A Study in Scarlet

In my opinion, A Study in Scarlet is one of the weaker of the Sherlock Holmes tales I’ve read. I think it pales in comparison to the likes of many stories contained in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (which, in my estimation, is brilliant) as well as the classic novel The Hound of the Baskervilles.Obviously A Study in Scarlet is quite noteworthy as it tells the origins of the dynamic duo of Watson and Holmes, which launches this epic series which would produce many stories and works. By sheer happenstance, Watson’s first encounter with Holmes comes when Watson needs a place to stay and he learns from a gentleman that there is one particular eccentric gentleman who happens to need a roommate. Enter Sherlock Holmes. Enter 221b Baker Street. Watson is quite intrigued with his new found roomie, coming to first understand the sleuth’s wild eccentricities and habits.A Study in Scarlet does not have the same appeal or brilliance of the aforementioned works. I think part of the problem is how Doyle’s main star is projected. Holmes is not as refined, clever, or intuitive in A Study in Scarlet. Sure, he can come up with these brilliant nuggets of wisdom in the blink of an eye, however here he seemingly is more focused on boasting about his level of genius to Watson or trying to outwit the two detectives (Gregson, Lestrade) from Scotland Yard so he can “shove it in their face.”In this way, the true level of Holmes' genius is never fully demonstrated or recognized. Holmes here is pompous and cumbersome and it is actually nice to get a little break from him in Part 2.While I sort of liked the technique of Doyle in Part 2 to create a backstory into the hows and whys of the case that is set up in Part 1, the way the story is handled in rather odd and strange, with Mormons on the rampage against one of the key figures in the story. I also thought the whole revenge thing a bit odd. I found all this a little much and off putting, and this lessened the read as well.A Study in Scarlet still has definite moments of intrigue that would become a staple in the cannon of the Sherlock Holmes series. Too bad, though, that these moments are few and far between.Interesting to see how it all started with Watson and Holmes, but rather mediocre over all.

great product

I wonder where it came the image of Dr. Watson as an elder and meek man following the adventures of the clever Sherlock Holmes. This first story shows instead Dr. Watson as a man of action, a doctor that has seen war and is not afraid to use his gun if the danger appears. Sherlock Holmes appears like a genius philosopher of crime. I have to confess that the TV series "Sherlock" (2010) is a good depiction, including the detail that Watson publishes their adventures. This little detail I think gives it a unique character that differentiate it from other stories of detectives, in the sense that both friends are progressively more known by the citizens of London: they read the book we are reading, and they are going to look at Watson and Sherlock in the same way we would react to the sight of them in the real life.Properly speaking about the story I found it so-so. There is an interesting mystery in the shape of strange murders and a good introduction to the characters, but Conan Doyle introduces a whole different plot in the middle, as if he were trying to differentiate his story from the stories of Poe's Dupin (even in some part Sherlock will say that he doesn't like the comparison), or as if he was trying to probe the tastes of his readership. Sadly that other story, that explain the emotional reason of the murders, has some inconsistencies and it wouldn't needed be more than four or five pages long. Because that I didn't like the book: it breaks the illusion of reading Watson's testimony. But I found the story enough interesting that after it I read "The hound of the Baskervilles", book that is quite amazing. I think a three stars in a series of classics books could be a five stars in contemporary literature.About the AmazonClassics edition the format and edition are impeccable and modern; the X-Ray is quite useful in detective genre to check characters; and, last but not least, the text is pure, without additions of introductions to spoil the plot, nor, thanks to X-Ray, footnotes, it only has a succinct biography of the author at the end. It's a highly recommended edition.

DO NOT BUY THIS VERSION OF A STUDY IN SCARLETT! I would have given it zero stars, but they wouldn't let me. This is not written in the original English used by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It sounds like it has been translated through several languages. For example, this is a quote from this publication: "I discovered that my corps had superior through the passes, and became already deep within the enemy's us of a." What??? I then bought the book through Penguin publishing and the sentence should be, "I learned the my corps had advanced through the passes, and was already deep in the enemy's country." Now that makes sense. I have no idea why Amazon is selling this terribly written translation.

ok

Love it!!

