A Brief History of Sherlock Holmes
Nigel Cawthorne

Robinson (Constable and Robinson)
1 November 2011 / ISBN: 9781780330129
Non Fiction/Literary History
Amazon US - UK

Reviewed by Rachel A Hyde

The game's afoot! Conan Doyle might not have thought much of him, but since his debut in A Study in Scarlet back in 1887 Sherlock Holmes has never been less than popular. Endless reprints, pastiches, films, TV series and currently BBC's acclaimed modern version Sherlock show that this interest is not waning. Here is a Brief History guide to the phenomenon.

I like these guides, as they always seem to have something in them for everybody. From the total beginner who wants to find out as much as possible, as quickly as they can, to the expert wishing for an obscure fact or two. Within these covers you can discover a potted history of Conan Doyle's life, short descriptions of all the novels and stories in chronological order and all about Conan Doyle's writing career. There are in-depth descriptions of Holmes and Watson, and thumbnail sketches of helpmeets and villains. Mentions are made of Conan Doyle's other works, as well as all the influences on them that made them what they were. I would have liked a section on the characters in TV and film, but then this would have made it anything but a "brief" history! As it is, there is a lot in here and not a wasted word.