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Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Collection

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Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, who first appeared in publication in 1887. He is the creation of Scottish born author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. A brilliant London-based detective, Holmes is famous for his intellectual prowess, and is renowned for his skillful use of deductive reasoning (somewhat mistakenly - see inductive reasoning) and astute observation to solve difficult cases. He is arguably the most famous fictional detective ever created, and is one of the best known and most universally recognizable literary characters in any genre.Conan Doyle wrote four novels and fifty-six short stories that featured Holmes. All but four stories were narrated by Holmes' friend and biographer, Dr. John H. Watson, two having been narrated by Holmes himself, and two others written in the third person. The first two stories, short novels, appeared in Beeton's Christmas Annual for 1887 and Lippincott's Monthly Magazine in 1890. The character grew tremendously in popularity with the beginning of the first series of short stories in The Strand Magazine in 1891; further series of short stories and two serialized novels appeared almost right up to Conan Doyle's death in 1930. The stories cover a period from around 1878 up to 1903, with a final case in 1914.This collection contains all the 60 official and the 6 unofficial Sherlock Holmes stories - in total 66 works (the biggest and greatest Sherlock Holmes collection in the eBook world).

2188 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 10, 2024

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About the author

Arthur Conan Doyle

11.6k books22.6k followers
A series of stories, including The Hound of the Baskervilles (1902), of known British writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle chiefly features Sherlock Holmes, the brilliant detective.

Mary Foley, an Irish mother, bore Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle, the third of ten siblings, to Charles Altamont Doyle, a talented English illustrator of Irish descent.

Although people now refer to as "Conan Doyle" despite the uncertain origin of this understood compound surname. His baptism record in the registry of cathedral of Saint Mary in Edinburgh gives "Arthur Ignatius Conan" as his Christian name, and simply "Doyle" as his surname. It also names Michael Conan as his godfather.

At the age of nine years in 1868, parents sent Arthur Conan Doyle to Hodder place, the Jesuit preparatory school at Stonyhurst. He then went to Stonyhurst college and left in 1875.

From 1876, he studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh to 1881. This study required that he provide periodic medical assistance in the towns of Aston (now a district of Birmingham) and Sheffield. Arthur Conan Doyle studied and meanwhile began short. He apparently first published in "Chambers's Edinburgh Journal" before 20 years of age in 1879. Following his graduation, the steamship Mayumba employed him as a doctor during a voyage to the African west coast.

Arthur Conan Doyle completed his doctorate on the subject of tabes dorsalis in 1885. In 1885, he married Louisa Hawkins Doyle as "Touie." With this first wife, Arthur Conan Doyle fathered two children: Mary Louise Doyle, born 28 January 1889, and Arthur Alleyne Kingsley Doyle, born 15 November 1892.

Arthur Conan Doyle first met Jean Elizabeth Leckie and fell in 1897. Due to his sense of loyalty, he had maintained a purely platonic relationship with Jean while Louisa Hawkins Doyle, his first wife, lived.

Louisa Hawkins Doyle, his wife, suffered from tuberculosis and died on 4 July 1906. In the following year of 1907, he married Jean Elizabeth Leckie.

With this second wife, he fathered three children: Denis Percy Stewart Doyle, born on 17 March 1909, Adrian Malcolm Doyle, born on 19 November 1910, and Jean Lena Annette Doyle, born on 21 December 1912.

Arthur Alleyne Kingsley Doyle, his son, died on 28 October 1918.

At Undershaw, house, located in Hindhead, south of London, Arthur Conan Doyle lived for a decade; it served from 1924 as a hotel and restaurant for eight decades. It then stood empty while conservationists and fans fight to preserve it.

People found Arthur Conan Doyle, clutching his chest, in the hall of Windlesham, his house in Crowborough, East Sussex. He died of a heart attack. He directed his last words, "You are wonderful," toward his wife. The epitaph on his gravestone in the churchyard at Minstead in the New Forest, Hampshire, reads:

STEEL TRUE

BLADE STRAIGHT

ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE

KNIGHT

PATRIOT, PHYSICIAN & MAN OF LETTERS

Jean Elizabeth Leckie Doyle, his widow, died in London on 27 June 1940.

