The GREAT SHERLOCK HOLMES BOOK, 08 Apr 2008
Hi, I'm Shobha Varma from India. I have this book in my husband Dr.Varma's library. It is a wonderful book, no doubt on that aspect. But because my husband is an artist and movie buff while I am a Carnatic Musician, we always crave for books with illustrations. This book DOES have illustrations, but my husband wants only the illustated short stories.
The 56 short stories are wonderful. Particularly with Sydney Paget's illustrations.

The ultimate bedtime read, 04 Apr 2008
I've had this book since my teenage years and it's the one book I go back to time and time again. I don't know what it is that makes me grab it from the bookshelf, perhaps Conan Doyle's unique style, his descriptions of old London or the Grimpen Mire or the small village deep in the home counties, the knee high fog settling on the moor,I just don't know!
Watson's narration and Holmes deductions and logic never cease to thrill me and carry me away on an orgasmic journey of escapism. For that's what a good book does. That's what this book does.

Elementary, my dear reader, 27 Dec 2005
The first Sherlock Holmes book I ever read was given to me as a gift for my thirteenth birthday. It was a collection of the short stories, with a wonderful leather trim and gold leafing, and I thought it was fantastic. I read the first story, and was instantly hooked. Within a few days, I was disappointed with my wonderful new book because it was incomplete. I had devoured all of the selected stories, and was ready for more.

Shortly thereafter, I purchased what purported to be the 'only complete Sherlock Holmes available', compiled by Christopher Morley. This became my favourite book. But, alas, neither of these volumes was illustrated.

The original stories, which appeared in The Strand magazine, were illustrated, by the great illustrator Sidney Paget. Actually, careful research (which Holmes himself would insist upon) will reveal that Paget was not the first illustrator; however, it is not able to be determined conclusively how many artists preceding Paget. It is know that the first publication of A Study in Scarlet, in which Holmes and Watson are first introduced, was illustrated by on D.H. Friston. These illustrations would appall the Holmesian set today.

The next edition after the barely-received Beeton's Christmas Annual edition, was in book form, and apparently illustrated by Arthur Conan Doyle's father, Charles.

The next illustration was in The Sign of Four, appearing in Lippincott's Magazine, which showed a scene in India, but did not have one of Holmes.

The classic ideas of Holmes (in a visual sense) did not thus solidify until the popular series of short stories in The Strand, illustrated by Paget, beginning with the story A Scandal in Bohemia, in which Holmes is actually out-foxed by THE woman, but still manages a satisfactory ending to the case, and (particularly his illustrations of the serialised Hounds of the Baskervilles) Paget's illustrations have become the standard image.

This volume contains all the short stories (56 of them) and the novels (4). (At least, this is the official canon -- there are other proto-stories by Conan Doyle, and dozens of tribute stories written by other authors.) Hundreds of illustrations accompany the text. Perhaps Paget drew his image of Holmes based upon the actor William Gillette, who made a career out of portraying the Baker Street detective on stage in London and New York. Charlie Chaplain got one of his early starts in entertainment by playing the page attendant to Holmes opposite Gillette.

From the beginning introduction of Holmes and Watson to Holmes' gentle retirement to beekeepping on the southern coast of England, this book contains all the essential stories (none of the apocryphal, anecdotal, or tribute-written pieces are contained here). Holmes was often thought to be a real person, and Sherlockians the world over still search for 'evidence' to prove that he was. During his 'lifetime', the post office for the Baker Street area regularly received mail addressed to Holmes or Watson at 221B Baker Street. While such an address does not (and did not during the late Victorian era) exist, there is a business on the site that would be 221B, and they have dedicated a desk to Holmes, and strive to answer mail received in the great detective's name.

Perhaps the two elements that made Holmes and Watson the world-renowned figures that they became are, first, the dominance of the British Empire globally at the time Conan Doyle was writing, which made English things sought-after, admired, and to be emulated, and secondly, the introduction of a method of detection hitherto unknown, both in the annals of detective stories (save perhaps in a proto-form in Poe and a few other obscure pieces of dubious literary merit) and in real life.

Holmesian tales became required reading in the training of police and detectives in many parts of the world. It is still recommended even when it is not required.

Holmes permeates other literature and venues as well. When Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation looks for images of Holmes, he is being guided by the descriptions in the stories as well as by the illustrations in The Strand. When the BBC produced Jeremy Brett's rendering of Holmes, the same holds true. When Basil Rathbone's films were cast, these illustrations and stories were uppermost in the directors' minds.

So, pull some tobacco from your persian slipper, stoke your pipe, scratch out a tune on your violin, and re-enter the gas-lit world of the foggy London, where danger is afoot and one detective can always save the day.

Holmes gets tiresome after a while but still a great read, 12 Jun 2004
Great stuff but a tiny bit far fetched - what Holmes can deduce from a scrape on your shoe (or maybe I'm stupid). I had to stop reading three quarters of the way because it gets a bit formulaic but up to that it was great. Will finish it some day.

I'd prefer not to have the illustrations because it spoils my image of Basil Rathbone when I'm picturing Holmes.

As for the illustration of the Hound of The Baskervilles - it's ridiculous - it looks like my Red Setter.

A MUST BUY!, 01 Apr 2004
If you like detective stories that show a lot of logical understanding then you have to buy this book. Don't worry it's not a complicated book with a hard to understand story. This must be the best book I ever bought form Amazon because it contains all the original illustrations and complete and unabridged stories of the very clever detective (and scientist) Sherlock Holmes. The second I started reading the book I couldn't stop reading it because of the clever and sometimes complex characters illustrated magnificently by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle also because of the magnificent plots of the hundreds of stories written in such a great manner. The stories always make you want to keep reading on to find out who was behind it all and it is always somebody who you would never suspect, this book is just full of millions of surprises.

The GREAT SHERLOCK HOLMES BOOK, 08 Apr 2008
Hi, I'm Shobha Varma from India. I have this book in my husband Dr.Varma's library. It is a wonderful book, no doubt on that aspect. But because my husband is an artist and movie buff while I am a Carnatic Musician, we always crave for books with illustrations. This book DOES have illustrations, but my husband wants only the illustated short stories.
The 56 short stories are wonderful. Particularly with Sydney Paget's illustrations.

The ultimate bedtime read, 04 Apr 2008
I've had this book since my teenage years and it's the one book I go back to time and time again. I don't know what it is that makes me grab it from the bookshelf, perhaps Conan Doyle's unique style, his descriptions of old London or the Grimpen Mire or the small village deep in the home counties, the knee high fog settling on the moor,I just don't know!
Watson's narration and Holmes deductions and logic never cease to thrill me and carry me away on an orgasmic journey of escapism. For that's what a good book does. That's what this book does.

Elementary, my dear reader, 27 Dec 2005
The first Sherlock Holmes book I ever read was given to me as a gift for my thirteenth birthday. It was a collection of the short stories, with a wonderful leather trim and gold leafing, and I thought it was fantastic. I read the first story, and was instantly hooked. Within a few days, I was disappointed with my wonderful new book because it was incomplete. I had devoured all of the selected stories, and was ready for more.

Shortly thereafter, I purchased what purported to be the 'only complete Sherlock Holmes available', compiled by Christopher Morley. This became my favourite book. But, alas, neither of these volumes was illustrated.

The original stories, which appeared in The Strand magazine, were illustrated, by the great illustrator Sidney Paget. Actually, careful research (which Holmes himself would insist upon) will reveal that Paget was not the first illustrator; however, it is not able to be determined conclusively how many artists preceding Paget. It is know that the first publication of A Study in Scarlet, in which Holmes and Watson are first introduced, was illustrated by on D.H. Friston. These illustrations would appall the Holmesian set today.

The next edition after the barely-received Beeton's Christmas Annual edition, was in book form, and apparently illustrated by Arthur Conan Doyle's father, Charles.

The next illustration was in The Sign of Four, appearing in Lippincott's Magazine, which showed a scene in India, but did not have one of Holmes.

The classic ideas of Holmes (in a visual sense) did not thus solidify until the popular series of short stories in The Strand, illustrated by Paget, beginning with the story A Scandal in Bohemia, in which Holmes is actually out-foxed by THE woman, but still manages a satisfactory ending to the case, and (particularly his illustrations of the serialised Hounds of the Baskervilles) Paget's illustrations have become the standard image.

This volume contains all the short stories (56 of them) and the novels (4). (At least, this is the official canon -- there are other proto-stories by Conan Doyle, and dozens of tribute stories written by other authors.) Hundreds of illustrations accompany the text. Perhaps Paget drew his image of Holmes based upon the actor William Gillette, who made a career out of portraying the Baker Street detective on stage in London and New York. Charlie Chaplain got one of his early starts in entertainment by playing the page attendant to Holmes opposite Gillette.

From the beginning introduction of Holmes and Watson to Holmes' gentle retirement to beekeepping on the southern coast of England, this book contains all the essential stories (none of the apocryphal, anecdotal, or tribute-written pieces are contained here). Holmes was often thought to be a real person, and Sherlockians the world over still search for 'evidence' to prove that he was. During his 'lifetime', the post office for the Baker Street area regularly received mail addressed to Holmes or Watson at 221B Baker Street. While such an address does not (and did not during the late Victorian era) exist, there is a business on the site that would be 221B, and they have dedicated a desk to Holmes, and strive to answer mail received in the great detective's name.

Perhaps the two elements that made Holmes and Watson the world-renowned figures that they became are, first, the dominance of the British Empire globally at the time Conan Doyle was writing, which made English things sought-after, admired, and to be emulated, and secondly, the introduction of a method of detection hitherto unknown, both in the annals of detective stories (save perhaps in a proto-form in Poe and a few other obscure pieces of dubious literary merit) and in real life.

Holmesian tales became required reading in the training of police and detectives in many parts of the world. It is still recommended even when it is not required.

Holmes permeates other literature and venues as well. When Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation looks for images of Holmes, he is being guided by the descriptions in the stories as well as by the illustrations in The Strand. When the BBC produced Jeremy Brett's rendering of Holmes, the same holds true. When Basil Rathbone's films were cast, these illustrations and stories were uppermost in the directors' minds.

So, pull some tobacco from your persian slipper, stoke your pipe, scratch out a tune on your violin, and re-enter the gas-lit world of the foggy London, where danger is afoot and one detective can always save the day.

