Sherlock Holmes: A Baker Street Dozen

by Arthur Conan Doyle, John Gielgud (Narrator), Ralph Richardson (Narrator)

It’s elementary that any Conan Doyle fan will want this splendid set of Sherlock Holmes mysteries—twelve timeless classics performed as radio theater, linked by violin music interludes.

The great Sir John Gielgud stars as the sleuth of Baker Street, with Ralph Richardson as his venerable companion, Dr. Watson, and Orson Welles as the nefarious Professor Moriarty. With three giants of the theater in such colorful roles, it’s no mystery why this collection is so popular.

Includes:
* “The Blue Carbuncle” (Disc 1)
* “The Golden Pince-Nez” (Disc 1)
* “The Norwood Builder” (Disc 2)
* “The Solitary Cyclist” (Disc 2)
* “The Final Problem” (Disc 3)
* “A Case of Identity” (Disc 3)
* “The Six Napoleons” (Disc 4)
* “The Dying Detective” (Disc 4)
* “The Second Stain” (Disc 5)
* “The Speckled Band” (Disc 5)
* “Charles August Milverton” (Disc 6)
* “A Scandal in Bohemia” (Disc 6)

A fully dramatized production on 6 CDs (5 hours, 15 minutes).

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Classics, Fiction, Short Stories, Victorian, Classic Literature

6 pages, Audio CD

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Sir 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.

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Comments really, not a "review":
If I could I'd probably really give it a 3.5. It was entertaining to read all the stories together that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle noted as his favorites, and it was mostly interesting to see the reactions and comments of the collected "Sherlockians" in between, though the essays varied widely in quality. I'd probably recommend this only to the most invested/devoted Sherlock Holmes fans. With the slew of new Sherlock and Sherlock-like media out in the last few years, all the "top-ten" lists at the back of the book present as very dated, if, again, somewhat interesting to the aficionado.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to these classics. The narrators were wonderful and I loved the stories. Each story was short enough that I often was able to listen to one or two at a time on my car rides. Great little detective dramas.

As for the editing, the speaking audio dipped a little too low at some transition points, and likewise the music ran a little too high. The violin music that indicated scene changes was fine at first but got pretty annoying after the first few times. If it wasn't for these annoyances, I would have given this 5 stars!

I also wish the stories had gone in chronological order so that I knew which stories Doyle wrote first and which ones last. It was fun to hear the introduction of Holmes and Watson, and to hear the "ending" of Holmes with Mycroft.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A colleague mentioned the story "Six Napoleans" and I became curious to read it. I found it in this collection from the local library. This is a nice sample of the Sherlock Holmes canon. I really liked The Solitary Cyclist and The Speckled Band in particular. I think the old timey quality of this audio productions adds to the charm of the stories. Though, as others have mentioned, the violin is way too shrill.

[Yosef Shapiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a radio collection of Sherlock Holmes stories that star John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson. They were done in the 1950's and are fairly faithful to the cannon. My only crircism is that they were bit old for the role. Holmes and Watson should be in their thirties in the early stories. I really enjoyed Orson Welles as Moriarity.

[Ta'Neisha Kemp · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the mystery, conversations, and the thrills within this production. This was a theatrical production rather than simply being read aloud so it included plenty of added drama. It was reminiscent of the radio soaps my grandmother I occasionally heard at my grandparent's house.

[Jordyn B · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are Sir Authur Conan Doyle’s 13 favorite Sherlock stories. This was a great small collection to read though. Do I picture Benedict Cumberbatch the entire time I read anything Sherlock Holmes? Yes. Is that embarrassing? Probably.

[Sam Rice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of Sherlock Holmes short stories is both an interesting window into the Arthur Conan Doyle’s world and a fun mystery romp. It’s easy to see why the Great Detective has become such a cultural meme.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great collection of stories. I loved this version because it’s the radio theatre edition so it’s like a play. Fun to remind myself of some of the stories we read in school.

[Metaphysics]

I listened to this audiobook. I love how it was presented.

[Julia Hendon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great listen with John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson voicing Holmes and Watson. Bonus of Orson Welles in one broadcast as Dr. Moriarty

[Alma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Towards the end of his writing career, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was asked to list his 12 favorite Sherlock Holmes stories. This book contains all those stories plus one more. Each is accompanied an essay written by a noted “Sherlockian,” Isaac Asimov among them. The book also has some other interesting trivia, such as a list of the 12 worst stories and the most intriguing women characters. I’ve always been a fan of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, mostly because I’m fascinated by the characters themselves and less because of the plots of the stories. It was fun to read the essays in this book which ranged from gushing praise, almost adoration, to one truly critical piece. Some gave interesting historical background about real people, places or events in the stories. It amazes me how Holmes and Watson, whom Doyle never considered to be his best work, still are so influential in modern storytelling even over a hundred years later. I enjoyed reading the essays as much as rereading the stories.