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5 stars
759 (69%)
4 stars
243 (22%)
3 stars
59 (5%)
2 stars
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14 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for Jack.
27 reviews
January 15, 2021
This is incredibly difficult to rate, being such a vast collection and now well over 100 years old.
In the former, some of the stories are a lot better than others, some being little more than a few pages describing a scene rather than a deductive adventure or thriller.
On the latter point Doyle's treatment of anyone who isn't English, white and male, with a suitably handsome skull, makes for difficult reading in many places.
To me it felt ironic that some of the great deductions were little more than the stereotyping of characters, an ironic situation when the great detective is known for his deduction of the improbable.
For me the best stories are 4 stars, the worst 2.
Profile Image for Marielena.
122 reviews1 follower
October 28, 2022
I must admit: it's difficult to write a review about such a book as this; a complete compilation of the stories of the wittiest "world's first consultant detective" and his kind but always so "naive" companion and best friend. Sherlock Holmes has probably been the first superhero to be introduced in literature - as Stephen Fry fittingly points out in one of his forewords of the collection. Who could deny his "superpowers" in the art of "deduction"? Not to mention that, like every other superhero, he is also a benefactor of humanity: he is a "doctor", but unlike his friend, Watson, who's a doctor for humans, Holmes's "specialty" is the "ailments" of society. His presence is ever so welcome to every reader, because it provides us with comfort and security, in a world full of insecurities and mischief. He's a figure of authority without being authoritarian. He is the most intelligent of humans, nothing but a vast brain, a "machine", but at the same time the truest of friends and the most kind-hearted of humans. He is proof that truth and goodness will always prevail over evil. And probably this is why Holmes and his companions are so often dealt with as if they existed in our world, and not in the world of fantasy only. It's because we need them to be real. As Stephen Fry states in the foreword for The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes: "Between fact and fiction is where legend lives; it's where Holmes and Watson will always live"

I can continue raving about this collection without stopping; I would do an injustice, however, if I were to praise only the content of the book and not the narrator: Stephen Fry's performance for Audible's version is out of this world. I have listened to 100 Audiobooks (actual number!) and I must admit that I have seldom encountered a better narration that complements the text to such an extent. I am most certain that reading the text wouldn't be so satisfying - and I would miss all the different accents used for the different characters! Undoubtedly, Fry is one of the greatest treasures of Britain - along with his very much beloved, Sherlock Holmes.

Overall, it took some time to finish, but in the end, it did worth it!

for reference: The audiobook version of War and Peace is 56 hours, while this collection was 72...! Probably not as hard to read, but still!

Who recommended the book to me: Audible (again) I guess? I’ve been meaning to read Sherlock Holmes for far too long, and when I found this collection, I knew that the time was right..!
I would recommend to: oh, to everybody! I cannot imagine who wouldn’t like these stories! One doesn't even have to be a fan of the conventional crime/mystery genre to like them. Also, the collection is highly recommended to anyone who has watched the BBC’s Sherlock. It’s most fascinating to understand (even in retrospect) the adaptation of some of the stories to the 21st century. And after reading the books, I should say (with great authority) that no one would surpass Benedict Cumberbatch's depiction of Holmes. He is simply perfect for the role.

-----------------------------------------------
Care to check my favorite quotes from the books? :)

Book: A Study in Scarlet
“What you do in this world is a matter of no consequence. The question is what can you make people believe you have done.”

Book: The Sign of the Four
“When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”

Book: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
- A Scandal in Bohemia
“I have no data yet; it is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts.”

- The Boscombe Valley Mystery
“There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact.”

- Silver Blaze
“- Is there any point to which you would wish to draw my attention?'
- To the curious incident of the dog in the night-time.
- The dog did nothing in the night-time.
- That was the curious incident, remarked Sherlock Holmes.”


Book: The Hound of the Baskervilles
“The world is full of obvious things that nobody by any chance does often observe”

Book: The Valley of Fear
“Mediocrity knows nothing but itself, but talent easily recognizes genius”

Book: His Last Bow
- The Adventure of the Red Circle
“Education never ends; it’s a series of lessons with the greatest for the last”

- The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax
“She is a stray chicken in a world of foxes”

- The Adventure of the Devil’s Foot
“- But I saw nothing!
- This is what you may expect to see when I follow you!”
April 6, 2024
Surprised at American spelling of gray (grey) and check ( cheque)
Also several American stories. Did Conan Doyle spend time in USA
Enjoyable short stories and nice to see tv versions almost the same , not corrupted
2 reviews
May 7, 2024
Excellent

Very good book.
Excellent book.
Loved the language and vocabulary.
Loved the details.
Enjoyed reading all the different cases.
I really like the book.
Profile Image for Tobi トビ.
941 reviews62 followers
February 14, 2024
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories emerged during a time of great fascination with detective fiction in late 19th and early 20th-century England. Serialised in magazines such as The Strand, Holmes quickly became a literary sensation, captivating readers with his deductive prowess and keen observational skills. The popularity of the character skyrocketed, turning Holmes into a cultural icon whose influence continues to be felt today.

