A Study in Scarlet

Bert Coules' Sherlock Holmes (BBC Radio, 1989-1998) #1

by Bert Coules (Adapter), Arthur Conan Doyle, Clive Merrison (Narrator)

Dr. Watson has been discharged from military service after suffering severe wounds and is having no luck finding accommodation until a chance encounter leads him to a remarkable young man and 221B Baker Street.

The arrogant, irascible Sherlock Holmes is a master chemist, a talented musician and an expert on all aspects of crime, but despite his efforts, Watson is in the dark about his room-mate’s profession. Finally, Holmes reveals that he is a consulting detective and soon Watson is drawn into the investigation of a bizarre murder in which Holmes is involved, unaware that it is the beginning of the most famous partnership in the history of criminal detection.

An unmarked corpse, a wedding ring and a mysterious message scrawled in blood are the intrepid pair’s only clues as they follow the trail of a man driven to fulfil a terrible oath he swore more than twenty years before.

This dramatisation by Bert Coules with Clive Merrison as Holmes and Michael Williams as Watson was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 from 3 to 10 November 1989.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Classics, Historical, Crime

2 pages, Audio Cassette

First published June 1, 1998

About the author

Bert Coules is an English writer, and dramatist, who has produced a number of adaptations and original works. He works mainly in radio drama but also writes for TV and the stage.

Coules specializes in mystery and science fiction audio and radio drama, and has written a number of adaptations, most notably as the head writer of the Sherlock Holmes radio series (1989–1998) starring Clive Merrison as Holmes and Michael Williams as Watson (the first time the entire canon had been adapted with the same two lead actors throughout). He also wrote original Sherlock Holmes scripts for the following BBC radio series The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, each based on a reference from the original stories. These were first broadcast between 2002 and 2010, and starred Merrison and Andrew Sachs as Watson, following Michael Williams' death in 2001.

He has also written adaptations of several of Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael novels, and of works by Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Isaac Asimov and other best-selling genre authors.

[with thanks to Wikipedia]

Reviews

[Hayat · Rating 4 out of 5]

'There's a scarlet thread of murder running through the colourless skein of life, and our duty is to unravel it, and isolate it, and expose every inch of it.'

This is the year I redeem myself and read the famous Sherlock Holmes series for the first time. And what better way than to start from the beginning where Dr. John Watson meets Sherlock Holmes, takes lodgings at 221 Baker street and is introduced to the science of logical thinking and deduction. Sherlock in turn finds a cheerleader for his brilliant mind and acceptance of his many flaws.

“His Ignorance was as remarkable as his knowledge.”

A Study in Scarlet is a tale of love, crime and vengeance, stretching twenty years from England to America; throw in killer Mormons and polygamy, and you have a baffling mystery that makes the police scratch their heads, Sherlock delighted to show his brilliance and Watson greeting life with a new vigour. Thus our dynamic duo are born and the game is afoot!

“There is a mystery about this which stimulates the imagination; where there is no imagination there is no horror.”

I was worried that all will be spoilt after watch the TV show but I'm so glad the BBC's modern take on A Study in Scarlett was different from the book narrative, they've kept the story fresh and unspoilt for both the book and TV show fans and I really appreciate it.

[Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audio version of this Sherlock Holmes mystery by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle the other week. I borrowed the BBC radio version from the library and was delighted! What fun... who needs TV when you have the BBC radio version of a book. Has anyone else listened to one of these (or actually remembers when there wasn't television readily available, and people relied on the radio for their entertainment)? It is very different than a regular audiobook. The radio version actually has sound effects, musical accompaniment, a cast with different actors playing the parts, and more. Fantastic.

The story was short and entertaining. It was the first Sherlock Holmes mystery that I have actually ever read, and I believe it was the first one ever published. I enjoyed it, and was surprised at the personality of Holmes. I had it in my head that he was a silly character, one that almost pretended to be a sleuth, but really was not one (no doubt thanks to the 1980's movie starring Michael Caine). Holmes is anything but bumbling, and actually a likeable, impressive character. The story has none of the thrill or suspense that today's mysteries contain, but that's to be expected... times change and people need more now to thrill them.

All in all, I found it an enjoyable introduction to the famous protagonist and look forward to visiting him again in the future.

(originally posted on www.coconutlibrary.typepad.com)

[Leila Anani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full cast radio dramatization of the Holmes Classic. Excellent version, spends longer on the first half of the story. Quite a bit of the Mormon back story is cut, but to no real detriment.

Homes fans will love it.

[Anu Harchu · Rating 2 out of 5]

3.2/5.0
Хүрэн саравчтай малгай, том модон янжуур, дугуй томруулдаг шилээрээ бидний санаанд хоногшсон мөрдөгч Шерлок Холмсын тухай хамгийн эхний ном. Энэ цуврал туужууд Доктор Жон Уатсоны нүдээр өрнөдөг бөгөөд Уатсон Холмсоос салахгүй дагаж байгаа үед Холмсын бодлыг уншсанаас Уатсоныхыг уншсан нь хамаагүй ойлгомжтой бас хөгжилтэй байх байх.

A Study in Scarlet зохиолд Доктор Уатсон хэрхэн Холмстой танилцсан тухай мөн тэдний хамгийн анхны хамтдаа илрүүлсэн хэргийн тухай гарна. Учир битүүлгээр өөр өөр газар гарсан хоёр хүн амьны хэргийг хамтдаа 3 өдрийн дотор илрүүлэх ба энэ ажилыг гүйцэтгэсэн нэр хүндийг анхлан хариуцан авсан мөрдөгч нар булаан авна. Гэсэн ч ийм зүйл болохыг Холмс тааварлаж байсан ба бага зэргийн дургүйцэл илэрхийлээд л өнгөрнө.

Уг хоёр хүн амьны хэрэг нь 20 жил дамнасан өшөө авалт байсан ба энэ тухай он цагын дарааллаар хоёр дугаар хэсэгт нь дэлгэрэнгүй өгүүлнэ.

Уг зохиолын гол санаа нь энгийн хүмүүст ямарваа нэгэн үйл ажиллагааны эхний шатуудыг хэлж өгсөн тохиолдолд тэдгээр хүмүүс үйл ажиллагааны үр дүнг олж чадна. Харин зарим нэгэн хүмүүс одоо байгаа нөхцөл байдлыг ямар нэгэн үйл ажиллагааны үр дүн нь хэмээн хүлээн авч уг нөхцөл байдлын шалтгааныг олж тогтоох авъяастай байдаг. Урдаас нь хойшоо болон хойноос нь урагшаа. Эдгээр авъяастай хүмүүсийн нэг нь Шерлок Холмс юм.

[Bas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than anticipated. It's actually quite modern and pretty quick paced. Although, it does digress and start following some Mormons for a quite a while...