Holmes gets tiresome after a while but still a great read, 12 Jun 2004
Great stuff but a tiny bit far fetched - what Holmes can deduce from a scrape on your shoe (or maybe I'm stupid). I had to stop reading three quarters of the way because it gets a bit formulaic but up to that it was great. Will finish it some day.

I'd prefer not to have the illustrations because it spoils my image of Basil Rathbone when I'm picturing Holmes.

As for the illustration of the Hound of The Baskervilles - it's ridiculous - it looks like my Red Setter.

A MUST BUY!, 01 Apr 2004
If you like detective stories that show a lot of logical understanding then you have to buy this book. Don't worry it's not a complicated book with a hard to understand story. This must be the best book I ever bought form Amazon because it contains all the original illustrations and complete and unabridged stories of the very clever detective (and scientist) Sherlock Holmes. The second I started reading the book I couldn't stop reading it because of the clever and sometimes complex characters illustrated magnificently by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle also because of the magnificent plots of the hundreds of stories written in such a great manner. The stories always make you want to keep reading on to find out who was behind it all and it is always somebody who you would never suspect, this book is just full of millions of surprises.

A Must-Have Classic, 11 Aug 2008
The COMPLETE Sherlock Holmes collection is something you HAVE to have on your bookshelf if you ever read a book. Like Shakespeare, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Alexandre Dumas, Aldous Huxley, Oscar Wilde and SO many more... Conan Doyle is such a big name that no proper collection is complete without it. Have you ever said: "Elementary, Dr. Watson", knowing it was taken from a Sherlock Holmes story without ever having read one? My point exactly. A proper degree of classical education requires a certain amount of FIRST-HAND knowledge. You need to read the books yourself.

In this case, it doesn't take much of an effort; the stories of Holmes & Watson are quite entertaining. Some of them, frankly, aren't as good as they're hyped up to be, but others are everything you've ever heard.

The book is made in a solid hardcover, with properly well-printed, large pages with gold-lined edges. It's quite a big book, but each story isn't too long. You can read it some, and then leave it for a while if you so wish. This is great bedtime reading, though, and (as I said) something you need to have.

The best volume you'll ever own, 25 Feb 2008
This is undoubtedly the best volume of the entire Holmes canon that you're ever likely to own. I own a great many copies of the various stories including some "complete" volumes but this is undoubtedly the best. The quality of the book is clear. It is a sturdy size with lovely gilt edged pages. The layout is excellent and clear even if the quality of some of the images is less than ideal.

In short buy it as you cannot do better.

One to treasure, 11 Oct 2007
This volume contains all the Holmes & Watson stories, the complete collection for a bargain price. Every single story is delicious: gaslit streets on cold and foggy nights, mysterious crimes the inept police force is unable to solve, and villains, rogues and miscreants galore... There's nothing like snuggling up under the duvet with this book on a winter's evening!

'You know my methods. Apply them', 11 May 2007
In 1998, the BBC became the first production company ever to dramatise the entire canon (56 short stories and 4 novels) of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories, taking 9 years to complete in total, with Bert Coules being the principle writer of the production.

Clive Merrison (Holmes) and Michael Williams (Watson) starred in every recording, and their relationship comes across superbly well, with clear affection between the two being evident. I will admit, it did take me a while to warm to Merrison as Holmes, but having listened to the CD's many a time, I fully appreciate what he bought to the role, playing the detective with his exaggerated mannerisms and mood swings. Williams' Watson is a strong character, often standing up to Holmes arguing his point (particularly when Holmes often dismisses his romanticised written versions of their exploits!!)

The overall production (as one might expect from the BBC) is first class, and you are immediately transported back to the times when hansom cabs were rushing the pair to the scene of a crime. Some of the later stories Doyle had written do not stand up to the earlier ones, however, this does not detract from performances of the radio cast.

A total of 64 CD's come in a sturdy presentation box, together with an 83 page CD sized booklet that provides an insight into the making of the radio programmes.

Also recommended, are The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Volumes 1 (ISBN 0-563-52407-) and 2 (ISBN 30-563-53039-1) that were written by Bert Coules, and inspired by the original Doyle stories. Sadly Michael Williams had passed away when these were produced, however Andrew Sachs fills the role sufficiently well.

Mix Bag of Holmes, 23 Apr 2007
Up front, I should say I am more a connoisseur of Watsons than Holmes. Ever since I started reading the stories in the seventh grade back in the mid-1970's I have had more affinity with Watson. Holmes was often overbearing, rude, and had insufferable bouts of self-pitying depression. Watson was sturdy and reliable and nice.

Michael Williams, a solid actor, is sturdy, reliable and nice. It's increasingly clear as this series progresses why Holmes wants/needs Watson around him. This is a Watson who takes modest pride in the stories he is producing about his friend and often stands as an equal to holmes in celebrity, if not in intellect.

I have heard every one of these stories on the radio, so I feel confident in speaking about them. Some are magnificent, some aren't. Bert Coules and other writers did a good job in many respects. They were bold enough to confront some of the utter nonsense in the Holmes tales and bring it to the fore. For instance, Holmes just eludes attempts by Moriarty's minons in "The Final Problem" and Watson incredulously says, "Forgive me, but this man is a criminal genius and he arranges for someone to throw a brick at you?" There are worse bits of nonsense in the stories that have troubled me for thirty years. That the writers are courageous enough to highlight this material rather than sweep under the rug is a good thing, and I enjoyed it.

Even more intriguingly, they've tended to make the whole into one long story. Holmes and Watson have almost Proustian moments of memory, where they recall (to us, too) things that happened many episodes before. By the end of the series (aside from a couple of exceptions) in "His Last Bow" and "The Casebook", the listener realizes they are telling the stories as if they occurred in chronological order, despite where the author said they should fall. It's a phenominal, epic achievement and it deserved a first-class Holmes and Watson. They got a Watson of the first water. I'll speak of Holmes later. First, the down side of the writing.

The problem with the writing comes when Conan Doyle's stories -- as they frequently are -- are paper thin. Frankly, some of the original stories aren't worth much, and it's not a matter of pride to brag about having dramatized them all if some of them are stinkers. In some cases, the writers make up as new material they borrow from the stories.

The presentation is odd, too. The Sherlock Holmes stories start with Holmes and Watson receiving and interviewing clients. In the series, many of these stories cross-cuts, sometimes with little more than a minute or two of dialogue. Holmes and Watson are learning about the case, then there is an abrupt cut to some place else (usually the past) and two stories are constructed simultaneously. A listener who knows the stories well should have no confusion. Newcomers may be bewildered. And much of the non-Holmes material is "made up" by the writers and shows their preferences.

Then, too, sometimes when I fully expected a show to end on an up note, they decided to write some nastier turn that left one feeling deflated. Occasionally they took the liberty of jabs at this or that where they might have been better advised to button up on polemics. Since my politics probably differ from those of most show-biz writers, I dismay at the use of revered literary figures being the mouthpieces for these writers' cheap shots.

Then there is the problem of Clive Merrison. Physically, he might get away with playing Holmes on tv. He certainly looks closer to the Strand illustrations than Edward Woodward or Michael Caine, both of whom have tried on the deerstalker.

The reason I started this review babbling of Watsons is because I've always cared more for him. I prefer dramatizations of clever Watsons. I'm devoted to dramatizations with David Burke, Edward Hardwicke, Andre Morell, Ralph Richardson and Ben Kingsley. Of lesser Watsons, I particularly enjoyed Colin Blakely's and James Mason's. And I never took offense at Nigel Bruce or Norman Shelley or Bernard Fox, whose Watsons made you feel that Holmes had personal care of senility patients.

My favorite Holmeses were the ones with clipped, precise speech: Carleton Hobbes, Jeremy Brett, Basil Rathbone and John Gielgud.

Clive Merrison took some getting used to, and I frankly never got used to him. His Holmes is very whiney, even more than Robert Stephens'. Admittedly, Conan Doyle's Holmes was anti-social, often unhappy and self-pitying. He took drugs. He was rude and peremtory. Therefore, Merrison's unique vocal take on Holmes may actually be closer to the truth (if there was a truth). Perhaps I find him annoying for the same reason I found the literary Holmes annoying. If that is so, then he's done an exquisite job of capturing the Holmes of the stories. I never find his laughter realistic -- but I was always a little shocked when Holmes laughed in the stories.

There's no point in complaining about him. This is what we have and it's part of the greater Sherlock Holmes universe. And because of the overall epic effect this series has, because the writers plug gaps and offer insights they've gleaned from one hundred years of Holmes researchers, it will prove a legendary. Michael Williams may deserve to go down as (perhaps) the best Watson ever. Merrison isn't a bad actor, but to me he doesn't "sound like" Holmes. There's a lot of good here; but in Sherlock Holmes series one ought to be able to appreciate the Holmes. Despite my love for Michael Williams, I wish the BBC would release a Carleton Hobbes set as an alternative.

The GREAT SHERLOCK HOLMES BOOK, 08 Apr 2008
Hi, I'm Shobha Varma from India. I have this book in my husband Dr.Varma's library. It is a wonderful book, no doubt on that aspect. But because my husband is an artist and movie buff while I am a Carnatic Musician, we always crave for books with illustrations. This book DOES have illustrations, but my husband wants only the illustated short stories.
The 56 short stories are wonderful. Particularly with Sydney Paget's illustrations.

The ultimate bedtime read, 04 Apr 2008
I've had this book since my teenage years and it's the one book I go back to time and time again. I don't know what it is that makes me grab it from the bookshelf, perhaps Conan Doyle's unique style, his descriptions of old London or the Grimpen Mire or the small village deep in the home counties, the knee high fog settling on the moor,I just don't know!
Watson's narration and Holmes deductions and logic never cease to thrill me and carry me away on an orgasmic journey of escapism. For that's what a good book does. That's what this book does.

Elementary, my dear reader, 27 Dec 2005
The first Sherlock Holmes book I ever read was given to me as a gift for my thirteenth birthday. It was a collection of the short stories, with a wonderful leather trim and gold leafing, and I thought it was fantastic. I read the first story, and was instantly hooked. Within a few days, I was disappointed with my wonderful new book because it was incomplete. I had devoured all of the selected stories, and was ready for more.

Shortly thereafter, I purchased what purported to be the 'only complete Sherlock Holmes available', compiled by Christopher Morley. This became my favourite book. But, alas, neither of these volumes was illustrated.