This is the first book of the Sherlock Holmes series, first printed in 1887.  There were a total of 8 books in this series.  This book tells the origins of Watson and Holmes' alliance.  Watson is a former military surgeon (in Afghanistan) in poor health, looking for a roommate and inexpensive lodgings in London.  Watson also needs some kind of gentle diversion as he is recouping.  Thus, Sherlock Holmes enters the story.Much of this story is told through Watson's eyes as he is evaluating Holmes as a new roommate.  He sees Holmes' eccentricities and strange visitors.  This story does not show the developed characterizations of the two men that it will show in later books.  In fact, Holmes seems rather pompous in this outing. But the thing that shocked me was the splitting of the story into two major parts:  (1) the crime, and (2) the backstory that explained the crime. The backstory was long but fascinating.   I found that the 20-odd-year vengeance of Jonathan Hope to be a bit difficult to buy. With the way the Mormons are portrayed, I doubt that this book would be printed in this day and time.

Great mystery!

I did find this book a bit strange as the characters are so well known now and have been depicted on screen by lots of great actors, going back to the beginning you have to imagine that you don't know who these now famous characters are. I really wish I had read this book years ago and the only reason I got it was because my daughter recommended it to me. The book covers that time when Holmes was working on solving crimes and Dr Watson wasn't even known to him, it covers the introduction and because Conan-Doyle is a brilliant storyteller it lets you slip back in time into a Victorian world where you can imagine yourself sitting in the shadows watching the interaction between these brilliantly crafted characters and how they met and Watson moving in as a lodger to 221b Baker Street and how they became such well known 'people'. Excellent read I and would recommend it to anybody who loves Holmes & Watson.

This is another one of those books that is hard to review as the main character has become so large that he has stepped of the written page and almost become real, is real to so many people. Reading this I had to try and shrink all the media back until all I had left was the written word before me, to try and imagine I was in a different world at a different time, and that no-one had ever heard the name of Sherlock Holmes.The book is a slight one, but serves as a fitting introduction to a character who stands out almost immediately, and without overlooking things I found Watson to be an equally fascinating creation in his own right, although a much of what he says of himself is played down.At the same time, the book itself becomes a snapshot of a different century, a London that has long gone but is still familiar in all the small ways.The story itself sees an ‘unlucky’ Dr John Watson trying to find a place for himself after returning to England following injury and sickness has invalided him out of the army medical core. Finding accommodation in the capitol to be a little more than he can afford he is introduced by a mutual friend to another in the same situation, the slightly unusual Sherlock Holmes. Although Watson recognises there is a strangeness to Holmes he is attracted to the man’s observations and eccentricities and the two end up sharing rooms at 221B Baker Street.Holmes, it would seem is a consulting detective, spending all his time learning bits and pieces from countless disciplines in order to make himself not just good, but one of the best in the field, something that combined with his mind make him excellent. He is aware of his genius, but does not feel the need to boast about it, more than happy to let others take credit for his work. It would seem as long as a few people, like Watson know and accept the truth then he is happy.Even so, it seems as though he is getting bored of what he is doing, very rarely seeing the need to leave the house to investigate, but when he is presented with a more than interesting case and with a little cajoling from Watson he begins to investigate what becomes their first case together. The mystery is that of a dead body in an empty house, with no sign of violence, but a message written in blood on the wall in another room brings opens a mystery that seem almost impossible to solve…It goes without saying that Holmes manages to solve it and in an entertaining style. Conan-Doyle is a great storyteller, keeping the reader enthralled and bringing them back again and again so that the pages seem to fly by! The world of which he is writing is modern to him, so there are some lovely touches that help open the world to another time for us.The resolution to the story is satisfying, although it might be considered slightly annoying to watch Holmes start to work it out, but not reveal everything until he talks Watson through it at the end.There is an unusual set up in that we get the murder and mystery, see it virtually resolved, then get thrown back in time to another continent as we are shown the events that led up to the murder, before having Holmes and Watson back to wrap it up. It is an interesting device to use, but it does come across a quite a break, snapping the reader out of the story and then back in again. I will not deny that the story as presented is interesting, but it seems an odd way of going about it.The revelation itself is a good one. It shows that things are not as clear cut as they might have seemed and the sympathies of the reader (well this one) were not where I would have thought they would have been.There is a little bit of a rather neat wrap up, but it did not detract from the story too much.Most importantly you can see why Holmes and Watson were to become the iconic figures they deserved.

