems like it would be an odd way to tell such a story, in two disparate parts, but both parts of the story are well-told and gripping. Though, I found the adventure in Utah to be particularly edge-of-the-seat. There’s a reason Holmes was such a popular character. Arthur Conan Doyle wove fascinating tales.

I’d recommend this book for all fiction readers—unless you’re a Mormon with anger issues, then you might want to just pass.

n  n    Podés encontrar esta y otras reseñas en mi blog.n  n

Desde hace un tiempo tengo en mi Kindle un ebook con todas las novelas y cuentos de Sherlock Holmes (titulado The Complete Sherlock Holmes, es muy recomendable), y decidí que ya era hora de empezar a leer las aventuras de uno de los personajes más famosos de la historia de la literatura.

Estudio en escarlata es la primera novela escrita por Doyle y en ella nos presenta al famoso dúo integrado por Sherlock Holmes y el doctor Watson. Es un libro bastante corto, de apenas unas 160 páginas (dependiendo de la edición), y se puede decir que está dividido en dos grandes partes: una primera mitad que es narrada a partir de las observaciones que realiza Watson y una segunda parte en la que se nos presenta una historia completamente diferente y ayuda a comprender un poco mejor los motivos del crimen.

La primera parte está escrita en forma de informe, a partir de notas extraídas del diario de Watson. En ella nos enteramos cómo el simpático doctor llega a conocer al excéntrico detective y otros apuntes que Watson realiza mientras están investigando el crimen.

Esta primera parte me encantó porque, a pesar de ser breve, presenta de forma bastante completa a los dos protagonistas y además nos plantea un misterio muy interesante. El hecho de que sea narrada desde el punto de vista de Watson me pareció excelente, porque en todo momento intenta comprender cómo funciona la mente del genio de Sherlock Holmes, llegando al extremo de escribir una especie de inventario en el cual anota todas las áreas en las que el detective parece ser un experto.
Esta forma de narrar la historia me atrapó desde el primer momento porque el punto de vista de Watson no se diferencia mucho del de el lector y demás personajes que se asombran ante las brillantes deducciones que realiza Holmes mientras intenta resolver el crimen.

Otro aspecto que hay que destacar es que no parece ser una novela escrita en el siglo XIX. La prosa de Arthur Conan Doyle es ligera y a primera vista simple, pero realmente resulta brillante ver el control que tiene sobre el ritmo de la historia: hay partes en las que abundan las descripciones y deducciones que realiza Holmes, pero están intercaladas con otros pasajes que se leen muy rápido y hacen que el ritmo de lectura sea bastante ágil, sin abrumar al lector con aburridas exposiciones.
Debo admitir que el crimen puede parecer algo simple, en especial si ya has leído novelas de misterio más modernas. Sin embargo, creo que lo más interesante no es la complejidad del misterio, sino la forma en la que Sherlock Holmes llega a resolverlo.

Si tenemos en cuenta la época en la que transcurre esta novela, la forma en la que Arthur Conan Doyle describe las diferentes deducciones que realiza el detective son impresionantes porque hasta el día de hoy se mantienen vigentes, ninguna me pareció disparatada y todas demuestran un enorme conocimiento de técnica forense por parte del autor.

La segunda parte de la novela puede resultar un poco rara y a decir verdad al principio no me gustó porque cayó justo cuando estaban por revelar la solución del crimen. Esta segunda parte se lee como una especie de western con cierto toque de suspenso, lo cual puede parecer un poco fuera de lugar por lo diferente que es en comparación con la primera parte.
Sin embargo, a medida que fui avanzando en esta otra historia me fui enganchando y al llegar al final nos permite tener una mejor visión del crimen planteado en la primera parte.

El libro cierra de nuevo con Watson realizando un racconto de las deducciones hechas por Sherlock Holmes y obtenemos la solución definitiva.

Calificación 8.5/10
«Estudio en escarlata» es una gran novela que nos presenta a la dupla más famosa de las novelas de misterio. Arthur Conan Doyle narra la historia de forma ágil y entretenida, manejando el ritmo de la historia a la perfección; realmente no parece una novela escrita en el siglo XIX. Las deducciones que realiza Sherlock Holmes son brillantes y la perspectiva de Watson hace que te involucres de lleno en el misterio. Si bien la segunda parte parece un poco desconectada del resto de la novela, al final resulta necesaria para comprender los motivos del crimen.

[ESP/ENG]

Primera novela del personaje más popular en la historia de los detectives, Sherlock Holmes. Aquí se nos narra el inicio de todo. cuando el doctor John Watson se encuentra en necesidad de un hogar le aparece de manera fortuita la posibilidad de compartir casa con un tal Sherlock Holmes. Y de aquí a la Historia.

Este popular duo vivirá aventuras investigando los casos más difíciles de resolver, como la muerte aquí de un hombre sobre el que no parece haberse cometido ninguna lesión o violencia. Aparecerán los policías de Scotland Yard con una teoría cerrada que nuestros protagonistas tendrán que refutar si es que se puede.

Me gusta cómo está escrito el procedimiento deductivo de Holmes, aunque prefiero el punto de vista de Watson, al fin y al cabo somos los lectores. Lo que no me gusta es el tramo que sucede en Utah, y aunque es el motor principal de la historia, el encontrarse la resolución del caso narrado de manera externa en medio de la historia me cojea

Había leído los casos cortos, es la primera historia larga, y me ha gustado bastante.


--------------------------


First novel of the most popular character in the history of detectives, Sherlock Holmes. Here we are told the beginning of everything. When Dr. John Watson finds himself in need of a home, the possibility of sharing a house with a certain Sherlock Holmes appears fortuitously. And from here to eternity.

This popular duo will live adventures investigating the most difficult cases to solve, such as the death here of a man on whom no injury or violence seems to have been committed. The Scotland Yard police officers will appear with a closed theory that our protagonists will have to refute if possible.

I like how Holmes's deductive procedure is written, although I prefer Watson's point of view, after all he is us, the readers. What I don't like is the  section that takes place in Utah, and although it is the main driving force of the story, finding the resolution of the case narrated externally in the middle of the story makes it hard to pass through.

I had read the short cases, it is the first long story, and I quite liked it.

The first of the Sherlock Holmes books in the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle pantheon, A Study in Scarlet introduces the reader to the intensity of a Sherlock Holmes who on his face appears capricious and disinterested, but in reality, is earnestly observant. His skills of deduction are so exceedingly impressive that his roommate Dr. John Watson decides to chronicle this adventure, demonstrating a template for subsequent stories. Lestrade is a London detective that gives Holmes access to the scene of the crime because his methods are so innovative to the Victorian mindset. Holmes is never really impressed by Lestrade but recognizes his usefulness. Holmes is uniquely intrepid and feels that mysteries are more puzzles to be solved than actual immoral acts to be punished. In this novel there is an intriguing satellite story that transpires in Old West Utah against the Mormon milieu, whereas the majority of the setting is a flat in England. The story is compelling, leading to an incredible run of Sherlock Holmes cases. I have read through the cases repeatedly, but I have to admit that I feel a thrill with every successive read-through.

first time reading, but this may be one of the best introductions of a beloved character, ever?

sherlock’s fascinating and endearing from the first time you meet him on the page.

quite the impressive magic trick.