The original stories, which appeared in The Strand magazine, were illustrated, by the great illustrator Sidney Paget. Actually, careful research (which Holmes himself would insist upon) will reveal that Paget was not the first illustrator; however, it is not able to be determined conclusively how many artists preceding Paget. It is know that the first publication of A Study in Scarlet, in which Holmes and Watson are first introduced, was illustrated by on D.H. Friston. These illustrations would appall the Holmesian set today.

The next edition after the barely-received Beeton's Christmas Annual edition, was in book form, and apparently illustrated by Arthur Conan Doyle's father, Charles.

The next illustration was in The Sign of Four, appearing in Lippincott's Magazine, which showed a scene in India, but did not have one of Holmes.

The classic ideas of Holmes (in a visual sense) did not thus solidify until the popular series of short stories in The Strand, illustrated by Paget, beginning with the story A Scandal in Bohemia, in which Holmes is actually out-foxed by THE woman, but still manages a satisfactory ending to the case, and (particularly his illustrations of the serialised Hounds of the Baskervilles) Paget's illustrations have become the standard image.

This volume contains all the short stories (56 of them) and the novels (4). (At least, this is the official canon -- there are other proto-stories by Conan Doyle, and dozens of tribute stories written by other authors.) Hundreds of illustrations accompany the text. Perhaps Paget drew his image of Holmes based upon the actor William Gillette, who made a career out of portraying the Baker Street detective on stage in London and New York. Charlie Chaplain got one of his early starts in entertainment by playing the page attendant to Holmes opposite Gillette.

From the beginning introduction of Holmes and Watson to Holmes' gentle retirement to beekeepping on the southern coast of England, this book contains all the essential stories (none of the apocryphal, anecdotal, or tribute-written pieces are contained here). Holmes was often thought to be a real person, and Sherlockians the world over still search for 'evidence' to prove that he was. During his 'lifetime', the post office for the Baker Street area regularly received mail addressed to Holmes or Watson at 221B Baker Street. While such an address does not (and did not during the late Victorian era) exist, there is a business on the site that would be 221B, and they have dedicated a desk to Holmes, and strive to answer mail received in the great detective's name.

Perhaps the two elements that made Holmes and Watson the world-renowned figures that they became are, first, the dominance of the British Empire globally at the time Conan Doyle was writing, which made English things sought-after, admired, and to be emulated, and secondly, the introduction of a method of detection hitherto unknown, both in the annals of detective stories (save perhaps in a proto-form in Poe and a few other obscure pieces of dubious literary merit) and in real life.

Holmesian tales became required reading in the training of police and detectives in many parts of the world. It is still recommended even when it is not required.

Holmes permeates other literature and venues as well. When Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation looks for images of Holmes, he is being guided by the descriptions in the stories as well as by the illustrations in The Strand. When the BBC produced Jeremy Brett's rendering of Holmes, the same holds true. When Basil Rathbone's films were cast, these illustrations and stories were uppermost in the directors' minds.

So, pull some tobacco from your persian slipper, stoke your pipe, scratch out a tune on your violin, and re-enter the gas-lit world of the foggy London, where danger is afoot and one detective can always save the day.

Holmes gets tiresome after a while but still a great read, 12 Jun 2004
Great stuff but a tiny bit far fetched - what Holmes can deduce from a scrape on your shoe (or maybe I'm stupid). I had to stop reading three quarters of the way because it gets a bit formulaic but up to that it was great. Will finish it some day.

I'd prefer not to have the illustrations because it spoils my image of Basil Rathbone when I'm picturing Holmes.

As for the illustration of the Hound of The Baskervilles - it's ridiculous - it looks like my Red Setter.

A MUST BUY!, 01 Apr 2004
If you like detective stories that show a lot of logical understanding then you have to buy this book. Don't worry it's not a complicated book with a hard to understand story. This must be the best book I ever bought form Amazon because it contains all the original illustrations and complete and unabridged stories of the very clever detective (and scientist) Sherlock Holmes. The second I started reading the book I couldn't stop reading it because of the clever and sometimes complex characters illustrated magnificently by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle also because of the magnificent plots of the hundreds of stories written in such a great manner. The stories always make you want to keep reading on to find out who was behind it all and it is always somebody who you would never suspect, this book is just full of millions of surprises.

A Must-Have Classic, 11 Aug 2008
The COMPLETE Sherlock Holmes collection is something you HAVE to have on your bookshelf if you ever read a book. Like Shakespeare, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Alexandre Dumas, Aldous Huxley, Oscar Wilde and SO many more... Conan Doyle is such a big name that no proper collection is complete without it. Have you ever said: "Elementary, Dr. Watson", knowing it was taken from a Sherlock Holmes story without ever having read one? My point exactly. A proper degree of classical education requires a certain amount of FIRST-HAND knowledge. You need to read the books yourself.

In this case, it doesn't take much of an effort; the stories of Holmes & Watson are quite entertaining. Some of them, frankly, aren't as good as they're hyped up to be, but others are everything you've ever heard.

The book is made in a solid hardcover, with properly well-printed, large pages with gold-lined edges. It's quite a big book, but each story isn't too long. You can read it some, and then leave it for a while if you so wish. This is great bedtime reading, though, and (as I said) something you need to have.

The best volume you'll ever own, 25 Feb 2008
This is undoubtedly the best volume of the entire Holmes canon that you're ever likely to own. I own a great many copies of the various stories including some "complete" volumes but this is undoubtedly the best. The quality of the book is clear. It is a sturdy size with lovely gilt edged pages. The layout is excellent and clear even if the quality of some of the images is less than ideal.

In short buy it as you cannot do better.

One to treasure, 11 Oct 2007
This volume contains all the Holmes & Watson stories, the complete collection for a bargain price. Every single story is delicious: gaslit streets on cold and foggy nights, mysterious crimes the inept police force is unable to solve, and villains, rogues and miscreants galore... There's nothing like snuggling up under the duvet with this book on a winter's evening!

'You know my methods. Apply them', 11 May 2007
In 1998, the BBC became the first production company ever to dramatise the entire canon (56 short stories and 4 novels) of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories, taking 9 years to complete in total, with Bert Coules being the principle writer of the production.

Clive Merrison (Holmes) and Michael Williams (Watson) starred in every recording, and their relationship comes across superbly well, with clear affection between the two being evident. I will admit, it did take me a while to warm to Merrison as Holmes, but having listened to the CD's many a time, I fully appreciate what he bought to the role, playing the detective with his exaggerated mannerisms and mood swings. Williams' Watson is a strong character, often standing up to Holmes arguing his point (particularly when Holmes often dismisses his romanticised written versions of their exploits!!)

The overall production (as one might expect from the BBC) is first class, and you are immediately transported back to the times when hansom cabs were rushing the pair to the scene of a crime. Some of the later stories Doyle had written do not stand up to the earlier ones, however, this does not detract from performances of the radio cast.

A total of 64 CD's come in a sturdy presentation box, together with an 83 page CD sized booklet that provides an insight into the making of the radio programmes.

Also recommended, are The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Volumes 1 (ISBN 0-563-52407-) and 2 (ISBN 30-563-53039-1) that were written by Bert Coules, and inspired by the original Doyle stories. Sadly Michael Williams had passed away when these were produced, however Andrew Sachs fills the role sufficiently well.

Mix Bag of Holmes, 23 Apr 2007
Up front, I should say I am more a connoisseur of Watsons than Holmes. Ever since I started reading the stories in the seventh grade back in the mid-1970's I have had more affinity with Watson. Holmes was often overbearing, rude, and had insufferable bouts of self-pitying depression. Watson was sturdy and reliable and nice.

Michael Williams, a solid actor, is sturdy, reliable and nice. It's increasingly clear as this series progresses why Holmes wants/needs Watson around him. This is a Watson who takes modest pride in the stories he is producing about his friend and often stands as an equal to holmes in celebrity, if not in intellect.

I have heard every one of these stories on the radio, so I feel confident in speaking about them. Some are magnificent, some aren't. Bert Coules and other writers did a good job in many respects. They were bold enough to confront some of the utter nonsense in the Holmes tales and bring it to the fore. For instance, Holmes just eludes attempts by Moriarty's minons in "The Final Problem" and Watson incredulously says, "Forgive me, but this man is a criminal genius and he arranges for someone to throw a brick at you?" There are worse bits of nonsense in the stories that have troubled me for thirty years. That the writers are courageous enough to highlight this material rather than sweep under the rug is a good thing, and I enjoyed it.

Even more intriguingly, they've tended to make the whole into one long story. Holmes and Watson have almost Proustian moments of memory, where they recall (to us, too) things that happened many episodes before. By the end of the series (aside from a couple of exceptions) in "His Last Bow" and "The Casebook", the listener realizes they are telling the stories as if they occurred in chronological order, despite where the author said they should fall. It's a phenominal, epic achievement and it deserved a first-class Holmes and Watson. They got a Watson of the first water. I'll speak of Holmes later. First, the down side of the writing.

The problem with the writing comes when Conan Doyle's stories -- as they frequently are -- are paper thin. Frankly, some of the original stories aren't worth much, and it's not a matter of pride to brag about having dramatized them all if some of them are stinkers. In some cases, the writers make up as new material they borrow from the stories.

The presentation is odd, too. The Sherlock Holmes stories start with Holmes and Watson receiving and interviewing clients. In the series, many of these stories cross-cuts, sometimes with little more than a minute or two of dialogue. Holmes and Watson are learning about the case, then there is an abrupt cut to some place else (usually the past) and two stories are constructed simultaneously. A listener who knows the stories well should have no confusion. Newcomers may be bewildered. And much of the non-Holmes material is "made up" by the writers and shows their preferences.

Then, too, sometimes when I fully expected a show to end on an up note, they decided to write some nastier turn that left one feeling deflated. Occasionally they took the liberty of jabs at this or that where they might have been better advised to button up on polemics. Since my politics probably differ from those of most show-biz writers, I dismay at the use of revered literary figures being the mouthpieces for these writers' cheap shots.

Then there is the problem of Clive Merrison. Physically, he might get away with playing Holmes on tv. He certainly looks closer to the Strand illustrations than Edward Woodward or Michael Caine, both of whom have tried on the deerstalker.

The reason I started this review babbling of Watsons is because I've always cared more for him. I prefer dramatizations of clever Watsons. I'm devoted to dramatizations with David Burke, Edward Hardwicke, Andre Morell, Ralph Richardson and Ben Kingsley. Of lesser Watsons, I particularly enjoyed Colin Blakely's and James Mason's. And I never took offense at Nigel Bruce or Norman Shelley or Bernard Fox, whose Watsons made you feel that Holmes had personal care of senility patients.

My favorite Holmeses were the ones with clipped, precise speech: Carleton Hobbes, Jeremy Brett, Basil Rathbone and John Gielgud.

Clive Merrison took some getting used to, and I frankly never got used to him. His Holmes is very whiney, even more than Robert Stephens'. Admittedly, Conan Doyle's Holmes was anti-social, often unhappy and self-pitying. He took drugs. He was rude and peremtory. Therefore, Merrison's unique vocal take on Holmes may actually be closer to the truth (if there was a truth). Perhaps I find him annoying for the same reason I found the literary Holmes annoying. If that is so, then he's done an exquisite job of capturing the Holmes of the stories. I never find his laughter realistic -- but I was always a little shocked when Holmes laughed in the stories.

There's no point in complaining about him. This is what we have and it's part of the greater Sherlock Holmes universe. And because of the overall epic effect this series has, because the writers plug gaps and offer insights they've gleaned from one hundred years of Holmes researchers, it will prove a legendary. Michael Williams may deserve to go down as (perhaps) the best Watson ever. Merrison isn't a bad actor, but to me he doesn't "sound like" Holmes. There's a lot of good here; but in Sherlock Holmes series one ought to be able to appreciate the Holmes. Despite my love for Michael Williams, I wish the BBC would release a Carleton Hobbes set as an alternative.

A must read, 19 Apr 2006
What can I write about this book that hasn't been said or written yet? Everybody knows everything about its plot and its characters, so I'll better write about what this book means to me.

I started reading when I was four. When I was a child, my family spent the summer in the country, and in few years I had read all the children's books that we had there. So,when I was seven I decided to explore my father's library: since I wasn't allowed to climb on a ladder (nor did I dare to), I took the first book I reached. Yes, it was The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. I won't pretend I understood everything I read there, but enough to make me want to read more. With the years I learned to love both Sherlock Holmes and its adventures. And I haven't stopped doing so.

Some may say SH is outdated, victorian, unreal and even a bore (oh, blasphemous rumours!). To me, it opened the doors of the "adult" literature and I will always be grateful for it. And besides, everytime I read a SH story, I enjoy it like the first time. How many books can claim to do so?

Mind puzzles and corruption in Victorian London, 05 Feb 2003
Sherlock Holmes stories often read like fiendishly difficult literary MENSA conundrums. Often it is almost impossible for the reader to guess how Holmes will solve his crime riddles and almost always the reader will kick himself/herself when the solution is revealed.
Perhaps the most annoying thing about Conan Doyle's writing is that he often does not reveal to the reader (or to Dr Watson who we see most of the action from) all the clues that Holmes uses to make his conclusions- and some are so utterly preposterous to be believed i.e. Holmes deducing a man is a labourer because the muscles in his right hand are more developed than in his left. This is very different from more modern crime authors such as Agatha Christie who tend to challenge the reader as much as the detective. Perhaps, then, reading Sherlock Holmes must demand some suspension of belief but this doesn't detract from the satisfaction of Holmes solving yet another seemingly impossible crime.
Good fun and also, at times, intellectually stretching. Conan Doyle exercises the reader's facilities to question events in real life whilst simultaneously creating one of the most enjoyable genres and popular characters in English fiction.

A Singular Book, 18 Dec 2000
A hugely entertaining and totally absorbing book which covers a further twelve of Sherlock Holmes' investigations originally published in The Strand magazine. Holmes adventures are to me fascinating, revealing as they do the dark underbelly of late Victorian society and many of them would create lurid headlines were they to actually occur today; even Holmes himself is not free from scandal when he is revealed by Watson to be a cocaine addict in, 'A Scandal in Bohemia'.

From his battle of the sexes with the resourceful adventuress Miss Irene Adler in, 'A Scandal in Bohemia', to his foiling of the criminal intentions of the "fourth smartest man in London" in the truly bizarre and at times comical, 'The Red-Headed League', Holmes is called upon to use his extraordinary powers of deduction and his ability to observe when others merely see, in a battle of wits against as varied and as determined a bunch of criminals as ever stepped outside the law. The cases themselves are sometimes dangerous (The Speckled Band), sometimes cruel (A Case of Identity) but as often as not downright baffling - to you and me !

The famous quotes are all in there as well, such as the one beloved of Agent Mulder from The X Files in 'The Beryl Coronet' when Holmes reveals "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." or his expanation in 'The Red Headed League'that "..the more bizarre a thing is the less mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless crimes which are really puzzling.." Or how about his musing to Watson at the start of 'A Case of Identity', "life is infinitely stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent."

If you want to be diverted from the cares and worries of life, if you want to lose track of time, if you want to face the challenge of trying to help solve the unsolvable and be immersed into a book which, just a little, shows the flip-side of Victorian values, then 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' will suffice, read and enjoy.

A Singular Book, 15 Dec 2000
A hugely entertaining and totally absorbing book which covers a further twelve of Sherlock Holmes' investigations originally published in The Strand magazine.

Holmes adventures are to me fascinating, revealing as they do the dark underbelly of Victorian society and many of them would create lurid headlines were they to actually occur today, even Holmes himself is not free from scandal when he is revealed by Watson to be of all things, a cocaine addict in A Scandal in Bohemia.

From his battle of the sexes with the resourceful adventuress Miss Irene Adler in, A Scandal in Bohemia, to his foiling of the criminal intentions of the "fourth smartest man in London" in the truly bizarre and at times comical, The Red-Headed League, Holmes is called upon to use his extraordinary powers of deduction and his ability to observe when others merely see, in a battle of wits against as varied and as determined a bunch of criminals as ever stepped outside the law.

The cases themselves are sometimes dangerous (The Speckled Band), sometimes cruel (A Case of Identity) but as often as not downright baffling - to you and me !

The famous quotes are all in there as well, such as the one beloved of Agent Mulder in The X Files from The Beryl Coronet when Holmes reveals "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." or his expanation in The Red Headed League that "..the more bizarre a thing is the less mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless crimes which are really puzzling.." Or how about his musing to Watson at the start of A Case of Identity, "life is infinitely stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent."

If you want to be diverted from the cares and worries of life, if you want to lose track of time, if you want to face the challenge of trying to help solve the unsolvable and be immersed into a book which, just a little, shows the flip-side of Victorian values, then The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is for you. Read and enjoy.

Excellent intrigue and perfectly balanced stories, 29 Oct 2000
This book is superb not only because of the quality of the stories but also how well and economically written it is. It really transports you into the Victorian world and its values (a world of gentlemen), you can also enjoy the marvel that a new world of wealth bringed by the Industrial Revolution produced on the English people at the time and the pride of a nation which considered itself at the centre of the world. "The casebook" and "The return" are much mediocre books as Conan Doyle's technique to tell stories becomes too repetitive and obvious.

The GREAT SHERLOCK HOLMES BOOK, 08 Apr 2008
Hi, I'm Shobha Varma from India. I have this book in my husband Dr.Varma's library. It is a wonderful book, no doubt on that aspect. But because my husband is an artist and movie buff while I am a Carnatic Musician, we always crave for books with illustrations. This book DOES have illustrations, but my husband wants only the illustated short stories.
The 56 short stories are wonderful. Particularly with Sydney Paget's illustrations.

The ultimate bedtime read, 04 Apr 2008
I've had this book since my teenage years and it's the one book I go back to time and time again. I don't know what it is that makes me grab it from the bookshelf, perhaps Conan Doyle's unique style, his descriptions of old London or the Grimpen Mire or the small village deep in the home counties, the knee high fog settling on the moor,I just don't know!
Watson's narration and Holmes deductions and logic never cease to thrill me and carry me away on an orgasmic journey of escapism. For that's what a good book does. That's what this book does.

Elementary, my dear reader, 27 Dec 2005
The first Sherlock Holmes book I ever read was given to me as a gift for my thirteenth birthday. It was a collection of the short stories, with a wonderful leather trim and gold leafing, and I thought it was fantastic. I read the first story, and was instantly hooked. Within a few days, I was disappointed with my wonderful new book because it was incomplete. I had devoured all of the selected stories, and was ready for more.

Shortly thereafter, I purchased what purported to be the 'only complete Sherlock Holmes available', compiled by Christopher Morley. This became my favourite book. But, alas, neither of these volumes was illustrated.

The original stories, which appeared in The Strand magazine, were illustrated, by the great illustrator Sidney Paget. Actually, careful research (which Holmes himself would insist upon) will reveal that Paget was not the first illustrator; however, it is not able to be determined conclusively how many artists preceding Paget. It is know that the first publication of A Study in Scarlet, in which Holmes and Watson are first introduced, was illustrated by on D.H. Friston. These illustrations would appall the Holmesian set today.

The next edition after the barely-received Beeton's Christmas Annual edition, was in book form, and apparently illustrated by Arthur Conan Doyle's father, Charles.

The next illustration was in The Sign of Four, appearing in Lippincott's Magazine, which showed a scene in India, but did not have one of Holmes.

The classic ideas of Holmes (in a visual sense) did not thus solidify until the popular series of short stories in The Strand, illustrated by Paget, beginning with the story A Scandal in Bohemia, in which Holmes is actually out-foxed by THE woman, but still manages a satisfactory ending to the case, and (particularly his illustrations of the serialised Hounds of the Baskervilles) Paget's illustrations have become the standard image.

This volume contains all the short stories (56 of them) and the novels (4). (At least, this is the official canon -- there are other proto-stories by Conan Doyle, and dozens of tribute stories written by other authors.) Hundreds of illustrations accompany the text. Perhaps Paget drew his image of Holmes based upon the actor William Gillette, who made a career out of portraying the Baker Street detective on stage in London and New York. Charlie Chaplain got one of his early starts in entertainment by playing the page attendant to Holmes opposite Gillette.

