Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Novels and Stories
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
I love Sherlock Holmes. Anyone who has known me for a while should know that. Spread across nine books in two volumes, this is the definitive collection of stories about the great detective and his pal Watson. The best thing about this collection is the way that Watson and Holmes are not just literary characters. Instead, they are two friends whose personalities complement each other perfectly as they race through England serving the cause of justice and, usually, the official police.
There are only a few shortcomings that I sense, and most of these are easily forgivable. For one thing, all but four of the adventures are narrated by the trusty Watson. This is by far the best format available. We get eyewitness accounts of the actual events, as Watson was often in the thick of the action, and his perpetual sense of wonder at his friend's great powers of deduction flows over to the reader, who is continually astonished at the feats of Mr. Holmes. The stories narrated by Holmes himself are relayed in his detached and often condescending manner, and work because it is in character but which still lack the sense of wonder we find with Watson. The stories narrated in third-person are simply not up to par.
The other great weaknesses are slight inconsistencies (in fact, two stories open up with the exact same incident, almost verbatim until the crime comes in) and a predictable plot flow. However, the basic structure of the stories cannot be faulted. Watson offers an introduction, Holmes or a visitor details a crime, the two go investigate, and there is a big reveal at the end, where all is explained. The stories themselves continue to amaze, and I am personally astonished that Sir Doyle could come up with so many distinct plot lines, so many distinct cases that glorify the mind of the great detective.
I have long been a Holmes fan, and my admiration for the singular abilities of this turn-of-the-century Londoner has only grown after consuming this massive tome of a biography. I feel like Holmes and Watson have yet to be discovered in the great annals of European history, like they embody the era just before World War I and the rise of modern criminology, as well as science. I only wish there was a third volume to consume, and I plan to return to 221B. Baker Street often.
Grade: A
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
I love Sherlock Holmes. Anyone who has known me for a while should know that. Spread across nine books in two volumes, this is the definitive collection of stories about the great detective and his pal Watson. The best thing about this collection is the way that Watson and Holmes are not just literary characters. Instead, they are two friends whose personalities complement each other perfectly as they race through England serving the cause of justice and, usually, the official police.
There are only a few shortcomings that I sense, and most of these are easily forgivable. For one thing, all but four of the adventures are narrated by the trusty Watson. This is by far the best format available. We get eyewitness accounts of the actual events, as Watson was often in the thick of the action, and his perpetual sense of wonder at his friend's great powers of deduction flows over to the reader, who is continually astonished at the feats of Mr. Holmes. The stories narrated by Holmes himself are relayed in his detached and often condescending manner, and work because it is in character but which still lack the sense of wonder we find with Watson. The stories narrated in third-person are simply not up to par.
The other great weaknesses are slight inconsistencies (in fact, two stories open up with the exact same incident, almost verbatim until the crime comes in) and a predictable plot flow. However, the basic structure of the stories cannot be faulted. Watson offers an introduction, Holmes or a visitor details a crime, the two go investigate, and there is a big reveal at the end, where all is explained. The stories themselves continue to amaze, and I am personally astonished that Sir Doyle could come up with so many distinct plot lines, so many distinct cases that glorify the mind of the great detective.
I have long been a Holmes fan, and my admiration for the singular abilities of this turn-of-the-century Londoner has only grown after consuming this massive tome of a biography. I feel like Holmes and Watson have yet to be discovered in the great annals of European history, like they embody the era just before World War I and the rise of modern criminology, as well as science. I only wish there was a third volume to consume, and I plan to return to 221B. Baker Street often.
Grade: A
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