[Bunny · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's listening to the full radio dramatizations, which is seriously amazing.

Oh, dear. I like the idea of this a lot better than the actual audio book. First of all, the violin playing is possibly the most ear-wrenching irritation I've had on an audio book. And I've heard some bad narrators, so that's saying something.

Then, the stories aren't in any semblance of order. This wouldn't be so bad if the "last Holmes story ever" wasn't on, like, Disc 2, and the tale of how Holmes and Watson ended up living together wasn't the third-to-last story.

Plus the audio was completely wonky, and I had to keep turning my radio volume up and down, up and down.

I'm not planning on continuing with these.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful! A Baker Street Dozen (Audio) was so much fun to listen to! I am going to be bummed out for awhile now with each story I listen to on my drives. The sound effects and differnt character voices for each story made you feel like you were watching Sherlock and Watson even more then if you were reading them. You felt like a fly on the wall. You heard them poor their drinks, their voices changed with every emotion, there was music and sounds from the street. There was gunfire and screams and footsteps. I recommend this to anyone looking to get a start on their Sherlock Holmes mysteries or even those who are familiar with the stories.

Since this was my first taste of Sherlock Holmes I couldn't imagine a better way to get excited about reading more mysteries. Wonderful!

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, published around 1987, was a hand-me-down gift from my grandfather (including even an old business card of my father's from that era as a bookmark!). It's an old compilation of Sherlock Holmes stories--the twelve that Doyle considered his best, plus one fan favorite, with an essay by a "prominent Sherlockian" following each story (plus a few "best-of" Holmes-related lists). I was kind of rolling my eyes at the age of this book, but it was a real delight to read and most of the essays have not aged themselves much in the last thirty years. Thank you, Grandpa!

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first acquired this book in high school, after finding that I enjoyed The Hound of the Baskervilles. When I read it then, I skipped all the essays reflecting on what about each story qualified it as one of Doyle's or Baker Street aficionados' favorites. Upon picking up the book recently, I found those essays as entertaining as the stories themselves. In particular I enjoyed Isaac Asimov's lone negative critique of "The Adventure of the Final Problem".

[Mayda · Rating 5 out of 5]

These dramatized episodes of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes are a true delight. With a cast consisting of Sir John Gielgud as Holmes and Ralph Richardson as Watson as well as Orson Welles as Moriarty, these short stories come alive with excitement as Holmes solves the cases. This audio version complete with sound effects will take you back to Holmes’ England and what life was like then.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic radio drama audio. Fun voices if you can stand the dramatized idea. I like it so it was great for me. A fun selection of stories. All of them fairly short so a quick listen made it enjoyable.
The violin playing though you need to fast forard through. It will kill your ear drumbs if played at the same level as the rest of the audio.

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

How can you not love John Gielgud as Holmes with a bonus of Orson Welles and Moriarity. I have no idea why they were in the order they were in because they were backwards--finishing with when the 2 began living together but that's not a big deal if you know the premise of their partnership to begin with.

[Shoryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, obviously, I'm not a huge mystery fan if you look through my books. But, Pj Doyle is a long-time family friend, and so I had to get a copy of the book.

To my surprise, not only did I enjoy the 13 (a baker's dozen) Holmes stories, but I was amused by the essays as well.

[Mike Ogilvie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was pretty decent. I didn't realize it was actually the actual audio from an old radio dramatization of Sherlock Holmes stories. The actors were great. You could tell some of the old hokey radio play sound effects. And it was a little too abridged for what I normally like.

[Kristine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have never read any Sherlock Holmes. His elementary deductions are intriguing. It was an interesting collection. I was surprised that Sheelock seemed to meet his demise somewhere in the middle and the remaining stories were recounted by Watson.

[PennsyLady (Bev) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Acclaimed, exciting, fully dramatized performances of twelve Conan Doyle classics, performed by John Gielgud, Ralph Richardson, and Orson Welles."

Radio Theater with violin interludes...

[Zora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Radio dramas of a 13 Holmes stories. I love radio drama and enjoyed this, with performances by A-list actors.

[Lori S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's enjoyable to listen to these stories as dramatizations. Quite enjoyable to hear them pretty much as they were originally written.

[Billy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a collection of 12 shorts stories based on the stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I listened to the book on my drive and just came away expecting more from it.

[Ash Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent (and very faithful) adaptations of the original stories, starring John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson. Orson Welles is perfectly cast as Professor Moriarty.

[Jennifer Baratta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stories to listen to. I read and watched on PBS.

[Brenda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Enjoyed the stories primarily because I love anything to do with Sherlock Holmes. However, I found the dramatization distracting and over acting. Next time I'll stick with narration.