From the beginning introduction of Holmes and Watson to Holmes' gentle retirement to beekeepping on the southern coast of England, this book contains all the essential stories (none of the apocryphal, anecdotal, or tribute-written pieces are contained here). Holmes was often thought to be a real person, and Sherlockians the world over still search for 'evidence' to prove that he was. During his 'lifetime', the post office for the Baker Street area regularly received mail addressed to Holmes or Watson at 221B Baker Street. While such an address does not (and did not during the late Victorian era) exist, there is a business on the site that would be 221B, and they have dedicated a desk to Holmes, and strive to answer mail received in the great detective's name.

Perhaps the two elements that made Holmes and Watson the world-renowned figures that they became are, first, the dominance of the British Empire globally at the time Conan Doyle was writing, which made English things sought-after, admired, and to be emulated, and secondly, the introduction of a method of detection hitherto unknown, both in the annals of detective stories (save perhaps in a proto-form in Poe and a few other obscure pieces of dubious literary merit) and in real life.

Holmesian tales became required reading in the training of police and detectives in many parts of the world. It is still recommended even when it is not required.

Holmes permeates other literature and venues as well. When Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation looks for images of Holmes, he is being guided by the descriptions in the stories as well as by the illustrations in The Strand. When the BBC produced Jeremy Brett's rendering of Holmes, the same holds true. When Basil Rathbone's films were cast, these illustrations and stories were uppermost in the directors' minds.

So, pull some tobacco from your persian slipper, stoke your pipe, scratch out a tune on your violin, and re-enter the gas-lit world of the foggy London, where danger is afoot and one detective can always save the day.

Holmes gets tiresome after a while but still a great read, 12 Jun 2004
Great stuff but a tiny bit far fetched - what Holmes can deduce from a scrape on your shoe (or maybe I'm stupid). I had to stop reading three quarters of the way because it gets a bit formulaic but up to that it was great. Will finish it some day.

I'd prefer not to have the illustrations because it spoils my image of Basil Rathbone when I'm picturing Holmes.

As for the illustration of the Hound of The Baskervilles - it's ridiculous - it looks like my Red Setter.

A MUST BUY!, 01 Apr 2004
If you like detective stories that show a lot of logical understanding then you have to buy this book. Don't worry it's not a complicated book with a hard to understand story. This must be the best book I ever bought form Amazon because it contains all the original illustrations and complete and unabridged stories of the very clever detective (and scientist) Sherlock Holmes. The second I started reading the book I couldn't stop reading it because of the clever and sometimes complex characters illustrated magnificently by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle also because of the magnificent plots of the hundreds of stories written in such a great manner. The stories always make you want to keep reading on to find out who was behind it all and it is always somebody who you would never suspect, this book is just full of millions of surprises.

A Must-Have Classic, 11 Aug 2008
The COMPLETE Sherlock Holmes collection is something you HAVE to have on your bookshelf if you ever read a book. Like Shakespeare, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Alexandre Dumas, Aldous Huxley, Oscar Wilde and SO many more... Conan Doyle is such a big name that no proper collection is complete without it. Have you ever said: "Elementary, Dr. Watson", knowing it was taken from a Sherlock Holmes story without ever having read one? My point exactly. A proper degree of classical education requires a certain amount of FIRST-HAND knowledge. You need to read the books yourself.

In this case, it doesn't take much of an effort; the stories of Holmes & Watson are quite entertaining. Some of them, frankly, aren't as good as they're hyped up to be, but others are everything you've ever heard.

The book is made in a solid hardcover, with properly well-printed, large pages with gold-lined edges. It's quite a big book, but each story isn't too long. You can read it some, and then leave it for a while if you so wish. This is great bedtime reading, though, and (as I said) something you need to have.

The best volume you'll ever own, 25 Feb 2008
This is undoubtedly the best volume of the entire Holmes canon that you're ever likely to own. I own a great many copies of the various stories including some "complete" volumes but this is undoubtedly the best. The quality of the book is clear. It is a sturdy size with lovely gilt edged pages. The layout is excellent and clear even if the quality of some of the images is less than ideal.

In short buy it as you cannot do better.

One to treasure, 11 Oct 2007
This volume contains all the Holmes & Watson stories, the complete collection for a bargain price. Every single story is delicious: gaslit streets on cold and foggy nights, mysterious crimes the inept police force is unable to solve, and villains, rogues and miscreants galore... There's nothing like snuggling up under the duvet with this book on a winter's evening!

'You know my methods. Apply them', 11 May 2007
In 1998, the BBC became the first production company ever to dramatise the entire canon (56 short stories and 4 novels) of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories, taking 9 years to complete in total, with Bert Coules being the principle writer of the production.

Clive Merrison (Holmes) and Michael Williams (Watson) starred in every recording, and their relationship comes across superbly well, with clear affection between the two being evident. I will admit, it did take me a while to warm to Merrison as Holmes, but having listened to the CD's many a time, I fully appreciate what he bought to the role, playing the detective with his exaggerated mannerisms and mood swings. Williams' Watson is a strong character, often standing up to Holmes arguing his point (particularly when Holmes often dismisses his romanticised written versions of their exploits!!)

The overall production (as one might expect from the BBC) is first class, and you are immediately transported back to the times when hansom cabs were rushing the pair to the scene of a crime. Some of the later stories Doyle had written do not stand up to the earlier ones, however, this does not detract from performances of the radio cast.

A total of 64 CD's come in a sturdy presentation box, together with an 83 page CD sized booklet that provides an insight into the making of the radio programmes.

Also recommended, are The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Volumes 1 (ISBN 0-563-52407-) and 2 (ISBN 30-563-53039-1) that were written by Bert Coules, and inspired by the original Doyle stories. Sadly Michael Williams had passed away when these were produced, however Andrew Sachs fills the role sufficiently well.

Mix Bag of Holmes, 23 Apr 2007
Up front, I should say I am more a connoisseur of Watsons than Holmes. Ever since I started reading the stories in the seventh grade back in the mid-1970's I have had more affinity with Watson. Holmes was often overbearing, rude, and had insufferable bouts of self-pitying depression. Watson was sturdy and reliable and nice.

Michael Williams, a solid actor, is sturdy, reliable and nice. It's increasingly clear as this series progresses why Holmes wants/needs Watson around him. This is a Watson who takes modest pride in the stories he is producing about his friend and often stands as an equal to holmes in celebrity, if not in intellect.

I have heard every one of these stories on the radio, so I feel confident in speaking about them. Some are magnificent, some aren't. Bert Coules and other writers did a good job in many respects. They were bold enough to confront some of the utter nonsense in the Holmes tales and bring it to the fore. For instance, Holmes just eludes attempts by Moriarty's minons in "The Final Problem" and Watson incredulously says, "Forgive me, but this man is a criminal genius and he arranges for someone to throw a brick at you?" There are worse bits of nonsense in the stories that have troubled me for thirty years. That the writers are courageous enough to highlight this material rather than sweep under the rug is a good thing, and I enjoyed it.

Even more intriguingly, they've tended to make the whole into one long story. Holmes and Watson have almost Proustian moments of memory, where they recall (to us, too) things that happened many episodes before. By the end of the series (aside from a couple of exceptions) in "His Last Bow" and "The Casebook", the listener realizes they are telling the stories as if they occurred in chronological order, despite where the author said they should fall. It's a phenominal, epic achievement and it deserved a first-class Holmes and Watson. They got a Watson of the first water. I'll speak of Holmes later. First, the down side of the writing.

The problem with the writing comes when Conan Doyle's stories -- as they frequently are -- are paper thin. Frankly, some of the original stories aren't worth much, and it's not a matter of pride to brag about having dramatized them all if some of them are stinkers. In some cases, the writers make up as new material they borrow from the stories.

The presentation is odd, too. The Sherlock Holmes stories start with Holmes and Watson receiving and interviewing clients. In the series, many of these stories cross-cuts, sometimes with little more than a minute or two of dialogue. Holmes and Watson are learning about the case, then there is an abrupt cut to some place else (usually the past) and two stories are constructed simultaneously. A listener who knows the stories well should have no confusion. Newcomers may be bewildered. And much of the non-Holmes material is "made up" by the writers and shows their preferences.

Then, too, sometimes when I fully expected a show to end on an up note, they decided to write some nastier turn that left one feeling deflated. Occasionally they took the liberty of jabs at this or that where they might have been better advised to button up on polemics. Since my politics probably differ from those of most show-biz writers, I dismay at the use of revered literary figures being the mouthpieces for these writers' cheap shots.

Then there is the problem of Clive Merrison. Physically, he might get away with playing Holmes on tv. He certainly looks closer to the Strand illustrations than Edward Woodward or Michael Caine, both of whom have tried on the deerstalker.

The reason I started this review babbling of Watsons is because I've always cared more for him. I prefer dramatizations of clever Watsons. I'm devoted to dramatizations with David Burke, Edward Hardwicke, Andre Morell, Ralph Richardson and Ben Kingsley. Of lesser Watsons, I particularly enjoyed Colin Blakely's and James Mason's. And I never took offense at Nigel Bruce or Norman Shelley or Bernard Fox, whose Watsons made you feel that Holmes had personal care of senility patients.

My favorite Holmeses were the ones with clipped, precise speech: Carleton Hobbes, Jeremy Brett, Basil Rathbone and John Gielgud.

Clive Merrison took some getting used to, and I frankly never got used to him. His Holmes is very whiney, even more than Robert Stephens'. Admittedly, Conan Doyle's Holmes was anti-social, often unhappy and self-pitying. He took drugs. He was rude and peremtory. Therefore, Merrison's unique vocal take on Holmes may actually be closer to the truth (if there was a truth). Perhaps I find him annoying for the same reason I found the literary Holmes annoying. If that is so, then he's done an exquisite job of capturing the Holmes of the stories. I never find his laughter realistic -- but I was always a little shocked when Holmes laughed in the stories.

There's no point in complaining about him. This is what we have and it's part of the greater Sherlock Holmes universe. And because of the overall epic effect this series has, because the writers plug gaps and offer insights they've gleaned from one hundred years of Holmes researchers, it will prove a legendary. Michael Williams may deserve to go down as (perhaps) the best Watson ever. Merrison isn't a bad actor, but to me he doesn't "sound like" Holmes. There's a lot of good here; but in Sherlock Holmes series one ought to be able to appreciate the Holmes. Despite my love for Michael Williams, I wish the BBC would release a Carleton Hobbes set as an alternative.

A must read, 19 Apr 2006
What can I write about this book that hasn't been said or written yet? Everybody knows everything about its plot and its characters, so I'll better write about what this book means to me.

