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An Intimate Study of Sherlock Holmes
An interesting insight into Conan Doyle's thinking and his reactions to the fame that Sherlock Holmes gained. "An Intimate Study of Sherlock Holmes" was written by Conan Doyle for the January 15, 1918 issue of Detective Story Magazine.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) was a Scottish physician and writer who is most noted for his fictional stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, which are generally considered milestones in the field of crime fiction. He is also known for writing the fictional adventures of a second character he invented, Professor Challenger. He was a prolific writer whose other works include fantasy and science fiction stories, plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction, and historical novels.
The size of the eBook is about 25 pages.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) was a Scottish physician and writer who is most noted for his fictional stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, which are generally considered milestones in the field of crime fiction. He is also known for writing the fictional adventures of a second character he invented, Professor Challenger. He was a prolific writer whose other works include fantasy and science fiction stories, plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction, and historical novels.
The size of the eBook is about 25 pages.
43 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 14, 2011
About the author
Arthur Conan Doyle
17.5k books25.1k followersSir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle was a Scottish writer and physician. He created the character Sherlock Holmes in 1887 for A Study in Scarlet, the first of four novels and fifty-six short stories about Holmes and Dr. Watson. The Sherlock Holmes stories are milestones in the field of crime fiction.
Doyle was a prolific writer. In addition to the Holmes stories, his works include fantasy and science fiction stories about Professor Challenger, and humorous stories about the Napoleonic soldier Brigadier Gerard, as well as plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction, and historical novels. One of Doyle's early short stories, "J. Habakuk Jephson's Statement" (1884), helped to popularise the mystery of the brigantine Mary Celeste, found drifting at sea with no crew member aboard.
Doyle was a prolific writer. In addition to the Holmes stories, his works include fantasy and science fiction stories about Professor Challenger, and humorous stories about the Napoleonic soldier Brigadier Gerard, as well as plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction, and historical novels. One of Doyle's early short stories, "J. Habakuk Jephson's Statement" (1884), helped to popularise the mystery of the brigantine Mary Celeste, found drifting at sea with no crew member aboard.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 16, 2023
Sherlock Holmes is the stuff of legends. He has occupied generations of readers who find his exploits more than believable. To some he was a living, breathing human being to whom they can turn in times of need. A missing loved one. Theft of money or jewels. Murder most foul.
In "An Intimate Study of Sherlock Holmes," Conan Doyle regales us with stories of people thinking that he is himself the great detective and addressing him as such. He also shares letters he received addressed to Sherlock Holmes as well as letters addressed to Doyle with the request that they be forwarded to Holmes. It reads like a social media feed today. It was written for the January 15, 1918 issue of Detective Story Magazine.
As Oscar Wilde once quipped “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” a veritable cottage industry has arisen with new stories of Sherlock Holmes written all the time. Let us not forget that it was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle who formulated the plot that can take on any crime.
As a long-time afficionado of the Holmes stories, "An Intimate Study of Sherlock Holmes" is a charming read.
In "An Intimate Study of Sherlock Holmes," Conan Doyle regales us with stories of people thinking that he is himself the great detective and addressing him as such. He also shares letters he received addressed to Sherlock Holmes as well as letters addressed to Doyle with the request that they be forwarded to Holmes. It reads like a social media feed today. It was written for the January 15, 1918 issue of Detective Story Magazine.
As Oscar Wilde once quipped “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” a veritable cottage industry has arisen with new stories of Sherlock Holmes written all the time. Let us not forget that it was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle who formulated the plot that can take on any crime.
As a long-time afficionado of the Holmes stories, "An Intimate Study of Sherlock Holmes" is a charming read.
September 29, 2022
The title is very misleading in two ways: It's not very intimate, and has very little to do with Sherlock Holmes. I thought that this would a nice little primer into an iconic fictional character and his thought methods by his creator but I learned nothing at the end of this very quick read. I've been trying for years to find an appreciation for the character but I haven't been able to get past the first novel yet,especially when the story stops abruptly and veers off into the one set in America. I've tried at least three times but made little progress to get through this section. I was hoping this "study" might rekindle my interest, but it was just a waste of ten minutes.
April 26, 2026
An interesting read.
For a book that's offered as a free download, I found that this book was a pleasant surprise to read. It is what I would classify as a short essay on both the authors personal findings and opinions, and those written in letter form to the author, and in one case to Sherlock Holmes himself! Opinions are also expressed by fellow authors. If you like or have read the novels, you will want to top it all off with this book.
For a book that's offered as a free download, I found that this book was a pleasant surprise to read. It is what I would classify as a short essay on both the authors personal findings and opinions, and those written in letter form to the author, and in one case to Sherlock Holmes himself! Opinions are also expressed by fellow authors. If you like or have read the novels, you will want to top it all off with this book.
June 27, 2018
Not so great of a read!
I love reading Sherlock Holmes mysteries but this book did not make sense at all! AlthoughI recommend reading the Sherlock Holmes Mysteries!
I love reading Sherlock Holmes mysteries but this book did not make sense at all! AlthoughI recommend reading the Sherlock Holmes Mysteries!
December 7, 2021
A very short book, little more than an essay, but interesting
Sherlock Holmes is one of the most well-known literary characters in the world. Despite most of the original Holmes stories being written over 100 years ago, the character, and the mysteries he solves, have an enduring appeal. The Holmes stories were also hugely popular at the time, and this reflected on the author Arthur Conan Doyle, who became quite a celebrity. This short book is a re-publishing of a magazine interview with Conan Doyle in 1918.
The interview meandres around Doyle’s life, his writing, and the thinking behind some of the Holmes stories. It’s certainly interesting, and gives a window into the creation of the Great Detective, but it is necessarily short, and feels more like something which would be added at the end of a volume of “collected works” rather than a book in its own right.
If you are a Holmes fan, and you have not already read this, I recommend it for completeness. If you have only a passing interest in Sherlockiana then you may not get so much from it.
Sherlock Holmes is one of the most well-known literary characters in the world. Despite most of the original Holmes stories being written over 100 years ago, the character, and the mysteries he solves, have an enduring appeal. The Holmes stories were also hugely popular at the time, and this reflected on the author Arthur Conan Doyle, who became quite a celebrity. This short book is a re-publishing of a magazine interview with Conan Doyle in 1918.
The interview meandres around Doyle’s life, his writing, and the thinking behind some of the Holmes stories. It’s certainly interesting, and gives a window into the creation of the Great Detective, but it is necessarily short, and feels more like something which would be added at the end of a volume of “collected works” rather than a book in its own right.
If you are a Holmes fan, and you have not already read this, I recommend it for completeness. If you have only a passing interest in Sherlockiana then you may not get so much from it.
October 11, 2013
Why this isn't included in more anthologies of Sherlock Holmes I don't know.
December 17, 2016
loved it
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews