Sherlock Holmes z Baker Street

by William S. Baring-Gould, Jan Sládek (Translator)

Kniha Sherlock Holmes z Baker Street od Williama S. Barin-Goulda je nejznámější a nejautoritativnější životopis slavného detektiva, který vzrušuje představivost již několikáté generace milovníků detektivních příběhů. Najdete v ní detailní - pečlivě ověřené - informace z Holmesova života, dozvíte se mnohé zajímavé podrobnosti skryté v pozadí jednotlivých případů. Geniálního tvůrce detektivní metody poznáte jako výjimečného člověka s řadou nedostatků a chyb, avšak vždy schopného zůstat nad věcí a orientovat se v situacích, kde jiní ztrácí hlavu. Autor píše elegantním, vždy střídmým jazykem, své téma pojednává věcně a s neobvyklou pečlivostí k historickým faktům.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Classics, Crime, Thriller, Detective, Suspense

360 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1962

About the author

William Stuart Baring-Gould (1913–1967) was a noted Sherlock Holmes scholar, best known as the author of the influential 1962 fictional biography, Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street: A life of the world's first consulting detective.

He was creative director of Time magazine's circulation and corporate education departments from 1937 until his death. His paternal grandfather was Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould.

Reviews

[C.O. Bonham · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a biography of a fictional person it really wasn't very interesting. The narritave is largely just paraphrasing of Doyle's adventures with a lot of speculation thrown in.

If you do decide to read this do try to find a copy of "Profile By Gaslight: an irregular reader about the private life of Sherlock Holmes" Edited by: Edgar W. Smith Published by: Simon & Schuster NY 1944. "Profile By Gaslight" is referenced a lot in Baring-Gould's foot notes and is on it's own a much more interesting read.

[Oliver Baer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read of Sherlock Holmes' biography as if he were a real person. I personally enjoyed how Baring-Gould threaded together the canon with what we now would call fan-fiction (the book was published in 1962) and his own speculation. It even reads like many biographies, at some points a bit slow-going, but then it picks up again. To those scholars wanting to know more about Baring-Gould's research or completists of the canon, I recommend reading Appendix II, which is a bibliographic compilation. He not only lists the books he used but describes them as well. While many of these resources may be impossible to get unless you are a Baker Street Irregular, it is amazing to see how fandom can create a life for characters beyond the stories they inhabit. This is a must read for any Sherlockian scholar or completists of the canon as I believe it was one of the original creations of a biography of the great detective by one of his foremost scholars.

[Riju Ganguly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the ultimate book for lovers of Sherlock Holmes. In it Baring-Gould lovingly recreates the persona of the Great Detective and his trustworthy friend with such details that you can literally smell the fog and horse-droppings. So can you see the dried blood and glitz of posh living. In twenty five chapters, two appendices, and several 'Interruptions' in between, it's truly a dramatic representation of 'A Life of The World's First Consulting Detective'.
Besides, if you read it, the solution to one of the most famous unsolved cases would also become clear!
Recommended in the highest possible terms.

[Belinda Vlasbaard · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 sterren - English Ebook

Review follows later

[M.R. Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fascinating piece of scholarship, expertly blending fact with surmise. Baring-Gould does an excellent job of untangling Watson's obfuscations, reading between the lines, and catching odd clues left by the Detective's biographer.
Unfortunately, the conclusion left something to be desired. One would think that so respected a Holmesian scholar would have noted that, to date, The Times has yet to publish an obituary for Sherlock Holmes. I credit The Times' editorial staff with both the resources and the integrity to ensure such publication in the event of the Detective's death; since no such notice has been yet been posted, it seems unlikely that Mr. Holmes has yet shuffled off this mortal coil. For so egregious an oversight, I must deduct two stars from an otherwise stellar biography.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredibly fun read. Yes, it's dry and clinical in spots, but what biography isn't? Baring-Gould clearly did his research, drawing from Conan Doyle's published stories of the Great Detective and building on concepts introduced by other Holmesian scholars. He here constructs a fully detailed and authentic biography not just of Sherlock Holmes but of his brother Mycroft and their parents. (Given somewhat short shrift is oldest Holmes brother Sherrinford, a country squire.) Baring-Gould's work clearly laid the groundwork for so many of the "fictional biographies" that came later, including Baring-Gould's own Nero Wolfe of West Thirty-Fourth Street (which I intend to read in the next few days) but perhaps most notably the great Philip Jose Farmer's Tarzan Alive! and Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life (both of which I intend to finally reread in 2016).