I started reading when I was four. When I was a child, my family spent the summer in the country, and in few years I had read all the children's books that we had there. So,when I was seven I decided to explore my father's library: since I wasn't allowed to climb on a ladder (nor did I dare to), I took the first book I reached. Yes, it was The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. I won't pretend I understood everything I read there, but enough to make me want to read more. With the years I learned to love both Sherlock Holmes and its adventures. And I haven't stopped doing so.

Some may say SH is outdated, victorian, unreal and even a bore (oh, blasphemous rumours!). To me, it opened the doors of the "adult" literature and I will always be grateful for it. And besides, everytime I read a SH story, I enjoy it like the first time. How many books can claim to do so?

Mind puzzles and corruption in Victorian London, 05 Feb 2003
Sherlock Holmes stories often read like fiendishly difficult literary MENSA conundrums. Often it is almost impossible for the reader to guess how Holmes will solve his crime riddles and almost always the reader will kick himself/herself when the solution is revealed.
Perhaps the most annoying thing about Conan Doyle's writing is that he often does not reveal to the reader (or to Dr Watson who we see most of the action from) all the clues that Holmes uses to make his conclusions- and some are so utterly preposterous to be believed i.e. Holmes deducing a man is a labourer because the muscles in his right hand are more developed than in his left. This is very different from more modern crime authors such as Agatha Christie who tend to challenge the reader as much as the detective. Perhaps, then, reading Sherlock Holmes must demand some suspension of belief but this doesn't detract from the satisfaction of Holmes solving yet another seemingly impossible crime.
Good fun and also, at times, intellectually stretching. Conan Doyle exercises the reader's facilities to question events in real life whilst simultaneously creating one of the most enjoyable genres and popular characters in English fiction.

A Singular Book, 18 Dec 2000
A hugely entertaining and totally absorbing book which covers a further twelve of Sherlock Holmes' investigations originally published in The Strand magazine. Holmes adventures are to me fascinating, revealing as they do the dark underbelly of late Victorian society and many of them would create lurid headlines were they to actually occur today; even Holmes himself is not free from scandal when he is revealed by Watson to be a cocaine addict in, 'A Scandal in Bohemia'.

From his battle of the sexes with the resourceful adventuress Miss Irene Adler in, 'A Scandal in Bohemia', to his foiling of the criminal intentions of the "fourth smartest man in London" in the truly bizarre and at times comical, 'The Red-Headed League', Holmes is called upon to use his extraordinary powers of deduction and his ability to observe when others merely see, in a battle of wits against as varied and as determined a bunch of criminals as ever stepped outside the law. The cases themselves are sometimes dangerous (The Speckled Band), sometimes cruel (A Case of Identity) but as often as not downright baffling - to you and me !

The famous quotes are all in there as well, such as the one beloved of Agent Mulder from The X Files in 'The Beryl Coronet' when Holmes reveals "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." or his expanation in 'The Red Headed League'that "..the more bizarre a thing is the less mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless crimes which are really puzzling.." Or how about his musing to Watson at the start of 'A Case of Identity', "life is infinitely stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent."

If you want to be diverted from the cares and worries of life, if you want to lose track of time, if you want to face the challenge of trying to help solve the unsolvable and be immersed into a book which, just a little, shows the flip-side of Victorian values, then 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' will suffice, read and enjoy.

A Singular Book, 15 Dec 2000
A hugely entertaining and totally absorbing book which covers a further twelve of Sherlock Holmes' investigations originally published in The Strand magazine.

Holmes adventures are to me fascinating, revealing as they do the dark underbelly of Victorian society and many of them would create lurid headlines were they to actually occur today, even Holmes himself is not free from scandal when he is revealed by Watson to be of all things, a cocaine addict in A Scandal in Bohemia.

From his battle of the sexes with the resourceful adventuress Miss Irene Adler in, A Scandal in Bohemia, to his foiling of the criminal intentions of the "fourth smartest man in London" in the truly bizarre and at times comical, The Red-Headed League, Holmes is called upon to use his extraordinary powers of deduction and his ability to observe when others merely see, in a battle of wits against as varied and as determined a bunch of criminals as ever stepped outside the law.

The cases themselves are sometimes dangerous (The Speckled Band), sometimes cruel (A Case of Identity) but as often as not downright baffling - to you and me !

The famous quotes are all in there as well, such as the one beloved of Agent Mulder in The X Files from The Beryl Coronet when Holmes reveals "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." or his expanation in The Red Headed League that "..the more bizarre a thing is the less mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless crimes which are really puzzling.." Or how about his musing to Watson at the start of A Case of Identity, "life is infinitely stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent."

If you want to be diverted from the cares and worries of life, if you want to lose track of time, if you want to face the challenge of trying to help solve the unsolvable and be immersed into a book which, just a little, shows the flip-side of Victorian values, then The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is for you. Read and enjoy.

Excellent intrigue and perfectly balanced stories, 29 Oct 2000
This book is superb not only because of the quality of the stories but also how well and economically written it is. It really transports you into the Victorian world and its values (a world of gentlemen), you can also enjoy the marvel that a new world of wealth bringed by the Industrial Revolution produced on the English people at the time and the pride of a nation which considered itself at the centre of the world. "The casebook" and "The return" are much mediocre books as Conan Doyle's technique to tell stories becomes too repetitive and obvious.

A Must-Have Classic, 11 Aug 2008
The COMPLETE Sherlock Holmes collection is something you HAVE to have on your bookshelf if you ever read a book. Like Shakespeare, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Alexandre Dumas, Aldous Huxley, Oscar Wilde and SO many more... Conan Doyle is such a big name that no proper collection is complete without it. Have you ever said: "Elementary, Dr. Watson", knowing it was taken from a Sherlock Holmes story without ever having read one? My point exactly. A proper degree of classical education requires a certain amount of FIRST-HAND knowledge. You need to read the books yourself.

In this case, it doesn't take much of an effort; the stories of Holmes & Watson are quite entertaining. Some of them, frankly, aren't as good as they're hyped up to be, but others are everything you've ever heard.

The book is made in a solid hardcover, with properly well-printed, large pages with gold-lined edges. It's quite a big book, but each story isn't too long. You can read it some, and then leave it for a while if you so wish. This is great bedtime reading, though, and (as I said) something you need to have.

The best volume you'll ever own, 25 Feb 2008
This is undoubtedly the best volume of the entire Holmes canon that you're ever likely to own. I own a great many copies of the various stories including some "complete" volumes but this is undoubtedly the best. The quality of the book is clear. It is a sturdy size with lovely gilt edged pages. The layout is excellent and clear even if the quality of some of the images is less than ideal.

In short buy it as you cannot do better.

One to treasure, 11 Oct 2007
This volume contains all the Holmes & Watson stories, the complete collection for a bargain price. Every single story is delicious: gaslit streets on cold and foggy nights, mysterious crimes the inept police force is unable to solve, and villains, rogues and miscreants galore... There's nothing like snuggling up under the duvet with this book on a winter's evening!

'You know my methods. Apply them', 11 May 2007
In 1998, the BBC became the first production company ever to dramatise the entire canon (56 short stories and 4 novels) of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories, taking 9 years to complete in total, with Bert Coules being the principle writer of the production.

Clive Merrison (Holmes) and Michael Williams (Watson) starred in every recording, and their relationship comes across superbly well, with clear affection between the two being evident. I will admit, it did take me a while to warm to Merrison as Holmes, but having listened to the CD's many a time, I fully appreciate what he bought to the role, playing the detective with his exaggerated mannerisms and mood swings. Williams' Watson is a strong character, often standing up to Holmes arguing his point (particularly when Holmes often dismisses his romanticised written versions of their exploits!!)

The overall production (as one might expect from the BBC) is first class, and you are immediately transported back to the times when hansom cabs were rushing the pair to the scene of a crime. Some of the later stories Doyle had written do not stand up to the earlier ones, however, this does not detract from performances of the radio cast.

A total of 64 CD's come in a sturdy presentation box, together with an 83 page CD sized booklet that provides an insight into the making of the radio programmes.

Also recommended, are The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Volumes 1 (ISBN 0-563-52407-) and 2 (ISBN 30-563-53039-1) that were written by Bert Coules, and inspired by the original Doyle stories. Sadly Michael Williams had passed away when these were produced, however Andrew Sachs fills the role sufficiently well.

Mix Bag of Holmes, 23 Apr 2007
Up front, I should say I am more a connoisseur of Watsons than Holmes. Ever since I started reading the stories in the seventh grade back in the mid-1970's I have had more affinity with Watson. Holmes was often overbearing, rude, and had insufferable bouts of self-pitying depression. Watson was sturdy and reliable and nice.

Michael Williams, a solid actor, is sturdy, reliable and nice. It's increasingly clear as this series progresses why Holmes wants/needs Watson around him. This is a Watson who takes modest pride in the stories he is producing about his friend and often stands as an equal to holmes in celebrity, if not in intellect.

I have heard every one of these stories on the radio, so I feel confident in speaking about them. Some are magnificent, some aren't. Bert Coules and other writers did a good job in many respects. They were bold enough to confront some of the utter nonsense in the Holmes tales and bring it to the fore. For instance, Holmes just eludes attempts by Moriarty's minons in "The Final Problem" and Watson incredulously says, "Forgive me, but this man is a criminal genius and he arranges for someone to throw a brick at you?" There are worse bits of nonsense in the stories that have troubled me for thirty years. That the writers are courageous enough to highlight this material rather than sweep under the rug is a good thing, and I enjoyed it.

Even more intriguingly, they've tended to make the whole into one long story. Holmes and Watson have almost Proustian moments of memory, where they recall (to us, too) things that happened many episodes before. By the end of the series (aside from a couple of exceptions) in "His Last Bow" and "The Casebook", the listener realizes they are telling the stories as if they occurred in chronological order, despite where the author said they should fall. It's a phenominal, epic achievement and it deserved a first-class Holmes and Watson. They got a Watson of the first water. I'll speak of Holmes later. First, the down side of the writing.

The problem with the writing comes when Conan Doyle's stories -- as they frequently are -- are paper thin. Frankly, some of the original stories aren't worth much, and it's not a matter of pride to brag about having dramatized them all if some of them are stinkers. In some cases, the writers make up as new material they borrow from the stories.

