The Sherlock Holmes Companion: An Elementary Guide

Despite being more than 120 years old, Sherlock Holmes remains unchallenged as the world’s preeminent fictional detective, with fans new and old continually delving into his files of baffling mysteries. This expansive volume gathers together an astounding range of Holmesian information that can be read cover to cover or dipped into at random. There are synopses of the four novels and 56 stories; profiles of such beloved characters as Mrs. Hudson (the great detective’s long-suffering landlady) and Lestrade (the perennially baffled Scotland Yard detective); essays discussing themes such as Holmes’s attitude to women and his use of contemporary forensic science; and highlights of the various renditions of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories on screen, including interviews with actors who have played the roles of Holmes and Watson. These articles are accompanied by such visual aids as the classic work of Sidney Paget—who illustrated the original stories in the Strand Magazine—stills from film and television adaptations, cover artwork for the various editions published over the years, and contemporary photographs of the settings of various stories. Filled with facts and little-known trivia, this is a captivating account of literature’s most famous detective.

Daniel Smith is a former book editor.