Sherlock Holmes

by Nicholas Utechin

Amazing & Extraordinary Sherlock Holmes brings to life the most celebrated fictional character in history, through all of Arthur Conan Doyle's 60 stories, to his transition onto stage, radio, television and the brig screen that continues today, along with the actors who have played him. Every aspect of the pipe-smoking, deer stalkered character is explored, including his relationships with Dr Watson, his long-suffering landlady Mrs Hudson, Scotland Yard detectives, and his nemesis Professor Moriarty, as well as Holmes' literary and musical tastes, bad habits, and his preferred disguises. There is a full short story breakdown of all the tales from A Study in Scarlet and the early plots to The Case-book of Sherlock Holmes . Nick Utechin, Honorary member of the The Sherlock Holmes Society of London, and distant relation to the great film portrayer of Holmes, Basil Rathbone, presents the most interesting facts that all Holmes fans should know. The numbers and complications in relation to Baker Street, the first great Holmes illustrator, Sidney Paget, the killing of Sherlock Holmes at Reichenbach Falls and the repercussions of his early demise are all explored. Discover who influenced Conan Doyle, inspiring the creation of Holmes, how much money Conan Doyle earned from each Sherlock story, why William Gillette was pivotal in bringing Holmes to the stage, and learn about Holmes in the 21st century with the more recent portrayals on TV by Benedict Cumberbatch and on the big screen by Robert Downie Jr. Whether you enjoy the stories of Arthur Conan Doyle or the television shows and films that they have inspired, this latest title in the Amazing & Extraordinary Facts series celebrates the timeless detective who will continue to be a firm part of popular culture for generations to come.

Genres: Nonfiction, British Literature

143 pages, Hardcover

First published August 31, 2012

Reviews

[TheRavenking · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicholas Utechin is a Sherlock Holmes expert who together with Austin Mitchelson wrote the two fun Holmes pastiches The Earthquake Machine and Hellbirds.

Here he has collected some essential and curious facts about the world’s greatest (fictional) detective.

This little book might look lightweight at first sight, but it is filled with fascinating information. Even if you believe you already know everything about Sherlock Holmes you might be surprised. An ideal gift for newcomers and experts alike.

Here is one of the things I learned:

"What’s it called?

Not deduction. Throughout all the Sherlock Holmes stories he wrote, Conan Doyle got the word wrong: what Holmes did was in fact induction. Deductive reasoning works from the more general down to the more specific; inductive reasoning is the reverse. Thus in one story Holmes tells Watson that since he knows how he normally ties the laces on his boots, the fact that they have been “fastened with an elaborate double bow” means that he must have attended a Turkish bath. From the specific – the double bow – to the general – the Turkish bath: this is induction."

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

An okay introduction to everything Holmesian, I suppose, but this one didn't really tell me anything new or ground-breaking. The author spends way too much time talking about the various actors who have played Holmes, and his personal opinions about each story are just so very unnecessary. If this is meant as an introductory sort of book, telling your personal opinions about the short stories doesn't really seem necessary at all? I also disagreed with his opinions quite a lot, so there's that as well 😅

So yeah. Some nice and interesting tidbits, but that's it. Maybe I'm too much of a Holmesian for a book like this.

[S.C. Skillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compendium of quirky information highlighting the impact Sherlock Holmes has made on the public imagination since Sir Arthur Conan Doyle published his first story for Beeton's Christmas Annual in 1887. The story is taken right up to the appearance of the current BBC series Sherlock starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. An astonishing sequence of events demonstrating a cycle of rebirth which Conan Doyle could never have imagined or believed possible for his hero - and, as Utechin points out in his book - certainly would not have embraced.

This little book is a delight to read, and a very effective resource for lovers and students of Sherlock Holmes either to dip into, or to read through from cover to cover as I did.

[Martha Netoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun facts and trivia about Holmes

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is not much to say about this little book of facts about my all time favorite detective. It is always a delight to learn about one of your favorite writers and his greatest creation.
Grab a pen and paper when reading this because a lot of extra research will be needed if you want to go in depth regarding the birth of Sherlock Holmes and the impact he had on Doyle's life. The books covers Doyle's life, the creation of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson from a manuscript to today's BBC Sherlock staring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman.
It does not matter if you think you know everything about Sherlock. There will always be more.

[Rachelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extreme Book Nerd Challenge 2021 - Category #28.
Challenge Topic: A nonfiction book.

I found this book when I was looking for something for the winter reading challenge. I love Sherlock Holmes and have several "collected works" books. This book was an interesting breakdown of the Author's life and his work on Sherlock Holmes, from the initial short stories to the plays then to film and TV. Sherlock Holmes has been popular since the late 1890's and is still just as popular. That is over 100 years... and I hope it stays that way.

If you like Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes... I recommend this book.

[Daisy H · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty interesting to start with but then became rather repetitive...

[Ollie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5