The presentation is odd, too. The Sherlock Holmes stories start with Holmes and Watson receiving and interviewing clients. In the series, many of these stories cross-cuts, sometimes with little more than a minute or two of dialogue. Holmes and Watson are learning about the case, then there is an abrupt cut to some place else (usually the past) and two stories are constructed simultaneously. A listener who knows the stories well should have no confusion. Newcomers may be bewildered. And much of the non-Holmes material is "made up" by the writers and shows their preferences.

Then, too, sometimes when I fully expected a show to end on an up note, they decided to write some nastier turn that left one feeling deflated. Occasionally they took the liberty of jabs at this or that where they might have been better advised to button up on polemics. Since my politics probably differ from those of most show-biz writers, I dismay at the use of revered literary figures being the mouthpieces for these writers' cheap shots.

Then there is the problem of Clive Merrison. Physically, he might get away with playing Holmes on tv. He certainly looks closer to the Strand illustrations than Edward Woodward or Michael Caine, both of whom have tried on the deerstalker.

The reason I started this review babbling of Watsons is because I've always cared more for him. I prefer dramatizations of clever Watsons. I'm devoted to dramatizations with David Burke, Edward Hardwicke, Andre Morell, Ralph Richardson and Ben Kingsley. Of lesser Watsons, I particularly enjoyed Colin Blakely's and James Mason's. And I never took offense at Nigel Bruce or Norman Shelley or Bernard Fox, whose Watsons made you feel that Holmes had personal care of senility patients.

My favorite Holmeses were the ones with clipped, precise speech: Carleton Hobbes, Jeremy Brett, Basil Rathbone and John Gielgud.

Clive Merrison took some getting used to, and I frankly never got used to him. His Holmes is very whiney, even more than Robert Stephens'. Admittedly, Conan Doyle's Holmes was anti-social, often unhappy and self-pitying. He took drugs. He was rude and peremtory. Therefore, Merrison's unique vocal take on Holmes may actually be closer to the truth (if there was a truth). Perhaps I find him annoying for the same reason I found the literary Holmes annoying. If that is so, then he's done an exquisite job of capturing the Holmes of the stories. I never find his laughter realistic -- but I was always a little shocked when Holmes laughed in the stories.

There's no point in complaining about him. This is what we have and it's part of the greater Sherlock Holmes universe. And because of the overall epic effect this series has, because the writers plug gaps and offer insights they've gleaned from one hundred years of Holmes researchers, it will prove a legendary. Michael Williams may deserve to go down as (perhaps) the best Watson ever. Merrison isn't a bad actor, but to me he doesn't "sound like" Holmes. There's a lot of good here; but in Sherlock Holmes series one ought to be able to appreciate the Holmes. Despite my love for Michael Williams, I wish the BBC would release a Carleton Hobbes set as an alternative.

The GREAT SHERLOCK HOLMES BOOK, 08 Apr 2008
Hi, I'm Shobha Varma from India. I have this book in my husband Dr.Varma's library. It is a wonderful book, no doubt on that aspect. But because my husband is an artist and movie buff while I am a Carnatic Musician, we always crave for books with illustrations. This book DOES have illustrations, but my husband wants only the illustated short stories.
The 56 short stories are wonderful. Particularly with Sydney Paget's illustrations.

The ultimate bedtime read, 04 Apr 2008
I've had this book since my teenage years and it's the one book I go back to time and time again. I don't know what it is that makes me grab it from the bookshelf, perhaps Conan Doyle's unique style, his descriptions of old London or the Grimpen Mire or the small village deep in the home counties, the knee high fog settling on the moor,I just don't know!
Watson's narration and Holmes deductions and logic never cease to thrill me and carry me away on an orgasmic journey of escapism. For that's what a good book does. That's what this book does.

Elementary, my dear reader, 27 Dec 2005
The first Sherlock Holmes book I ever read was given to me as a gift for my thirteenth birthday. It was a collection of the short stories, with a wonderful leather trim and gold leafing, and I thought it was fantastic. I read the first story, and was instantly hooked. Within a few days, I was disappointed with my wonderful new book because it was incomplete. I had devoured all of the selected stories, and was ready for more.

Shortly thereafter, I purchased what purported to be the 'only complete Sherlock Holmes available', compiled by Christopher Morley. This became my favourite book. But, alas, neither of these volumes was illustrated.

The original stories, which appeared in The Strand magazine, were illustrated, by the great illustrator Sidney Paget. Actually, careful research (which Holmes himself would insist upon) will reveal that Paget was not the first illustrator; however, it is not able to be determined conclusively how many artists preceding Paget. It is know that the first publication of A Study in Scarlet, in which Holmes and Watson are first introduced, was illustrated by on D.H. Friston. These illustrations would appall the Holmesian set today.

The next edition after the barely-received Beeton's Christmas Annual edition, was in book form, and apparently illustrated by Arthur Conan Doyle's father, Charles.

The next illustration was in The Sign of Four, appearing in Lippincott's Magazine, which showed a scene in India, but did not have one of Holmes.

The classic ideas of Holmes (in a visual sense) did not thus solidify until the popular series of short stories in The Strand, illustrated by Paget, beginning with the story A Scandal in Bohemia, in which Holmes is actually out-foxed by THE woman, but still manages a satisfactory ending to the case, and (particularly his illustrations of the serialised Hounds of the Baskervilles) Paget's illustrations have become the standard image.

This volume contains all the short stories (56 of them) and the novels (4). (At least, this is the official canon -- there are other proto-stories by Conan Doyle, and dozens of tribute stories written by other authors.) Hundreds of illustrations accompany the text. Perhaps Paget drew his image of Holmes based upon the actor William Gillette, who made a career out of portraying the Baker Street detective on stage in London and New York. Charlie Chaplain got one of his early starts in entertainment by playing the page attendant to Holmes opposite Gillette.

From the beginning introduction of Holmes and Watson to Holmes' gentle retirement to beekeepping on the southern coast of England, this book contains all the essential stories (none of the apocryphal, anecdotal, or tribute-written pieces are contained here). Holmes was often thought to be a real person, and Sherlockians the world over still search for 'evidence' to prove that he was. During his 'lifetime', the post office for the Baker Street area regularly received mail addressed to Holmes or Watson at 221B Baker Street. While such an address does not (and did not during the late Victorian era) exist, there is a business on the site that would be 221B, and they have dedicated a desk to Holmes, and strive to answer mail received in the great detective's name.

Perhaps the two elements that made Holmes and Watson the world-renowned figures that they became are, first, the dominance of the British Empire globally at the time Conan Doyle was writing, which made English things sought-after, admired, and to be emulated, and secondly, the introduction of a method of detection hitherto unknown, both in the annals of detective stories (save perhaps in a proto-form in Poe and a few other obscure pieces of dubious literary merit) and in real life.

Holmesian tales became required reading in the training of police and detectives in many parts of the world. It is still recommended even when it is not required.

Holmes permeates other literature and venues as well. When Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation looks for images of Holmes, he is being guided by the descriptions in the stories as well as by the illustrations in The Strand. When the BBC produced Jeremy Brett's rendering of Holmes, the same holds true. When Basil Rathbone's films were cast, these illustrations and stories were uppermost in the directors' minds.

So, pull some tobacco from your persian slipper, stoke your pipe, scratch out a tune on your violin, and re-enter the gas-lit world of the foggy London, where danger is afoot and one detective can always save the day.

Holmes gets tiresome after a while but still a great read, 12 Jun 2004
Great stuff but a tiny bit far fetched - what Holmes can deduce from a scrape on your shoe (or maybe I'm stupid). I had to stop reading three quarters of the way because it gets a bit formulaic but up to that it was great. Will finish it some day.

I'd prefer not to have the illustrations because it spoils my image of Basil Rathbone when I'm picturing Holmes.

As for the illustration of the Hound of The Baskervilles - it's ridiculous - it looks like my Red Setter.

A MUST BUY!, 01 Apr 2004
If you like detective stories that show a lot of logical understanding then you have to buy this book. Don't worry it's not a complicated book with a hard to understand story. This must be the best book I ever bought form Amazon because it contains all the original illustrations and complete and unabridged stories of the very clever detective (and scientist) Sherlock Holmes. The second I started reading the book I couldn't stop reading it because of the clever and sometimes complex characters illustrated magnificently by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle also because of the magnificent plots of the hundreds of stories written in such a great manner. The stories always make you want to keep reading on to find out who was behind it all and it is always somebody who you would never suspect, this book is just full of millions of surprises.

A Must-Have Classic, 11 Aug 2008
The COMPLETE Sherlock Holmes collection is something you HAVE to have on your bookshelf if you ever read a book. Like Shakespeare, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Alexandre Dumas, Aldous Huxley, Oscar Wilde and SO many more... Conan Doyle is such a big name that no proper collection is complete without it. Have you ever said: "Elementary, Dr. Watson", knowing it was taken from a Sherlock Holmes story without ever having read one? My point exactly. A proper degree of classical education requires a certain amount of FIRST-HAND knowledge. You need to read the books yourself.

In this case, it doesn't take much of an effort; the stories of Holmes & Watson are quite entertaining. Some of them, frankly, aren't as good as they're hyped up to be, but others are everything you've ever heard.

The book is made in a solid hardcover, with properly well-printed, large pages with gold-lined edges. It's quite a big book, but each story isn't too long. You can read it some, and then leave it for a while if you so wish. This is great bedtime reading, though, and (as I said) something you need to have.

The best volume you'll ever own, 25 Feb 2008
This is undoubtedly the best volume of the entire Holmes canon that you're ever likely to own. I own a great many copies of the various stories including some "complete" volumes but this is undoubtedly the best. The quality of the book is clear. It is a sturdy size with lovely gilt edged pages. The layout is excellent and clear even if the quality of some of the images is less than ideal.

In short buy it as you cannot do better.

One to treasure, 11 Oct 2007
This volume contains all the Holmes & Watson stories, the complete collection for a bargain price. Every single story is delicious: gaslit streets on cold and foggy nights, mysterious crimes the inept police force is unable to solve, and villains, rogues and miscreants galore... There's nothing like snuggling up under the duvet with this book on a winter's evening!

'You know my methods. Apply them', 11 May 2007
In 1998, the BBC became the first production company ever to dramatise the entire canon (56 short stories and 4 novels) of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories, taking 9 years to complete in total, with Bert Coules being the principle writer of the production.