I see occasional comments that the book feels out of date given how much further Holmes scholarship has been commited since this book was published in 1962. I felt totally drawn into the book, and any "missing" fact of Holmes' life that I feel I know from some later source (such as Laurie R. King's novels of Holmes' "retirement" to Sussex) didn't detract from the depth of work Baring-Gould did with the materials available to him over 50 years ago.

I particularly enjoyed the author's conception of Holmes' childhood, including his early encounter with Professor James Moriarty; his description of Holmes' discovery of the true identity of Jack the Ripper (many authors have told such tales; Baring-Gould's feels the least fantastic, most plausible of the ones I've read); and of Holmes' relation to the aforementioned Nero Wolfe.

The Holmes Chronology at the back of the book was also a fun read.

[iBado · Rating 5 out of 5]

شعرت بالحزن و الأسى بعد ان انهيت هذا العمل العبقري فقد انهيت جميع اعمال شرلوك هولمز
ببساطة هي قصة حياة شرلوك تحتوي على قصصه القصيرة و ان كان بعضها سردا سطحيا
كتاب مذهل خاصة كخاتمة لأعمال هولمز

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a pastiche biography of Sherlock Holmes which maps out a chronology of all of his adventures and includes Baring-Gould's headcanons about Holmes. I mostly read this for research purposes. Since this book was so influential among Sherlockians, I figured it was required reading. Props to this guy for doing the hard work of putting together a timeline, but the reading was a bit of a slog at times, since it was more or less a summary of the canon. Baring-Gould's headcanons also wildly diverge from my own. I was getting kinda choked up at the death scene until it ended with Holmes's last words being "Irene, Irene" and I just rolled my eyes and sighed heavily. like...are you for real... Apparently so.

So yeah, 2 stars since it was just okay.

[Ron Chicaferro · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a fan of the worlds first consulting detective then you might want to read this wonderful book, Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street by William S. Baring-Gould. The book was published in 1962 so it may be hard to find but it is the most definitive of the Holmes books. Baring-Gould spent 20 years researching all the aspects of the Conan-Doyle stories to either prove or disprove many of the aspects of the Holmes stories that have been adopted by other authors. Its a fascinating look into a character that, by the end of the book, you'll swear really lived.

[R. C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can a story that's basically a clever compilation of "facts" from many other stories be so fascinating? My favorite part was reading the info on Holmes' dad that was actually lifted directly from The Lost World's description of Professor Challenger. Uh-huh, origin of Holmes' neuroticism, check. Can I add to this review hearts and flutters and stars for the "biographer"? *~*~<3~*~* Mr. Baring-Gould *~*~<3~*~*

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been reading the entire Holmes collection chronologically by publication date; Baring-Gould has written this biography using the chronology of the cases themselves. This makes me want to start over -- but I won't since B-G has provided sufficient detail to remind me of the tale he briefly, and without spoilers, describes. He also reveals some hitherto unknown facets of Holmes' life after Reichenbach and before the adventure of the empty house. (Rex Stout would neither confirm nor deny...)

[Erth · Rating 5 out of 5]

now i am hooked. This was such a great, easy and creative book. i was hooked after the first page.

The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.

i would highly recommend this author and this book.

[Corey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A ‘biography’ of a fictional character has a certain meta feel to it, and this measures up, with footnotes and references to other fictional characters and novels, and a deep comprehension of the writings of Dr. Watson. To any fan of Sherlock Holmes this book will be both indispensable and delightful. Oh, and Baring-Gould even solves the mystery of Jack the Ripper.

