Book – The adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Author: Arthur Conan Doyle
Score: 10/10
Year: 1892 (original publication).
Publisher: Wordsworth editions
ISBN 978-1-85326-033-9
Pages 503 (this entry = up to 273, for 12 stories)
Each of the stories presented in this blog entry have been published under the title The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Third in publication order, this book includes stories set in the 1880's & 1890, and not always in chronological order.
Doyle uses Watson's recollections of events and cases that his friend Holmes had solves, and often adds dialogues between them regarding Watson's embellishments but nonetheless kindness in keeping Holmes' records for future use.
Doyle also keeps alternating between periods and narratives, to keep each story fresh and unique, but rooted in the consulting detective's cases, both with similarities and new elements to showcase his intelligence and deductive skills. He also portrays his characteristics, both positive traits and negative, through the lens of the Doctor's comments.
Sidney Paget's original illustrations from the Strand magazine, in which these stories were first published, are included.
A scandal in Bohemia sees doctor Watson visiting Sherlock Holmes on March 20th, 1888, some long weeks after the end of the events in The Sign of the Four. A person calls-in upon them shortly after, and discusses the threat to the Kingdom of Bohemia, in the form of Irene Adler, who'll be later referred to, by Sherlock, as "the woman".
A scandal if Bohemia is the first short story in the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, initially published in 1892.
It's narrative style continues fluently, with a usual presentation of Sherlock's prowess in deduction, before the case is presented and adventure ensues for the detective and the doctor.
Granada 1984 tv series adaptation of this story is the very 1st episode. It mixes elements from the 2 previous stories, with exchanges between Watson & Sherlock (regarding the latter's addiction and self-made position as a consulting detective), but made some specific choices regarding Watson's age and social status which have been changed in comparison to the novels, and thus changes the entire sequence of events that bring Watson to visit Sherlock at 221B Baker street in different reasons. The episode actually starts with a scene that is very concisely mentioned in the short story, which works as a prequel to the doctor and Sherlock taking on the case. The rest is mostly accurately and verbatim adaptation, extending only one sequence, which works on-screen. About 90% adaptation.
The Red-headed league, set in 1890, sees Watson and Sherlock Holmes at the latter's lodgings, where Jabez Wilson tells them of an extraordinary job he had fulfilled for some weeks before he found hos office doors shut, and with no trace of his employer. Sherlock sets off to solve the case, aided by the Doctor and other fellows, in this second short story of the Adventures of S.H.
There is a most probable discrepancy in the dates given in this story, (an advertisement said to have been published in 27/04/1890 - remarked as "2 months ago" ; and then a notification of 9/10/1890, which is nearly 6 months after the advertisement, and Watson's account of "one day in the autumn of last year". A discrepancy that has to be worked out, as Dorothy L. Sayers had done, by changing the dates to 4/8 & 4/10/1890.
The Granada 1984 tv series episode 12 corresponds to this story, and though it mostly follows it to the letter, it changes sums discussed and an enemy who hasn't even been named yet in the short stories is accused of being behind the threat of this plot - grossly exceeding the adaptation to ventures Doyle didn't use at this stage, and which disappoint me as I thought the show to be generally high % quality. This massive change also extends the ending scenes needlessly.
The only change that is understandable is a scene that works better on-screen with little light corresponds to one with no light at all in the book.
A case of Identity relates to a woman's searching for her disappeared finacé, Hosmer Angel, in mysterious circumstances. This is an only 17pages long short story, undated within the narrative, but apparently set in 1888, some time after A scandal if Bohemia, as stated in phrases pertaining to that case.
in the Boscombe Valley mystery, set in 1888 and published in 1891, Doyle changes slightly the order of events that lead to an investigation, by having Sherlock Holmes telegram doctor Watson, giving him an appointment ; Once they meet, the detective tells of the case he is on, one about William McCarthy who was found dead shortly after he and his son were seen quarrelling.
4th episode in the case-book of Sherlock Holmes, which is the 6th season of the Granada show starts off by a quick scene showing an argument between Mr McCarthy and someone else, as witnessed from a distance by young person. Then, it changes from the novelisation, to introduce us to Watson, fishing, when Holmes calls on him from a bridge above. They start talking and take off to investigate the case, adding many dialogues and scenes that the novel didn't reference at all. As usual, however, some portion are verbatim.
In The Five Orange pips, Watson recalls a case from September 1887, when Mr Openshaw visited upon him and Holmes during a severe storm, and told them how both his father and his uncle had died in mysterious fashion after they had received letters, with five orange pips and 3 letters written inside the envelops. Shortly before he had come, Mr Openshaw also received a similar letter, and, worried for his life, and upon advice of a previous client of Holmes', decided to call-in at 221B Baker Street to lay his case for the detective.
The Granada show didn't adapt this story either.
