| The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes | |
|---|---|
 Dust-jacket illustration of the first edition of The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes |
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| Author | Arthur Conan Doyle |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | Sherlock Holmes |
| Genre(s) | Detective fiction short stories |
| Publisher | John Murray |
| Publication date | 1927 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback) |
| Pages | 320 pp |
| ISBN | NA |
| Preceded by | The Valley of Fear |
The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes is the final collection of Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle. Originally published in 1927, it contains stories published between 1921 and 1927.
Contents |
The first British edition and the first American edition of the collection were both published in June 1927. However, they had slightly different titles. The title of the British collection was The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes (hyphenated "Case-Book"), whereas the title of the American collection was The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes ("Case Book" as two words).
Further confusing the issue of the title, some later publishers would publish the collection under the title The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes ("Casebook" as a single word).
The original chronological order in which the twelve stories in The Case-Book were published is as follows:
However, many newer editions of the The Case-Book favour the following ordering:
Because of the two orderings, "The Adventure of the Retired Colourman" has often been incorrectly identified as the last Sherlock Holmes story written by Arthur Conan Doyle to be published, when the last such story to be published is in fact "The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place".
The Case-Book is notable for containing three stories not narrated by Dr. Watson, as most Sherlock Holmes stories are. "The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone" is narrated in the third person, since it was adapted from a stage play in which Watson hardly appeared. "The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier" and "The Adventure of the Lion's Mane" are both narrated by Holmes himself, the latter being set after his retirement.
Most Holmesian aficionados and scholars consider the stories contained in The Case-Book to be among the least impressive in the Holmes canon. They were written at a time when Doyle was heavily immersed in his newfound passion for Spiritualism and séances, and considerably less than interested in continuing to produce Sherlock Holmes stories, which he regarded by now as a distracting nuisance. By the time The Case-Book was published, 40 years had passed since publication of the first Holmes adventure, and the author's heart was no longer in his work, although sales remained very strong.
Although some of the stories are comparable with Doyle's earlier work, this collection is generally considered a lesser entry in the Sherlock Holmes canon. David Stuart Davies has commented that "The Adventure of the Creeping Man" "veers towards risible science fiction"; in the 1974 novel The Seven-Per-Cent Solution, author Nicholas Meyer's Watson claims that this entry, as well as three others from the Case-Book ("The Mazarin Stone", "The Three Gables" and "The Lion's Mane"), are forged "drivel".
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| The
Casebook of Sherlock Holmes by |
| The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes is the
final collection of Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle.
Originally published in 1927, it contains stories published between
1921 and 1927.— Excerpted from The Case-Book of
Sherlock Holmes on Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia.
Note: The word "Casebook' in the title variously appears as "Case-book" or "Case-Book". |
I fear that Mr. Sherlock Holmes may become like one of those popular tenors who, having outlived their time, are still tempted to make repeated farewell bows to their indulgent audiences. This must cease and he must go the way of all flesh, material or imaginary. One likes to think that there is some fantastic limbo for the children of imagination, some strange, impossible place where the beaux of Fielding may still make love to the belles of Richardson, where Scott's heroes still may strut, Dickens's delightful Cockneys still raise a laugh, and Thackeray's worldlings continue to carry on their reprehensible careers. Perhaps in some humble corner of such a Valhalla, Sherlock and his Watson may for a time find a place, while some more astute sleuth with some even less astute comrade may fill the stage which they have vacated.
His career has been a long one—though it is possible to exaggerate it; decrepit gentlemen who approach me and declare that his adventures formed the reading of their boyhood do not meet the response from me which they seem to expect. One is not anxious to have one's personal dates handled so unkindly. As a matter of cold fact, Holmes made his debut in A Study in Scarlet and in The Sign of Four, two small booklets which appeared between 1887 and 1889. It was in 1891 that "A Scandal in Bohemia," the first of the long series of short stories, appeared in The Strand Magazine. The public seemed appreciative and desirous of more, so that from that date, thirty-nine years ago, they have been produced in a broken series which now contains no fewer than fifty-six stories, republished in The Adventures, The Memoirs, The Return, and His Last Bow. and there remain these twelve published during the last few years which are here produced under the title of The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes. He began his adventures in the very heart of the later Victorian era, carried it through the all-too-short reign of Edward, and has managed to hold his own little niche even in these feverish days. Thus it would be true to say that those who first read of him, as young men, have lived to see their own grown-up children following the same adventures in the same magazine. It is a striking example of the patience and loyalty of the British public.
I had fully determined at the conclusion of The Memoirs to bring Holmes to an end, as I felt that my literary energies should not be directed too much into one channel. That pale, clear-cut face and loose-limbed figure were taking up an undue share of my imagination. I did the deed, but fortunately no coroner had pronounced upon the remains, and so, after a long interval, it was not difficult for me to respond to the flattering demand and to explain my rash act away. I have never regretted it, for I have not in actual practice found that these lighter sketches have prevented me from exploring and finding my limitations in such varied branches of literature as history, poetry, historical novels, psychic research, and the drama. Had Holmes never existed I could not have done more, though he may perhaps have stood a little in the way of the recognition of my more serious literary work.
And so, reader, farewell to Sherlock Holmes! I thank you for your past constancy, and can but hope that some return has been made in the shape of that distraction from the worries of life and stimulating change of thought which can only be found in the fairy kingdom of romance.
ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE.
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This work is in the public domain in
countries where the copyright term is the author's life plus 75
years or less.
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