The Character of Sherlock Holmes
– Arthur Conan Doyle’s Resilient Creation
The character of Sherlock Holmes is indelibly etched on the landscape of London. In “The Red-Headed League”, Holmes remarks that “It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of London”, and through the books we can see that the character has just that.
Sherlock Holmes has taken on a fame and “reality” that very few fictional characters can match. The Sherlock Holmes Museum (pictured) actually has a full time employee tasked with answering the flood of correspondence that pours in each week to the museum addressed to the fictional London detective. Sherlock Holmes first appeared in print in 1887. He was the creation of Scottish physician and writer, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. In all, Doyle wrote 56 short stories and 4 novels featuring Sherlock Holmes, and the stories were very popular almost from the beginning. Holmes was a “consulting detective” and he ran his business out of his offices at 221B Baker Street, London. This address is fictional, but this does not stop visitors from combing the street in search of the spot. Sherlock Holmes was a master of deduction and could solve complex puzzle with his genius, but he was a rather peculiar fellow. He had “bohemian” habits such as a lack of concern for tidiness and order that made his dwellings quite a mess, although his concern for personal hygiene was somewhat overdeveloped. Holmes also had a drug addiction, taking cocaine and morphine on a regular basis, which was not as unusual as you might think because in Victorian times these were legal substances. Sherlock Holmes is described as a cold and intellectual man, with little feelings towards women or men, aside from the friendship he cultivates with Dr. Watson, his assistant and confidante. Despite this, Holmes is one of the most beloved characters in the history of literature, with fans from all over the globe who make pilgrimages to the city because of him. The character of Sherlock Holmes is an important and very real part of the lore of London.
Sherlock Holmes Museum Address: 221b Baker Street, Marylebone, London NW1 6XE Telephone: 020 7935 8866 Opening Times 09:30 to 18:00 daily. Prices £6 Adults, £4 Children.
Photo courtesy: gailf548
Return from Character of Sherlock Holmes to Famous London Residents
Return from Character of Sherlock Holmes to Best London Attractions
|