Conan Doyle drew inspiration for his stories from a variety of sources, including his medical background, personal experiences, and contemporary crime cases. While many of the stories are purely fictional, some were indeed based on real events or inspired by true crimes of the time. For example, The Adventure of the Speckled Band is said to have been inspired by a real-life case of a woman who died under mysterious circumstances.

Set against the backdrop of Victorian England, the Sherlock Holmes stories provide a fascinating glimpse into the social, political, and cultural landscape of the era. From the bustling streets of London to the fog-covered moors of the countryside, Conan Doyle's vivid descriptions transport readers to a bygone era characterised by rapid industrialisation, class tensions, and scientific advancements.

The Sherlock Holmes stories exhibit a unique blend of narrative styles, characterised by their fast-paced plots, witty dialogue, and meticulous attention to detail. Conan Doyle's use of first-person narration through the eyes of Dr. John Watson adds a really interesting detail to the stories, allowing readers to experience Holmes's deductive process firsthand. Additionally, Conan Doyle's medical background lends authenticity to Holmes's forensic techniques, adding a layer of realism to the mysteries.

The Sherlock Holmes canon collection is a mixed bag of thrilling mysteries and lackluster narratives, earning an average rating of 2.5 stars from me. While the main four longer novels, including A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of Four, The Hound of the Baskervilles, and The Valley of Fear, stand out as highlights of the collection, the short stories often feel rushed and formulaic.

The rushed writing style observed in many of the short stories may indeed be attributed to Conan Doyle's prioritisation of quantity over quality. During the serialisation of his works in magazines like The Strand, Conan Doyle faced tight deadlines and pressure to churn out new stories regularly to satisfy readers' demand for more Holmes adventures. This commercial imperative likely influenced Conan Doyle's writing process, leading to the occasional lack of depth and nuance in the shorter tales.

However, despite the uneven quality of the short stories, the longer novels showcase Conan Doyle's storytelling prowess at its best. A Study in Scarlet introduces readers to Holmes and Watson's iconic partnership, while The Hound of the Baskervilles is a masterful blend of Gothic horror and detective fiction set against the eerie backdrop of the English moors. These longer narratives allow Conan Doyle ample space to develop intricate plots, flesh out characters, and explore themes more thoroughly, resulting in a more satisfying reading experience.

While the Sherlock Holmes canon collection may have its shortcomings, it remains a timeless classic that continues to captivate readers with its intriguing mysteries, memorable characters, and rich historical context, so I’d still definitely recommend reading these if you ever get the opportunity.
Profile Image for R. Alex Jenkins.
159 reviews56 followers
May 10, 2024
I don't rate any of the 10 volumes in this mammoth collection of 2200+ pages five stars per-se, but I do rate this body or work five stars. How does that make any sense?

Because of what it means to me from a historical upbringing perspective. Because of the memories, the nostalgia, the pompous British spirit, the everything associated with Sherlock Holmes, investigated crime, Victorian England, steam trains and what goes bump in the night with logical reasoning behind it.

This collection consists of 10 volumes: Four books in their own right + six separate collections of short stories. Three of the single books are excellent and nearly all of the short stories equally so.

These 10 volumes are ordered in such a way as to retain a logical timeline of events such as when Holmes and Watson first meet and when they decide to reside together at Baker Street and how their friendship and professional relationship develops over time. There are deaths and resurrections and other events that make more sense this way.

If you read these volumes in chronological order it's more intelligible than picking up one of the volumes at random, although it's not essential that you absolutely do that because the timelines start to make less sense as times goes on, but with this amount of material it's good to have less confusion.

This collection is absolutely epic for attempting to put it all together and become the definitive amalgamation of everything Sherlock Holmes. Arthur Conan Doyle writes in such an appealing and fluent style that you can't fail to be charmed from the start.

Amazingly, this was the first book I officially bought on my Kindle, before anything by Jane Austen or other amazing authors, and for practically tuppence ha'penny, guvnor!

If you like Arthur Conan Doyle, be sure to check out H.G. Wells for similar fluency from that period, a long long time ago... in a galaxy far far away.
3 reviews
June 28, 2020
Most stories, NOT complete

This is a good collection, but do not believe the title's claim that it is complete. It is missing at least 4 short stories from "His Last Bow". Perhaps just as important, there are many typos and punctuation errors in this edition. While these do not make it unreadable, they can often change the meaning of a sentence or otherwise distract from the flow. It is also missing two images from "The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter" that make the connection between two segments of text almost unintelligible.
Despite the flaws in formatting and the omission of several stories, this is as fair a representation of the Sherlock Holmes stories as you are likely to find. If you can ignore the mistakes or have read the stories before you should not have much trouble with this copy.
264 reviews2 followers
May 7, 2021
Elementary interesting.