[The Cannibal · Rating 1 out of 5]

Voici le genre d'étude consacrée à la vie et à la carrière de Sherlock Holmes réservée exclusivement aux malades, aux fans, aux dingues, aux mordus du détective de Baker Street.

En effet, cette biographie de Sherlock Holmes est à réserver pour les fins connaisseurs du canon holmésien et exclusivement pour eux !

N'allez pas croire que je sois devenue une égoïste pur jus, mais, premièrement, nous sommes face à une édition qui est devenue très rare dû au fait qu'une partie du stock de l'éditeur Buchet-Chastel ait brûlé, et vous savez que ce qui est rare est cher…

La même version éditée chez Encrage ne se trouve pas partout, faut fouiner dans les bouquineries dévouées au genre policier…

Ça, ce n'était que la raison la moins grave pour laquelle je déconseille aux gens de l'acheter ! La seconde raison est, à mon sens, la plus importante et la plus grave…

Là où c'est le pire, c'est que sur cette étude, il faudrait ajouter un bandeau-titre sur la couverture, avec, noté dessus en gras et en rouge « ATTENTION – Ceci n'est en aucun cas une biographie de référence sur Sherlock Holmes » comme pourrait vous le laisser croire le 4ème de couverture ».

Baring-Gould connait son canon holmésien, il a, sans aucun doute, d'excellentes références sur Sherlock Holmes, il l'a étudié en long et en large (et en travers)…

Mais dans cette « biographie » de mes couilles (et je ne m'excuserai pas sur le fait que je ne possède pas de couilles) l'auteur mélange tout, sans distinction : les faits attestés (canoniques), les hypothèses plus ou moins plausibles, sans parler des trucs les plus farfelus péchés ailleurs que dans les écrits de Conan Doyle (généralement dans la multitude de pastiche consacrés à Holmes).

Et quand il y a des blancs, des trous, des non-dits, c'est pas grave, l'auteur bouche les trous, invente des faits, des noms, des écoles fréquentées par Holmes, jouant avec le canon et les hypothèses non avérées qu'il balance comme véridiques et canoniques.

Alors, s'il faut déjà bien tout à l'holmésien du dimanche pour démêler le vrai du faux, un néophyte qui lirait cet ouvrage, se retrouverait avec des connaissances faussées dès le départ.

La faute aussi au 4ème de couverture qui ne nous prévient pas de ce mélange entre la réalité canonique et la fiction, et vous, pauvre lecteur, sans vous douter de la moindre vilénie, vous serez tout content d'apprendre les noms des parents de Sherlock, le nom de son autre frère, l'endroit où il fit ses études…

Bref, TOUT ce qui chez les holmésiens est sujet à suppositions, supputations, déductions (jamais certaines) ou discussions sans fin, se retrouvent, ici, écrit comme si c'était parole d'évangile…

Le lecteur non-averti qui, durant sa lecture, n'aurait pas les récits canoniques sous la main pour vérifier les dires, penserait avoir devant lui la carrière officielle de Sherlock Holmes à partir des écrits de Conan Doyle alors qu'on y mêle, à foison, des éléments non-canoniques, sans vous prévenir que telle ou telle chose provient en fait d'hypothèses hypothétiques, de déductions, mais dont on ne saura jamais le fin fond.

Le danger étant, qu'à la fin, sur le long terme, on considère ce qui est dans cette fausse biographie comme véritable et non pas comme des inventions de l'esprit d'un auteur qui a voulu faire passer toutes les études holmésiennes comme faisant partie de la réalité canonique.

