The Hound of the Baskervilles, A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of Four: Introduction by Andrew Lycett (Everyman's Library Classics Series)

These stories are wonderful Arthur Conan Doyle creations.More importantly the book binding and overall construction is high quality.

I am going to review the *edition* of this text rather than the text itself (which is widely available in other, cheaper editions).I own a variety of books in the Everyman's Library edition, and here is why:1) It's very difficult to beat the quality of the binding of these books. They are cloth-bound hardcovers. Hardcovers are obviously not difficult to find, but cloth-bound books are becoming something of a rarity these days. They are beautiful on the shelf without the dust jackets -- and are beautiful even with the dust jackets intact. This book, like other Everyman editions, comes with a ribbon bookmark safely fastened to the binding itself. This book has a navy blue cloth binding with gold lettering on a black square (on the spine). I have used Everyman books for teaching college lit courses, and find they hold up well to being thrown in my book-bag day after day. (Plus, the pagination is the same as in some other, less expensive editions -- a benefit for poor students.)This edition:2) Opening the book, the front-matter page is also very pretty, with black and red type (red for the book's title). The pages are cream-colored, so will be helpful in avoiding eye-strain. The paper is also relatively thick and of good quality. It's not cheap newsprint-like paper (found often in paperback bestsellers), but crisp and able to withstand the point of my .3 mechanical pencil very easily without tearing or puncturing.3) This book (like other Everyman editions) contains an introduction (here, a so-so and kind of short introduction to Conan Doyle by Andrew Lycett -- a journalist and biographer). This introduction is not so much scholarly/academic as it is geared toward the general reader who wants to know more about how Sherlock Holmes came to be and evolved in the mind of A.C.D. That said, it's probably not something I would require a class to read, should I ever teach with this edition.4) This book also contains a very useful chronology. Side-by-side we find the life of the author, corresponding literary developments, and historical developments/events. These chronologies are one of the best things (apart from the binding) that Everyman does.I think my one complaint (from a teaching perspective) is that this book has no notes -- no annotations. For those (and a host of other goodies), you'll want a W.W. Norton edition. It does, however, offer wide enough margins for your own notes.In general, this is a book designed and printed to be both read and admired on the shelf.

Most readers are familiar with the popular works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes. “The Hound of the Baskervilles, A Study in Scarlet, and The Sign of Four” gathers the first of Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes’ novels – A Study in Scarlet” - and two of his other works in this volume that is sure to please lovers of classic literature. Andrew Lycett’s introduction provides excellent background information that enhances your reading experience. A “Select Bibliography”, a timeline addressing Arthur Conan Doyle’s life and works, and a “Chronology of Historical Events” provide additional information that will enrich your reading experience.This volume is a compact 5 ¼” X 7 ¼” and is approximately 1 1/8” thick; it weighs 1 lb. 4 oz. If you like to carry a book, this volume should fit easily into your briefcase, carry-on or handbag. The boards are navy blue cloth and the printing on the spine is gold. The dustcover appears to be a night scene rendered in greens and black. The off-white pages have cleanly cut edges. Print size in the main body of the book is no more than 10 point; print size in the introductory sections, except the Introduction is even smaller. The print sizes of the volume may be a bit difficult for more mature eyes to read. An attached ribbon bookmark helps maintain your “read-to location” and gives you some assurance that you will not lose your place.While I love e-reading, there is nothing like the feel of a “real” book. “The Hound of the Baskervilles, A Study in Scarlet, and The Sign of Four” has arrived in time for the holiday gifting season. This volume is an excellent way to introduce classic literature to young readers and to remind more seasoned readers why books designated as “classic literature” have stood the test of time. You may want to order several copies; doing so will allow you to keep one for your own library.

L’ho comprato perché sono innamorata dei libri della Everyman’s library e sono altamente soddisfatta.

The first three Sherlock Holmes novels in an Everyman's Library edition.The introduction is mildly interesting and places the novels in the literary fin de siecle context in which they were written, and the figure of Holmes in that context. The edition also gives us the context of a chronology of the life of Conan Doyle.As to the novels themselves, I had not read these novels since childhood. I enjoyed reading them once more and enjoyed them the more with each successive book. The duo of Holmes and Watson were an inspired invention - the novels come alive when they are on the page, and when they are not (as in the second part of A Study In Scarlet), interest wanes - or at least mine did. Overall though I'd say this was unlikely to disappoint anyone investing in it.

Libro ben fatto, con segnalibro, bella copertina. Molto "vecchio stile".Spedizione rapida.

Pleased with my book .