A Study in Scarlet
Book description
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's A Study in Scarlet is the literary debut of the world's most famous fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes, introduced by Iain Sinclair with notes by Ed Glinert in Penguin Classics.
Convalescing in London after a disastrous experience of war in Afghanistan, Dr John Watson finds himself sharing…
Why read it?
5 authors picked A Study in Scarlet as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
This was the book that started my fascination with the Victorian era. From the first time the character of Sherlock Holmes was introduced, I was hooked. I first read it when I was nine. I remember sitting down with it and practically devouring it. I did not put it down until I had finished. I was enchanted by Sherlock Holmes and his mind. I still am.
From Margaret's list on set in or about the Victoria Era.
This is the story that introduced Sherlock Holmes to the world.
The plot brings the reader to the dark streets of Victorian London as a cunning murderer is hunted down. Holmes’s unique powers of observation and deduction then set the bar for all subsequent detective stories as his friend, Watson, is etched into your mind as a ‘true blue’ friend whom you would like to call your own. The story is intricate, delving into the human psyche and the nature of justice. It draws you into the period; it has great characters and mystery, intrigue, and unexpected deductive skills.
I…
From David's list on 19th century murder, mystery and mayhem.
This is the first novel that introduces Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson and is vital for appreciating every novel and story that follows. The Sherlock Holmes stories are the best evocation of Victorian England ever depicted. The shock for me was when I discovered that Doyle sold the rights outright to this novel for just £25, and never received any royalties from it.
From Jim's list on by the greatest writers of crime fiction.
I couldn’t compile a London list without including Sherlock Holmes, the granddaddy of all London detectives. This is the book in which he makes his debut, using his detective and deductive skills to help investigate the death of a man in an abandoned house on Brixton Road. It’s a London – and style of story – unlike my other choices but it’s good to take a step back to an earlier era when crime, and the telling of it, was the same but different. I had to leave out some good crime writing to squeeze this one in, and long…
From Mike's list on crime set in London.
Sherlock Holmes is one of my favorite characters because although he seems to detest most people, at his core he finds justice for others. From his brusque nature to self-medicating his anxiety, to his tendency to speak in a lecture-like tone, Sherlock manages to overcome his challenges to win the day. I’ve had my own struggles using alcohol to cope with the stresses of day-to-day life. Thankfully, I rarely drink now. I also tend to ramble on about minute details if the mood strikes, and I found Sherlock’s interlinking of evidence and similar attention to detail to be an exciting…
From T. M.'s list on characters who appear on the autism spectrum.
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