Ce problème est devenu réalité puisque certaines de ces inventions de l'esprit ont fini par être considérées comme appartenant réellement au canon et on les retrouve, noires sur blanc, dans de nombreux pastiches ou études holmésiennes, avec, en prime, leur source notée dans la biographie (Moi, Sherlock Holmes de Baring-Gould). Bravo ! (ironie)

Anybref, vu le prix de l'ouvrage qui est rare, vu que l'on est face à une fausse biographie, vu que le néophyte ne saura pas trier le bon grain de l'ivraie, et vu qu'on remplit des pages et des pages avec des véritables extraits canoniques, je n'ai qu'un mot à vous dire…

PASSEZ VOTRE CHEMIN !!!

Sauf si, comme moi, vous être collectionneuse dans l'âme et à l'affut du moindre ouvrage consacré à votre détective préféré ou si, comme moi aussi, vous voulez juste informer les pauvres lecteurs/lectrices innocents qui seraient prêt à tomber dans les filets racoleurs de cet ouvrage.

[Abdulhamid Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street: A Life of the World's First Consulting Detective" by William S. Baring-Gould is a comprehensive and captivating exploration of the legendary detective's life and adventures. With meticulous research and a deep understanding of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's iconic character, Baring-Gould unveils the enigmatic world of Sherlock Holmes with intriguing detail and enthusiasm.

This biography delves into the origins of Sherlock Holmes, shedding light on his upbringing, education, and early influences. Baring-Gould's in-depth analysis presents a well-rounded portrait of Holmes, exploring his brilliant deductive mind, his eccentricities, and his complex relationship with his loyal companion, Dr. John Watson. By examining Holmes' interactions with various characters and dissecting his methods of crime-solving, the author provides valuable insights into the psyche of the world's first consulting detective.

One of the most fascinating aspects of this book is Baring-Gould's attention to detail when it comes to the historical context in which Holmes operated. From Victorian London's bustling streets to the societal issues of the era, readers gain a deeper understanding of the environment that shaped Holmes and influenced the cases he took on. The author's extensive research is evident throughout, enhancing the authenticity and immersiveness of the narrative.

Baring-Gould's writing style is engaging and accessible, making this biography accessible to both avid Sherlock Holmes fans and newcomers to the series. The book strikes a balance between providing a comprehensive overview of Holmes' life and delving into the specific details of his most famous cases. Baring-Gould skillfully weaves together anecdotes, analysis, and excerpts from Conan Doyle's original stories, creating a cohesive and compelling narrative that keeps readers eagerly turning the pages.

While the level of detail and analysis in "Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street" is commendable, at times it may feel overwhelming for readers seeking a more concise overview. Some sections delve into minute details, including references to lesser-known cases and tangential information that, while interesting, may detract from the overall flow of the book.

Despite this minor quibble, Baring-Gould's passion for Sherlock Holmes shines through every page. His meticulous exploration of the character's life, combined with historical context and analysis, offers readers a deeper appreciation for Holmes' enduring appeal. This biography serves as both a tribute to Conan Doyle's creation and a comprehensive reference for all things Sherlock Holmes.

In conclusion, "Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street: A Life of the World's First Consulting Detective" is a must-read for fans of the iconic detective. William S. Baring-Gould's meticulous research, engaging writing style, and deep knowledge of the Sherlock Holmes canon make this biography a valuable addition to any Holmesian library. Whether you are a devoted admirer or a curious newcomer, prepare to embark on an enlightening journey into the life and mind of the incomparable Sherlock Holmes.

[Yuri · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating intellectual experiment and a cornerstone of what fans fondly call The Great Game, Baring-Gould’s Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street is less a novel than a daring act of literary archaeology. Written with the dedication of a true believer, this 1962 pastiche biography treats Holmes not as a fictional character, but as a real man whose life can be reconstructed through careful reading of Doyle’s canon — and a generous dose of imaginative speculation.

The book's most impressive strength lies in its ambition. Baring-Gould spent two decades dissecting every available detail from the original stories, weaving them into a timeline that attempts to make chronological and emotional sense of Holmes's complex arc. For readers deeply invested in Sherlockian lore, this biography offers both answers and new provocations.

