Sherlock Holmes- an intro

Sherlock Holmes- An Introduction

By Eoin Colfer

Very few literary characters attain iconic status. The term is bandied around, certainly, but few are worthy of it. I find a simple test is to count the number of people you know with the same name as the supposed icon. If there are none, then either the supposed icon is completely unknown, or the name is too strongly associated with the fictitious person for it to sit comfortably on anyone else’s shoulders. I think you will agree, Sherlock Holmes is an icon.

Sherlock has become such a recognizable name that it would be almost unthinkable to bestow it on any male child. Imagine the schoolyard jibes, “You’re not so clever now, are you Sherlock?” No parent would do it, any more than they would name their offspring Attila. The name Sherlock has such strong associations that it can be used as an insult or a compliment. Say something smart and its- well done, Sherlock. State the obvious and you’re quite likely to hear- Uh, you think, Sherlock? Or worse.

So who is Sherlock Holmes? And why are the tales of deductive exploits still fascinating in the third century of their telling? Of course you know the answer to the first question. We all know it. Everyone over the age of five with access to any form of media kno0ws that Sherlock Holmes was the greatest detective the world has ever seen. Holmes has made such an impression on the human psyche that millions who have heard the name consider him to be an actual historic figure.

And why are we still fascinated by Holmes? There is no simple answer to that question. Several factors combine to elevate Conan Doyle’s creation above a legion of pretenders. The character himself is an original, the father of countless imitations. We all know the ones, the acerbic detectives that populate television screen and the pages of fiction. Holmes was the first and the best.

In his day, Holmes was a completely new breed of detective. His adventures were cerebral, his powers of detection bordering on the supernatural. Holmes could take one look at a passerby and tell us his name, race occupation, and quite possibly, his astrological sign. Where traditional literary heroes had waded in with swords and dashing grins, Holmes carved up his opponents with pointed observations and caustic wit.

And it wasn’t just royal scandal and dastardly homicide that fascinated Holmes. He was just as likely to invest his time in finding the owner of a Christmas goose as he was to save a young innocent from the noose. Holmes was no crime snob; indeed many of his investigations did not involve actual crime at all. The mystery was the thing.

Sherlock Holmes did whatever it took to unravel the mystery. He donned fantastic disguises, mounted elaborate charades, and, on occasion, broke the law if it meant solving the case. The cases were his life, and when there were no mysteries to be examined, Holmes often sank into a drug fuelled depression until the next interesting character came calling.

And there was no shortage of interesting characters. Each story brought a fresh member of the public to Baker Street seeking the advice of the great Sherlock Holmes, and his partner, Dr. Watson. Holmes would then demonstrate his acumen by laying bare his guests’ life story through a series of ingenious observations. This was always the favorite part of the story for me, and I would pore over hi deductions for some clue as to how Holmes had arrived at his conclusion.

I must admit that I found the villains almost as fascinating as Holmes himself. First, I admired their audacity to even contemplate crime in the same city as Sherlock Holmes. But it was their wit that I admired most. These were not the stereotypical two- dimensional heavies of the era’s popular fiction. These were erudite, sophisticated men, capable of giving Holmes a run for his money. In Irene Adler, we even had a female adversary- almost unheard of in the nineteenth century. And just as Holmes himself gave rise to countless facsimiles, his nemesis, Dr. Moriarty, paved the way for a veritable battle of charming British villains.

Disguise was another weapon in Holmes arsenal. No matter how many times he popped up in a different persona, it took me unawares, and I was watching out for it. I suspected every new character in the story. I was on tenterhooks until Holmes revealed himself. This was part of Conan Doyle’s genius. He made us pay attention, knowing that if we tried to super- read, Sherlock Holmes would make a jackass of us once again. He would slip into the story unnoticed, and a point out with ridiculous ease what we had failed to notice. Every tale becomes a challenge to outthink the master. Needless to say, that the challenge was rarely met.

So if you are settling down to The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes the first time, here is the drill: DO NOT settle down, stay alert. Watch for any strange characters. Discount no one, however identical he or she may seem. No skimming descriptive paragraphs, for often this is where Conan Doyle camouflages vital information. Find an unoccupied younger member of the family and test out your new found skills of deduction on them. And when you finally finish the last case in the volume, sit back and marvel at how every fictitious private detective of the past hundred and twenty years owes his license to London’s Sherlock Holmes.