Are Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes Stories typical of detective fiction?

Are Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes

Stories typical of detective fiction?

Arthur Conan Doyle was born in 1859, in the city of Edinburgh Scotland.

He was born into a poor family and was one of his parents ten children. After school Doyle stayed in Edinburgh to study medicine. Here is where many say Doyle’s stories began. While studying medicine, Doyle worked under Dr Joseph Bell. Doyle became fascinated by Bells ability to make deductions about the history of his patients, based on the powers of observation. Bell became the eventual model for Sherlock Holmes.

Doyle’s first Holmes story ‘A study in scarlet’ was published in 1887. This story was a big success with the upper/middle class, whom the books were aimed at. Following the success of his first short story Doyle continued to write more of Holmes adventures.

Doyle however became worried that he would only recognised for his Holmes novels, when he would rather be recognised in the fields of ‘real literature.’

In December 1893 Holmes, met his death at the hands of Professor Moriarty, his ‘arch enemy’ this was not to be the end of Holmes as there was huge public pressure on Doyle to write more stories. Doyle finally gave in and wrote his final Sherlock Holmes novel ‘The adventure of Shoscombe Old place’ which was published in 1917.

Holmes books were a classic example of detective fiction. In 1929 a writer called Monsignor Ronald Knox wrote ten rules, which he suggested a writer of detective fiction should follow. These rules were largely associated with the Sherlock Holmes novels, as all of his books followed the rules. An even greater example of this is rule nine where it states.

‘If a Watson is introduced…’

Watson being Holmes loyal friend and right hand man, thus meaning that these novels were a good example of detective fiction.

Other rules included.

‘No more than one secret room or passage must be used.’

Which Doyle uses to great effect in the Speckled Band and The Red Headed league. Another rule states…

‘No new poisons are to be used…’

One may argue that the snake used to kill one of the sisters in the speckled band could be classed a new poison as the coroner didn’t know anything ...

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‘If a Watson is introduced…’

Watson being Holmes loyal friend and right hand man, thus meaning that these novels were a good example of detective fiction.

Other rules included.

‘No more than one secret room or passage must be used.’

Which Doyle uses to great effect in the Speckled Band and The Red Headed league. Another rule states…

‘No new poisons are to be used…’

One may argue that the snake used to kill one of the sisters in the speckled band could be classed a new poison as the coroner didn’t know anything about the poison he in fact states that no poison was used.

Sherlock Holmes stories never start with Sherlock Holmes himself they nearly always start with his friend Dr James Watson, as they are written in a third person narrative. The novels always end with Holmes marvelling us by solving the crime identifying the criminal/criminals methods, which the reader and Watson have not clued on to. There are no foreigners of sinister or malignant aspect. Holmes never conceals clues or the reasons for his deductions from the reader. Holmes has never committed the crime himself, although one may feel that Holmes thinks himself above the law, a good example of this takes place in the speckled band where Dr Grimsby dies because of Holmes actions. Holmes has never solved a crime by pure luck. Holmes may have amazing powers of deduction, but he is a human being just like the rest of us therefore, his crimes are solved by logical means, not by supernatural powers.

These are all the rules made by Monsignor Ronald Knox who set out these ten rules which many believe are based around the Sherlock Holmes novels.

Holmes novels are all based around the London area mainly within the inner city, and the surrounding countryside, Holmes never ask for payment in anyway as he does it as a hobby more than a profession all he asks for is the fees for transport and accommodation. Holmes may look like a middle aged man with very little strength in him, yet he proves this wrong in the speckled man by bending a poker back into shape after Dr Grimsby Roylott a very large man bends in a twist of anger. Many feel that Holmes has no flaws at all. Yet Holmes shocks the reader with having an addiction to opium. This flaw actually comes in handy when a potential suspect he is following has been regularly visiting an opium den. Holmes can use his addiction to opium as an excuse to pursue his suspect. It is in fact Watson who finds Holmes there as the story starts with a twist, as Watson is in fact looking for another friend who was last seen in the opium den.

The characters in Sherlock Holmes novels are based mainly around Holmes himself.

Watson is Holmes friends and loyal right hand man in many of his adventures. Watson is the friendly one of the duo; he is always left, like the readers, pondering Holmes assumptions. Watson is like a trusty hound and will follow Holmes into the greatest of perils. Which in turn enforces his friendship with Holmes.

When Watson is not with Holmes he is at home with his wife. Being a doctor many people will come to Watson’s home to seek advice/help, this indeed is how ‘the man with a twisted lip’ begins with a wife turning up at Watson’s front door at 11o’clock at night looking for her husband who has been missing for several days, which subsequently leads Watson to Holmes in a scruffy opium den.

Holmes himself is a mysterious character he speaks his mind to every person he comes in to contact with, regardless of his or her public status, Holmes himself thinks him self-superior to the law and will break it if necessary to crack a case. When he does this he gives very little thought to what consequences he may have brought upon himself. Holmes will sit up in his chair for hours on end smoking his pipe, trying to work out clues and connections to the case he may be investigating. Holmes addiction to opium comes across in almost all of the books I have studied. Holmes is in a way like Samson who appears invincible, but unlike Samson Holmes is flaw is not in his hair but in his addiction to opium. This indeed, Sherlock Holmes major weakness.

The Sherlock Holmes novels nearly always start with Watson in the third narrative going to meet Holmes while passing by.

To study what it is about Doyle’s Holmes stories that make them a best seller I compared them with another detective fiction novel, written by an equally famous author, Agatha Christie. Unlike Holmes novels where Watson is the narrator Christies novels are written in the first person narrative, they have a twist at ever turn. Christie’s novels are a lot longer than Doyle’s, as Doyle’s are only short stories. I feel that although Christie’s novel was exceptionally good; I felt that the Holmes novels were far superior. Christie’s novel didn’t have the flow and tension as the Holmes novels. They lacked the enthusiasm Holmes has for his cases especially the 'chase near the end of the novel. Christie books also had a love story running along side the crime/mystery plot, which I felt spoilt actual mystery. It was also not a surprise to find that the person I had suspected to commit the crime after a few pages was in fact the culprit. Where as with Doyle’s novels you are left perplexed as to how Holmes uncovers the culprit and has to explain who he does it to the reader, and Watson. The Christie novel also had far to many characters involved, many of which were obvious red herrings. At some points in the novel I didn’t know who was talking to who and had to read back a few pages to try and make it out. Yet with the Holmes novels they flow nicely and are easy to read. Christie’s novels like Doyle’s follow Monsignor Ronald Knox ten rules i.e., no sinister or nasty foreigners are involved in the crime/mystery, although I have only read one of her crime novels. I feel her novels lack the enthusiasm that Doyle puts into his novels. Holmes has a far more superior attitude to him, than the lead character in Christie’s novel. He is given respect from everyone who knows him, apart from his archenemy. Whereas, Christies main character is pushed around by his father and his not the top of his ‘league’ unlike Holmes. Overall I feel although Christie’s novel was good the Holmes novels were far superior

Out of the several Holmes novels I have read Holmes has always been acquainted with clients. The client will tell of his or her ordeal and then they will leave, Holmes and Watson will have a conversation before they go of to solve the mystery/crime that the client is apparently mystified by.

Centuries after being written these books are still widely read and are popular with all ages. The books have a satisfying end and can be read over and over again and still they satisfy. Not only do they give the reader an insight into the life of Sherlock Holmes but it also gives us an idea of what Victorian England was like.