The Man with the Twisted Lip, starts on June 19th, 1889. That evening, Mrs Whintey visits doctor Watson and his wife, entreating them to check on her husband, whom she believed would be in an opium den. Watson sets alone to the den, and soon after, finds Holmes to investigate a disappearance and his most probable murder of Mr St Clair.
This story was first published in December 1891, and was adapted a few times, such as for the 19th episode (=2nd season, episode 6, first aired 13/08/1986) with a growing number of differences between the episode and novel. It needlessly added scenes, dialogues, and character aspects that aren't present at all in the original ; it changed dialogues for some characters, as partially due to the changes made to doctor Watson's character and social status. I would say only 2 thirds of the original story remain.
Upon my wife's advice, I skipped The blur carbuncle, depicting an investigation that leads into emeto+ coprophobia triggers for me, and so I moved on to the next story.
8th short story, the Speckled band, first published in 1892 and set in April 1883, Helen Stoner calls on Holmes and Dr Watson, during their earlier life together as bachelors in 221 Baker Street. She tells them of her stepfather, Dr. Grimesby Roylott's tremper, his sojourn in India and the mysterious death of her twin sister Julia in 1881. Lastly, Helen tells the previous night's horror she experienced, which led her to call for the detective's aid to unravel the mysteries of their case. That day, Sherlock and his companion, the usual narrator of these short stories, visit the estate to investigate.
I find it interesting that Doyle chose to tell this story in a form of a prequel, as Watson recollects the case form 8 years before ; Watson explains this delay in the fact of a pledge of secrecy that was made in those days, and which, lifted now, can be told, to shed led as the truth of the case.
I like the fresh form of narrative and its ending, presented as "I'v been too long to tell this story, so I'll make the ending briefer now".
Adapted many times, this is Season 1, episode 6 in Granada's tv show. As usual, it starts with a few scenes that set the story, though in the novel they are told of at a later time ; however, this episode is one of the best adaptations the Granada show offered, and as it set prior to Watson's changes of social status, it doesn't change anything about his character here. The only change is a phrase with a character from the novel is said at a different moment, to a different person, but the rest is really close to the original narrative. Contrary to another story, a scene in absolute darkness is filmed really well. I'd say overall adaptation is over 90% for this one!
Of note, Jeremy Kemp, who played Captain Picard's brother in Star Trek the next generation, appears in this episode.
In the Engineer's thumb, published in March 1892 and set in the summer of 1889, Mr Hatherly, an engineer, comes to Dr Watson's, with a cloth round his hand ; his thumb had been severed. The Dr treats him, and accompanies him to Sherlock Holmes' abode, at 221B Baker Street, where Mr Hatherley recounts the entire tale of his adventures, in the hope that the detective solves the mysteries surrounding his lost thumb.
The Granada show didn't adapt this story.
Lord St Simon is The Noble Bachelor. He asks Holmes to investigate the disappearance of Miss Hatty Doran, who vanished shortly after their wedding. Doyle, through Watson's account, places this case to 1887, shortly before the Dr's own wedding, when he still shared rooms with Sherlock. The narrative reminds the Scandal in Bohemia, as well as the Dr's wound in the Afghan campaign (as told in the very beginning of the S.Holmes stories).
This story was first published in April 1892, and was adapted in Granada as a feature length (1h44), in season 3 episode 2 (35th of the show), aired 3 February 1993, under the title The Eligible Bachelor. It strays far away from the simple 23* pages long story, by adding a subplot of Holmes' disturbing dreams that both distract and help him in the investigation, which is a very odd extension in my opinion.
In the novel, Sherlock exchanges with Mr Lestrade of Scotland Yard, but instead of him, the episode has Inspector Montgomery ; it adds a number of characters that aren't originally present, and drastically changes the case of a disappeared wife to a whole more sinister one, and adding many other subplots and scenes, which may work as a feature movie for dramatic effect, but seems to leave little of the original story shine through, and pointless changes.
The Beryl coronet, set in February 1886 ( the year isn't mentioned in text- I found in other sources), sees Mr Holder, a banker, requesting Holmes' aid in solving the disappearance of 3 gems which could potentially ruin his reputation and career.
This story was first published in May 1892. I found that there were only 3 adaptations (2 of which were on BBC radio) and not present in the Granda series.
Published in June 1892 and set in 1890, The Copper Beeches is the last story of the adventures of Sherlock Holmes. In this story, Violet Hunter, a governess, asks Sherlock's aid to understand the odd job offer she was awarded by the Rucastles, who live in the Copper Beeches. Indeed, she feels her salary, duties and peculiar requests of her employers very puzzling, and thus, Holmes' is set to investigate, with Watson following as usual.
This is one of the best adaptations by the Granada show's 1st season, episode 8, aired 25/08/1985. It barely adds a few dialogues and changes the moment or person who utter some of the phrases, but it remains highly accurate and these few changes are rather logical.
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