Here we have the first appearance of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson, in this the first of only four novels as the rest of the tales were short stories. Nowadays everyone has heard of Holmes, but this was published with very little interest from the public. One reason for this may be that apart from ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ the other novels have never proved as popular as the short tales. Another reason also is rather ironic as mention is made in this book of Lecoq a fictional French detective who was arguably the most famous detective in the world until Holmes eventually usurped him from his place, and the creator and author of him and other crime tales, Emile Gaboriau, in which the structure of this novel does bear some resemblance to its format.Watson returns from Afghanistan suffering injuries after the Second Afghanistan War. Looking for somewhere to rent in London a former friend and colleague of his points him in the direction of a certain Sherlock Holmes who is looking for someone to share rooms with, thus creating that famous partnership that we are all aware of. It does take some time for Watson to realise what his flatmate does for a living, but he does soon pick up on his rather vain conceit.With a mysterious murder committed Watson finds himself with Holmes investigating, whilst both Gregson and Lestrade from the Yard of course mess things up with false conclusions. Not as well written as stories that were to come later this still does make for an enjoyable read as we see Holmes in his element, solving crimes that seem to others to be impossible of solution. Also, for those who are coming to the Sherlock stories for the very first time this does show you how they came to be living and working together. In all then this is still very much an enjoyable read that should give you much pleasure.

Here we have the first appearance of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson, in this the first of only four novels as the rest of the tales were short stories. Nowadays everyone has heard of Holmes, but this was published with very little interest from the public. One reason for this may be that apart from ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ the other novels have never proved as popular as the short tales. Another reason also is rather ironic as mention is made in this book of Lecoq a fictional French detective who was arguably the most famous detective in the world until Holmes eventually usurped him from his place, and the creator and author of him and other crime tales, Emile Gaboriau, in which the structure of this novel does bear some resemblance to its format.Watson returns from Afghanistan suffering injuries after the Second Afghanistan War. Looking for somewhere to rent in London a former friend and colleague of his points him in the direction of a certain Sherlock Holmes who is looking for someone to share rooms with, thus creating that famous partnership that we are all aware of. It does take some time for Watson to realise what his flatmate does for a living, but he does soon pick up on his rather vain conceit.With a mysterious murder committed Watson finds himself with Holmes investigating, whilst both Gregson and Lestrade from the Yard of course mess things up with false conclusions. Not as well written as stories that were to come later this still does make for an enjoyable read as we see Holmes in his element, solving crimes that seem to others to be impossible of solution. Also, for those who are coming to the Sherlock stories for the very first time this does show you how they came to be living and working together. In all then this is still very much an enjoyable read that should give you much pleasure.

I've always loved Sherlock Holmes on screen in practically every incarnation, from Basil Rathbone to Jeremy Brett and beyond. However I have never really enjoyed actually reading the stories and often choose to try to read one when I can't sleep and they tend to work like a charm for curing insomnia. I thought perhaps the problem was that I started with the short stories so I decided to begin at the beginning and read the novel where it all began, A Study In Scarlet.The novel is in three parts and the first part - the best - covers the first meeting of Holmes and Watson and the first murder case they investigate together. This was gripping and quite exciting but just as the investigation reaches a climax the novel veers off into section two and to the back story of the murderer and his eventual victims. This part really dragged and is why I busted what initially seemed like a four star read down to a three star. The pace picks up again when the story returns to London for the denouement but the odd structure with the big dip in the middle really takes the wind out of it's sails.I did enjoy reading this and intend to try The Sign of Four next.

This is the first of the Sherlock Holmes series and well worth reading. The first part gives Dr. Watson's account of being introduced to Sherlock Holmes and then the discovery of two murders. The second part is set twenty years earlier and provides the motive for the murders.The second part of the book is based around the Mormons who are shown in very bad light. (Something Arthur Conan Doyle was criticised for at the time of publication.)I have recently read the very interesting autobiography of Ann Eliza Young, called 'Wife no. 19' which was published 10 years earlier than Conan Doyle's book. There is a lot of similarity in the two stories, one factual, this one fictitious, and I feel it is highly probable than Conan Doyle was inspired by Ann Young's harrowing life story. This hasn't spoilt my reading of this Sherlock Holmes book; in fact it has made it more believable. So I would highly recommend reading both books.

The essential tie-in guide with the new BBC television drama series of `Sherlock' that is a must-have edition to any fans collection and bookshelf. The first debut episode took its inspiration from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's work `a study in scarlet' thus introducing the reader to Sherlock Holmes from the very beginning illuminating you on one of the most memorable and distinctive characters within fiction and literature. You are taken on a journey of discovery with a concoction of murder, suspense, cryptic clues, red herrings and revenge all in one volume that you will be unable to put down. World famous characters such as Sherlock's trusted side-kick Doctor Watson and the infamous Inspector Lestrade join forces to solve cases of such magnitude and depth one would have to know the criminal mind inside out to catch the mysterious killer who stalks London's streets. As a fan of not just the new series adaptation of Sherlock but also the previous works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, I for this reason was extremely keen to `go behind the scenes' and find out what makes Sherlock Holmes `tick' therefore what makes him such a noticeable character that is totally unique and utterly fascinating. It is the background detail which makes this book so intriguing and absorbing, hence I cannot recommend it highly enough alongside the first episode as it will shine a light onto what you have seen by expanding and adding to your current knowledge. With a most personal, thought-provoking and insightful introduction by Stephen Moffat this book has to be the preferred choice for all readers who love crime, mystery and detection with `the science of deduction' it is an outstanding read that proves just how Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's work will live on for so many years to come.

