Sherlock Holmes Research Paper

The fact that Sir Arthur ConanDoyle did not share the level of his readers` excitement about his character is definitely worth mentioning. The author considered the stories about his detective as his average writing, which in his opinion were good enough only for one-time reading as “penny dreadful” (Thompson 32-33). Doyle could not understand what was so special in Sherlock`s image which made readers waiting impatiently for the next story. The writer was always saying that Sherlock distracted him from his «more serious» work which includes historical and science fiction books: He [Conan Doyle] had ... become entirely disillusioned with Sherlock Holmes, morosely blaming the voracious public appetite for the great detective’s adventures for obscuring his more important work – his historical novels, plays and poems – and preventing him assuming what he believed was his rightful

The popularity of the "Strand" magazine, were the stories about Sherlock were usually published, was rapidly going down: more than 20 000 reader cancelled their subscription for the magazine (Andersen 29-31) . Consequently, the first issue, where the story about Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson adventures did not appear, sold only a few copies. George Newnes, an English publisher and editor, wrote in his special letter to the readers:

The News of the death of Sherlock Holmes has been received with most widespread regret, and readers have implored is to use our influence with Mr Conan Doyle to prevent the tragedy... We can only reply that we pleaded for his life in the most urgent, earnest, and constant manner. Like hundreds of correspondents, we feel as if we have lost an old friend... Mr Doyle’s feeling was that he did not desire Sherlock to outstay his welcome, and that the public have had enough of him. This is not our opinion, nor is it the opinion of the public ; but it is, we regret to say, Mr Doyle’s... (Miller