Read this many years ago. When I came back to it I was astonished as It seemed very different.. Then I realised my opinion was coloured by all the cinema and tv adaptations. The original is Hemingway sparse in detail. Things are suggested and the the dramatizations filled them in. This was what I remembered. Having said all that this is innovative five star work. A great foundation for the imagination. If you are into violent car chases this is probably not for you. This is the beginning of crime fiction. Good to revisit it.
23 reviews
June 15, 2021
I still liked the solving of mysteries, but as when I read 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' I was irritated when Holmes deliberately keeps Watson in the dark.
Rescuing lives is not their first objective, but the mysteries are carefully crafted and never repetitive.
They are not just biased towards foreigners, all people not belonging to their class are described as oddities and can be laughed at while present!
It is clear that people believed your appearance said something about your character, evil people look the part.
Also people driving crazy from shock does not feel believable anymore.
Profile Image for Michela.
Author 4 books4 followers
April 21, 2021
Sicuramente è una lettura che arricchisce, ma l'ho trovata a tratti pesante e ripetitiva. Conan Doyle ha tentato più volte di "uccidere" il suo protagonista e lo ha sempre riportato in vita per piacere del pubblico, personalmente però non ho trovato i suoi romanzi e racconti così accattivanti.
Sherlock Holmes rimane comunque un personaggio molto interessante in perfetta linea con lo stile decadente di fine Ottocento.
2 reviews
December 10, 2021
I consider my self a slow reader but ever since I started reading the first volume of the Sherlock Holmes collection time passed and I was more into the book every day. It took me awhile to read it but the mystery and intense moments that the book had didn’t allow me to keep my eyes off of it. I loved the way the book is written and how it also allowed me to learn new vocabulary to improve my English. This first book is for sure want of my favorites and I can’t wait to read the others.
6 reviews
September 30, 2023
This is the complete Sherlock Holmes collection, and it's a fantastic read, deserving four stars. It explains things well and keeps you engaged. Each part of the book has something interesting. However, it can be confusing because it uses old-fashioned British English that might require you to use a dictionary frequently. Overall, I think it's a great book, but some readers might need to use a dictionary often. I still love it, though.
1 review
December 30, 2021
When I finished these books I fell into a brief mourning. I had been a part of Sherlock and John's worldfor a while, and suddenly there was no more. I'd read everything Sir Arthur had ever, or would ever write about those people, those places, and that society.

I know other authors have written Sherlock stories, I'm not sure whether I'm game to try them or not. Maybe not just yet.
4 reviews1 follower
April 22, 2020
Classic read

Sherlock Holmes is a classic character that is made memorable, unforgettable in this engrossing and entertaining read. It is remarkable that so much could come from the creative mind of the physician Arthur Conan Doyle.



May 6, 2019
Sherlock

I enjoyed reading all of the known classics and some that I had not heard of before. I recommend reading the collection of anyone who is a Sherlock Holmes fan.
19 reviews
June 3, 2020
If you love mysteries you will love Sherlock Holmes

A must read. Wonder why I never read before. To bad there isn't more. If only we had more like Arthur Conan Doyle today.
June 6, 2020
Nearly timeless classics. Easy to read and the language is not too far removed from current usage. I've read these time and time again.
Profile Image for Cheryl.
58 reviews
January 26, 2021
First time I’ve read all these stories - took a while to listen to all of it but enjoyed them. Stephen Fry is a terrific story teller
Profile Image for Nalani.
233 reviews1 follower
August 15, 2021
It doesn't feel like you've read 60 stories by the end. Just one more...
Profile Image for Hihid.
46 reviews
January 1, 2022
I have read all the sherlock's series. And they are great. My favourite is valley of fear
7 reviews
October 28, 2022
Sherlock Homes

This is the first time that I have seen all of Doyle's Sherlock Homes stories together in one collection. I enjoyed reading all of them
September 10, 2023
rare find

Unusually intriguing compared to today’s writing. Some old things are still reliably good and books are definitely one of those things
December 26, 2023
The stories were entertaining but the book was terrible. The same print sections were duplicate 2, 3, or 4 times.
264 reviews1 follower
December 26, 2023
It's Elementary

There is a reason that Sherlock Holmes remains popular today and that is the fact remains that the character is relevant in any decade.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews

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