In this copy, big gap between each and every word on the kindle making it unreadable. don't buy this version (the one with a picture of map of the world on the front).I also bought a different version ( front cover showing a man half standing at a desk). The type space was OK but the narrative was rather gibberishly; I suspect its a poor translation of the book from another language. Don’t buy this version either.Up till now I had trusted Amazon but thanks to this experience I now feel I am just being ripped off.

I was a big fan of Classics Illustrated when I was a kid and collected them avidly; along with "classic serials" on the Home Service (now Radio 4), it gave me a wonderful introduction to the great works of literature and encouraged me to read many of them in their original form; indeed, I regret throwing them away when I was a student!I've subsequently purchased some of these cartoon abridged versions of famous books (and plays...they do a good job with Shakespeare) for young relatives ants at the school where I work and have had a "sly peek" for old times' sake before passing them onto their intended recipients.This adaptation of one of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes novels (with the added bonus of another of his stories) is cleverly done, even if I am not particularly enamoured with the art work, especially the artist's failure to distinguish convincingly between the characters involved; if only the art work inside matched that on the cover!Still, these little comic books are great value and offer a wonderful introduction to the world of great literature.

The book consists of 2 parts. The first part is the usual Sherlock Holmes read, but the second part is a revelation and really exciting to read. At first you think it might be a different story, but it all comes together at the end. I gave the book only 4 stars, as I bought it second-hand and the lower section of the pages were damp. It must have stood in a damp place.

Considering that this is the first Sherlock Holmes story ever published, it's very good. It is certainly one of the weaker stories, as around half-way through, Conan-Doyle decides to completely side track the story to something seemingly unrelated. Of course, as every Sherlock Holmes story does, the story ties up nicely in the end. If you like Sherlock Holmes, it is certainly worth reading, but it is not his best story.

It’s always interesting to read about a character you already know, however superficially, and Sherlock Holmes is a great example.Whilst the middle of the book may last a little too long, there is no mistaking the fun to be had with Holmes and Watson as they start their adventures.

After watching the recent movies I decided to take a look at the original Sherlock Holmes stories and have not been dissapointed and am now in the process of working my way through Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's set of novels. This book is a great start as it sets the scene for the famous relationship between Holmes and Watson and then embarks on the mystery. Apart from a great story these books take you back into the streets of classic London and provide a snapshot of life as it was. Be careful though because once you start it is difficult to stop. I also have to rate these Kindle editions, low cost or free they are great especially 'The Adventures of' and The Memoirs of' as they also have the wonderful timless illustrations providing a snapshot of particular scenes I suppose the way Doyle imagined it. Enjoy - [email protected]

Being a huge fan of the Sherlock series and films, I wanted to go back to the books and thoroughly enjoyed A Study in Scarlet. Admittedly, I was a bit confused when the story veered away from Holmes and Watson but it did make sense as it provided essential background information to one of the characters. What I really love is Conan Doyle's descriptive language of people, objects and events. It is additionally nice to see how the producers of the Sherlock series have adapted the stories from pen and paper to the screen.

'A Study in Scarlet' introduces the world to Sherlock Holmes, one of the all-time great fictional detectives. Arthur Conan Doyle's character - seen through the eyes of his sidekick Watson - is methodical, eccentric and highly entertaining.The story is a classic murder mystery, with the largely self-taught Holmes setting out to outwit both police and criminal alike. There is little sense of antiquity in Conan Doyle's style; the writing is fast-paced, incisively masculine and rarely self-indulgent, amounting to a thoroughly enjoyable read.The book is quite markedly divided into two halves and readers should not be put off by the seemingly out-of-nowhere beginning to the second part - it is all background information (establishing motive) relating to the first half, with the story neatly drawn together at the end.My only minor gripe with this version (Kindle edition) is that the endnotes could be more easily accessible, but this is unlikely to diminish the enjoyment of those reading the book for pleasure.