Clive Merrison (Holmes) and Michael Williams (Watson) starred in every recording, and their relationship comes across superbly well, with clear affection between the two being evident. I will admit, it did take me a while to warm to Merrison as Holmes, but having listened to the CD's many a time, I fully appreciate what he bought to the role, playing the detective with his exaggerated mannerisms and mood swings. Williams' Watson is a strong character, often standing up to Holmes arguing his point (particularly when Holmes often dismisses his romanticised written versions of their exploits!!)

The overall production (as one might expect from the BBC) is first class, and you are immediately transported back to the times when hansom cabs were rushing the pair to the scene of a crime. Some of the later stories Doyle had written do not stand up to the earlier ones, however, this does not detract from performances of the radio cast.

A total of 64 CD's come in a sturdy presentation box, together with an 83 page CD sized booklet that provides an insight into the making of the radio programmes.

Also recommended, are The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Volumes 1 (ISBN 0-563-52407-) and 2 (ISBN 30-563-53039-1) that were written by Bert Coules, and inspired by the original Doyle stories. Sadly Michael Williams had passed away when these were produced, however Andrew Sachs fills the role sufficiently well.

Mix Bag of Holmes, 23 Apr 2007
Up front, I should say I am more a connoisseur of Watsons than Holmes. Ever since I started reading the stories in the seventh grade back in the mid-1970's I have had more affinity with Watson. Holmes was often overbearing, rude, and had insufferable bouts of self-pitying depression. Watson was sturdy and reliable and nice.

Michael Williams, a solid actor, is sturdy, reliable and nice. It's increasingly clear as this series progresses why Holmes wants/needs Watson around him. This is a Watson who takes modest pride in the stories he is producing about his friend and often stands as an equal to holmes in celebrity, if not in intellect.

I have heard every one of these stories on the radio, so I feel confident in speaking about them. Some are magnificent, some aren't. Bert Coules and other writers did a good job in many respects. They were bold enough to confront some of the utter nonsense in the Holmes tales and bring it to the fore. For instance, Holmes just eludes attempts by Moriarty's minons in "The Final Problem" and Watson incredulously says, "Forgive me, but this man is a criminal genius and he arranges for someone to throw a brick at you?" There are worse bits of nonsense in the stories that have troubled me for thirty years. That the writers are courageous enough to highlight this material rather than sweep under the rug is a good thing, and I enjoyed it.

Even more intriguingly, they've tended to make the whole into one long story. Holmes and Watson have almost Proustian moments of memory, where they recall (to us, too) things that happened many episodes before. By the end of the series (aside from a couple of exceptions) in "His Last Bow" and "The Casebook", the listener realizes they are telling the stories as if they occurred in chronological order, despite where the author said they should fall. It's a phenominal, epic achievement and it deserved a first-class Holmes and Watson. They got a Watson of the first water. I'll speak of Holmes later. First, the down side of the writing.

The problem with the writing comes when Conan Doyle's stories -- as they frequently are -- are paper thin. Frankly, some of the original stories aren't worth much, and it's not a matter of pride to brag about having dramatized them all if some of them are stinkers. In some cases, the writers make up as new material they borrow from the stories.

The presentation is odd, too. The Sherlock Holmes stories start with Holmes and Watson receiving and interviewing clients. In the series, many of these stories cross-cuts, sometimes with little more than a minute or two of dialogue. Holmes and Watson are learning about the case, then there is an abrupt cut to some place else (usually the past) and two stories are constructed simultaneously. A listener who knows the stories well should have no confusion. Newcomers may be bewildered. And much of the non-Holmes material is "made up" by the writers and shows their preferences.

Then, too, sometimes when I fully expected a show to end on an up note, they decided to write some nastier turn that left one feeling deflated. Occasionally they took the liberty of jabs at this or that where they might have been better advised to button up on polemics. Since my politics probably differ from those of most show-biz writers, I dismay at the use of revered literary figures being the mouthpieces for these writers' cheap shots.

Then there is the problem of Clive Merrison. Physically, he might get away with playing Holmes on tv. He certainly looks closer to the Strand illustrations than Edward Woodward or Michael Caine, both of whom have tried on the deerstalker.

The reason I started this review babbling of Watsons is because I've always cared more for him. I prefer dramatizations of clever Watsons. I'm devoted to dramatizations with David Burke, Edward Hardwicke, Andre Morell, Ralph Richardson and Ben Kingsley. Of lesser Watsons, I particularly enjoyed Colin Blakely's and James Mason's. And I never took offense at Nigel Bruce or Norman Shelley or Bernard Fox, whose Watsons made you feel that Holmes had personal care of senility patients.

My favorite Holmeses were the ones with clipped, precise speech: Carleton Hobbes, Jeremy Brett, Basil Rathbone and John Gielgud.

Clive Merrison took some getting used to, and I frankly never got used to him. His Holmes is very whiney, even more than Robert Stephens'. Admittedly, Conan Doyle's Holmes was anti-social, often unhappy and self-pitying. He took drugs. He was rude and peremtory. Therefore, Merrison's unique vocal take on Holmes may actually be closer to the truth (if there was a truth). Perhaps I find him annoying for the same reason I found the literary Holmes annoying. If that is so, then he's done an exquisite job of capturing the Holmes of the stories. I never find his laughter realistic -- but I was always a little shocked when Holmes laughed in the stories.

There's no point in complaining about him. This is what we have and it's part of the greater Sherlock Holmes universe. And because of the overall epic effect this series has, because the writers plug gaps and offer insights they've gleaned from one hundred years of Holmes researchers, it will prove a legendary. Michael Williams may deserve to go down as (perhaps) the best Watson ever. Merrison isn't a bad actor, but to me he doesn't "sound like" Holmes. There's a lot of good here; but in Sherlock Holmes series one ought to be able to appreciate the Holmes. Despite my love for Michael Williams, I wish the BBC would release a Carleton Hobbes set as an alternative.

A must read, 19 Apr 2006
What can I write about this book that hasn't been said or written yet? Everybody knows everything about its plot and its characters, so I'll better write about what this book means to me.

I started reading when I was four. When I was a child, my family spent the summer in the country, and in few years I had read all the children's books that we had there. So,when I was seven I decided to explore my father's library: since I wasn't allowed to climb on a ladder (nor did I dare to), I took the first book I reached. Yes, it was The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. I won't pretend I understood everything I read there, but enough to make me want to read more. With the years I learned to love both Sherlock Holmes and its adventures. And I haven't stopped doing so.

Some may say SH is outdated, victorian, unreal and even a bore (oh, blasphemous rumours!). To me, it opened the doors of the "adult" literature and I will always be grateful for it. And besides, everytime I read a SH story, I enjoy it like the first time. How many books can claim to do so?

Mind puzzles and corruption in Victorian London, 05 Feb 2003
Sherlock Holmes stories often read like fiendishly difficult literary MENSA conundrums. Often it is almost impossible for the reader to guess how Holmes will solve his crime riddles and almost always the reader will kick himself/herself when the solution is revealed.
Perhaps the most annoying thing about Conan Doyle's writing is that he often does not reveal to the reader (or to Dr Watson who we see most of the action from) all the clues that Holmes uses to make his conclusions- and some are so utterly preposterous to be believed i.e. Holmes deducing a man is a labourer because the muscles in his right hand are more developed than in his left. This is very different from more modern crime authors such as Agatha Christie who tend to challenge the reader as much as the detective. Perhaps, then, reading Sherlock Holmes must demand some suspension of belief but this doesn't detract from the satisfaction of Holmes solving yet another seemingly impossible crime.
Good fun and also, at times, intellectually stretching. Conan Doyle exercises the reader's facilities to question events in real life whilst simultaneously creating one of the most enjoyable genres and popular characters in English fiction.

A Singular Book, 18 Dec 2000
A hugely entertaining and totally absorbing book which covers a further twelve of Sherlock Holmes' investigations originally published in The Strand magazine. Holmes adventures are to me fascinating, revealing as they do the dark underbelly of late Victorian society and many of them would create lurid headlines were they to actually occur today; even Holmes himself is not free from scandal when he is revealed by Watson to be a cocaine addict in, 'A Scandal in Bohemia'.

From his battle of the sexes with the resourceful adventuress Miss Irene Adler in, 'A Scandal in Bohemia', to his foiling of the criminal intentions of the "fourth smartest man in London" in the truly bizarre and at times comical, 'The Red-Headed League', Holmes is called upon to use his extraordinary powers of deduction and his ability to observe when others merely see, in a battle of wits against as varied and as determined a bunch of criminals as ever stepped outside the law. The cases themselves are sometimes dangerous (The Speckled Band), sometimes cruel (A Case of Identity) but as often as not downright baffling - to you and me !

The famous quotes are all in there as well, such as the one beloved of Agent Mulder from The X Files in 'The Beryl Coronet' when Holmes reveals "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." or his expanation in 'The Red Headed League'that "..the more bizarre a thing is the less mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless crimes which are really puzzling.." Or how about his musing to Watson at the start of 'A Case of Identity', "life is infinitely stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent."

If you want to be diverted from the cares and worries of life, if you want to lose track of time, if you want to face the challenge of trying to help solve the unsolvable and be immersed into a book which, just a little, shows the flip-side of Victorian values, then 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' will suffice, read and enjoy.

A Singular Book, 15 Dec 2000
A hugely entertaining and totally absorbing book which covers a further twelve of Sherlock Holmes' investigations originally published in The Strand magazine.

Holmes adventures are to me fascinating, revealing as they do the dark underbelly of Victorian society and many of them would create lurid headlines were they to actually occur today, even Holmes himself is not free from scandal when he is revealed by Watson to be of all things, a cocaine addict in A Scandal in Bohemia.

From his battle of the sexes with the resourceful adventuress Miss Irene Adler in, A Scandal in Bohemia, to his foiling of the criminal intentions of the "fourth smartest man in London" in the truly bizarre and at times comical, The Red-Headed League, Holmes is called upon to use his extraordinary powers of deduction and his ability to observe when others merely see, in a battle of wits against as varied and as determined a bunch of criminals as ever stepped outside the law.

The cases themselves are sometimes dangerous (The Speckled Band), sometimes cruel (A Case of Identity) but as often as not downright baffling - to you and me !

The famous quotes are all in there as well, such as the one belo