| Before the world was treated to the many flavors | | | | could have been Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, revolutionary |
| presented by motion pictures, people had other brilliant | | | | author of the Sherlock Holmes stories. |
| ideas to entertain themselves. They exercised their | | | | Ask a person you know to tell you the first word he |
| imaginations through reading all sorts of books and | | | | thinks about when you say Sherlock Holmes, and |
| related forms of written literature. | | | | expect him to say detective, or something close to |
| Detective fiction was one genre which had a strong | | | | that. Sherlock Holmes stands out among the many |
| following ever since its informal debut many years ago. | | | | various protagonists in the genre as being the most |
| Children and adults alike would stay up all night reading, | | | | famous detective. His antics in every story that Conan |
| captivated by the thrill and suspense associated with | | | | Doyle wrote about him demonstrate his sheer brilliance |
| detective books. The excitement usually clings to a | | | | in data gathering and analysis. This character, often |
| reader even if he or she isnt actually reading the | | | | pictured as a sophisticated gentleman wearing a |
| story; oftentimes people would not hesitate to pick up | | | | deerstalker cap while smoking a pipe, is also depicted |
| a detective book and finish it just to know how the | | | | as a master of disguise. The depth of his character is |
| story ends. | | | | seen in his well-elaborated emotions throughout every |
| What gives detective books its flair? Simply put, they | | | | detective fiction story he is featured in. To him, life |
| give the readers a good mental image of the actual | | | | needed stronger thrills, and this led to his resistance to |
| scene and its events, while having them think at the | | | | feel love, which he believed was a hindrance beneath |
| same time. The unpredictability of good detective | | | | his concerns. |
| fiction has always been a quality that readers keep | | | | Sherlock Holmes is known for the line, Elementary, |
| coming back for. | | | | my dear Watson . Many will be surprised to learn that |
| Stories which are classified as detective fiction usually | | | | this line was never directly uttered by Holmes. |
| start off with a description of a particular crime or | | | | However, he does refer to less-insightful attempts in |
| mystery. As the reader turns the pages of the | | | | information analysis as Elementary , and he |
| detective book he or she will be led to many bizarre or | | | | frequently refers to his confidante, Dr. John H. Watson, |
| uncommon circumstances. This places more emphasis | | | | as my dear Watson . |
| on the need to find a solution or and explanation to | | | | John Hamish Watson was a doctor who served as |
| why the introduced event happened. The protagonist is | | | | Sherlock Holmes biographer in a majority of |
| usually a detective whose degree of experience can | | | | stories. He narrated all but 4 of Conan Doyles |
| vary. A foil , or an accident-prone/less competent | | | | pieces of detective fiction related to Sherlock Holmes. |
| male or female is usually introduced as the detectives | | | | Dr. Watson serves as Holmes foil in the sense that |
| assistant. Together, these key characters would | | | | he has a more conventional point of view over things. |
| decipher all sorts of clues, analyze situations, and piece | | | | He shares the sentiments and opinions of an ordinary |
| them all together. | | | | man. This state of mind usually clashes with Holmes |
| This process of collecting data takes up most of the | | | | more logical and analytical way of thinking. One |
| plot. It is up to the creativity of the author to keep the | | | | educates, while the other maintains balance. This |
| reader hooked to the logical path of clues. A twist is | | | | relation between the two diverse minds has been a |
| usually added here and there to serve as distractions | | | | symbolic situation expressed in many of Holmes |
| in a good number of ways. They can divert the | | | | stories. |
| readers attention away from critical details. Better | | | | Together, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson take on all |
| yet, they can lead the reader to think that they have it | | | | sorts of crimes and mysteries to solve, meeting and |
| all figured out, until another logical twist is introduced, | | | | dealing with many diverse characters along the way. |
| much to their surprise. Through it all, the detective feels | | | | Holmes is shown to demonstrate his superior skills in |
| all sorts of emotions and tries all sorts of methods to | | | | investigation over local officers of the law, including |
| figure things out. Deductive reasoning is one very | | | | those working for Scotland Yard. Holmes also had an |
| common method used by protagonists in many | | | | arch-enemy, Professor James Moriarty, who was |
| detective books. | | | | featured in a good number of Conan Doyles works. |
| The solution of the crime usually serves as the ultimate | | | | Finally, there is Irene Adler, the one woman whom |
| climax of the detective fiction stories. Here, the foils | | | | Holmes showed the most appreciation and attraction |
| more conventional level of intelligence is used by the | | | | for. |
| author to explain the elaborate solution to the crime in | | | | There are nearly sixty pieces of literary work written |
| words the reader would understand easier. The whole | | | | by Conan Doyle which featured Sherlock Holmes and |
| experience of reading a detective fiction story is truly | | | | Dr. Watson. Of all these stories, it is The Adventure |
| breathtaking. | | | | of the Speckled Band and the The Red-Headed |
| Edgar Allan Poe is credited to author the very first | | | | League that are arguably the favorites of many |
| detective fiction story in 1841. Entitled The Murders in | | | | Sherlock Enthusiasts. |
| the Rue Morgue , it starred C. Auguste Dupin, the very | | | | The stories of Sherlock Holmes have undoubtedly |
| first detective. The fame of this short story eventually | | | | lured many to the sophisticated genre of detective |
| led to two sequels which featured the same | | | | fiction. There are many competent writers who |
| detective. One of these stories, The Mystery or | | | | followed the approaches of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, |
| Marie Roget , is intriguing for expressing Poes | | | | with their own unique qualities related to the suspense |
| fictionalized point of view regarding a real-life crime, the | | | | and thrill brought on by detective fiction. Nowadays, |
| murder of Mary Cecilia Rogers. | | | | early detective books are still good reading, but they |
| More importantly, that detective fiction story served as | | | | are also collectors items too. Their significance during |
| inspiration for many authors to create and innovate in | | | | an earlier era and the quality of the stories make them |
| the genre. One of these authors could have been a | | | | highly prized by enthusiasts. |
| certain Scottish doctor and writer, whose innovative | | | | It is quite Elementary to expect that stories of |
| skills with the pen have earned him knighthood in the | | | | Sherlock Holmes and other detective books would |
| United Kingdom. In other words, one of these authors | | | | continue to be loved by children and adults alike. |