That said, the work isn’t without its challenges. Parts of it read like an extended summary of Doyle’s writings, which may feel tedious to those familiar with the canon. And while some of Baring-Gould’s creative liberties (such as Holmes’s last words) will thrill devotees of the more romantic theories, others may raise eyebrows or even provoke an eye-roll or two. As one reader aptly noted, "Are you for real?" — yes, and gloriously so.

Still, the sheer cleverness of the concept — treating a fictional detective with the rigour of real historical research — is hard to resist. It’s both scholarly and absurd in the most charming way. Whether you're here for the timeline, the lore, or just the imaginative boldness of the project, this book is a foundational text for any Holmesian or mystery aficionado.

[Preetam Chatterjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street: A Life of the World's First Consulting Detective by William S. Baring-Gould—this is not just a biography; it’s the ultimate act of literary devotion. The kind of book only a mad genius—or a true Holmesian—could write. Baring-Gould doesn’t just explore Holmes’ life, he constructs it, brick by brick, as though the detective were as real as Darwin or Dickens.

Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street is the ultimate love-letter-turned-biography for the world’s most famous fictional man. William S. Baring-Gould approaches Holmes with the obsessiveness of a disciple and the precision of a detective, weaving together every strand of canonical detail—every offhand reference, every timeline inconsistency, every obscure footnote—and spinning it into a unified, almost eerily plausible life story.

Holmes’s childhood, university days, cocaine use, beekeeping retirement—it’s all here, built with the rigor of a scholar and the heart of a lifelong fan. Baring-Gould even speculates with confidence where Conan Doyle only hinted, giving Holmes a family tree, a heartbreak, and a complete psychological arc. Is it a biography? A novel? A hallucination? Yes. And that’s its brilliance.

I read this during a shared reading session in JNU, Delhi—an evening of rain, chai, and six people arguing passionately over Holmes’s relationship with his brother, as if Mycroft had been spotted in the next building.

It felt like séance and scholarship in equal measure. That night, Holmes wasn’t fiction. He was with us. Alive, misunderstood, razor-minded—and somehow, eternal.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

William S. Baring-Gould is among the most preeminent of Sherlockian scholars, which makes any of his literary efforts worth reading. Here, he presents us with his knowledgeable, research-based insight and notions into the entire life of Sherlock Holmes, from birth until death. Certainly, there is a level of pastiche in this effort, as Dr. Watson left many holes in Sherlock’s history over the course of his presentation of the canonical cases. As far as biographies of fictional characters go, however, this one provides some amazing insights into Holmes’ unchronicled life and experiences – a couple of them quite shocking and controversial, I daresay.

The only downside of the book is that Baring-Gould rehashes many of the experiences chronicled in the canonical stories themselves, so a large portion of the book reads very much like a retelling of the accounts of Dr. Watson. If you have just read all of the original Holmes cases or retain a good memory of those cases, these parts of the book become something of a slog. The rest of the biography, however, is fascinating – particularly the story of Sherlock’s family, upbringing, and travels; his wanderings during the years following the Reichenbach Falls incident; the discussion of certain cases that Dr. Watson chose not to record for posterity; and Holmes’ years after retirement. Most shocking of all is the identification of Jack the Ripper’s identity and the reasons for the concealment of that truth, with the secrets of Holmes’ longevity and unknown relations with Irene Adler certainly raising my eyebrows, as well. The author’s list of sources used has also served me very well as I begin building my collection of Sherlockian research material.

[Christopher Lutz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A somewhat disappointing attempt at a Holmes biography. The discussion of his early years and his twilight years were definitely interesting, but when the years of his association with Watson are featured it plays almost like a sitcom clip show: simply repeating paragraphs or summaries of major stories. Compounding the issues are the tweaks to the generally accepted chronology of cases and making Mary Morstan Watson’s second wife instead of his first. These changes rubbed me the wrong way and while far from making the book unreadable, made it impossible to consider as an “authentic” biography.

[Matt McKeon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baring-Gould was a devoted Sherlock Holmes fan, and this book is the precursor of online fandoms that are such a feature of pop culture today.

Obsessively searching Arthur Conan Doyles' writing "the canon" he constructs a biography of William Sherlock Holmes, 1854-1957 and the other characters of his world. In this charming effort, Baring-Gould consults with his fellow fans, linked in the predigital world by clubs, magazines and journals, as other obsessives pour over the cases Doyle briefly mentions and debate timelines.

If you like Sherlock Holmes, and who doesn't, this is very interesting and tremendous fun

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been wanting to read this forever. I found it very interesting and although some things didn't fit my idea of Sherlock Holmes, I was willing to accept them as an alternative view. I'm no purist and read a lot of retellings. And this biography did get the spirit of Sherlock Holmes right, at least according to me. I enjoyed it.

Until the ending. Totally fantastical fairy tale stuff. In another book, I'd be more than happy with that. Maybe even in another Sherlock Holmes book that clearly defines itself as fantasy (not sure I'd read one of those). But, not in this one. So, points off for that.

[A.L. Bellettiere · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think before coming upon this, I assumed it would be plain and boring. But what Baring-Gould did was straighten out the canon/mythos a little bit. Gave reasons, logical reasons, why some things didn't initially make sense and what was meant to be. If you know Sherlock or at least have read Wiki's Sherlock Holmes page, Baring-Gould uses various bits of information productively. Wonderful biography. Although as a last word, I think a part near the beginning between Holmes and Moriarty was cheeky. Like it was trying to imply that either Holmes or Moriarty didn't like each other already.

[Jeffrey Eernisse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing work of scholarship for what can never be a serious purpose, except for how seriously those who pursue it delight in taking it. The first comprehensive attempt at a biography of Sherlock Holmes based on the Doyle canon (with some few diversions and flights of imagination). Many of the conclusions to which this book comes have since become a kind of secondary canon—and why not? They are brilliant! For everyone who loves the Great Game, this is one of its cornerstones.

[Michael Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some speculation. Some clarification of parts of the stories. Some new material to flesh out some of the original tales with possible dialogue or scenes. Lots of footnotes and the bibliography of volumes used by the author includes many papers and materials from researchers trying to tie the works of Conan Doyle to their actual period & events. The last part is a nice ending for the story of Sherlock Holmes and brings us up to an ending that fits the series.

[Claire Q · Rating 3 out of 5]

Required reading for any hopeful Baker Street Irregular - fascinating how he ties together the "facts" of Holmes' life. I do wish he had spent a little less time fully recounting several of the stories and more on citing how we know various things about Holmes (especially where there were large leaps).

[Maryellen Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable!

A very serious scholarly work, knits it all together and addresses the most puzzling anomalies in the Canon. Also ties in with related literature, both classical and modern. And, as one historian is quoted, "If any of these characters are nonexistant, I'd like to meet them face to face!"

[Eve Markley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book to be sort of a fun read. It was quick because a large portions of it were taken word-for-word from the writings of Conan Doyle.
This book is a fascinating attempt to reconcile a number of earlier, non-canonical works. And I think a lot of later, non-canonical writings about Holmes were, in small ways, based on this work. Interesting reading.

[Felikis · Rating 3 out of 5]

La biografía (no) oficial de Sherlock Holmes. Ha estado bien, pero en lo personal esperaba menos “copypaste” en las no pocas referencias al canon. De hecho, confiaba en más indagaciones más allá de lo que ya vimos en los originales de Conan Doyle. Pero bueno, se agradece el trabajo realizado por rellenar los huecos del bueno de Watson.

[Whitney Grindberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun bu kind of redundant read, well written in the style and spirit of the stories. If they were less retellings of the original stories within his life and more unique happenings of Holmes's life, it would have been a better read.

[Layerandsword · Rating 1 out of 5]

Baring-Gould se pasa por el forro el canon de Doyle, reescribe la historia de Holmes como le da la gana, Doyle le da el visto bueno porque en esa época ya estaba hasta las joyas de la corona de su personaje y le importaba un pepino, y hala, todos a considerarlo un segundo canon.