Hello books lovers,
I have decided to write about the book that marks the beginning of two fictional characters who have become so popular that they are almost considered real historical figures. You can even visit the place where they "lived" at 221B Baker Street in London.
Photo By Ralf Roletschek (talk) - Fahrradtechnik auf fahrradmonteur.de - Own work, FAL, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11807002
"A Study in Scarlet" by Arthur Conan Doyle was first published in 1887, and since then one of the most well-known detective duos spark the imagination of readers.
Personally I consider this story more then just detective puzzle, it's also a picture of XIX century Anglo-Saxon society. The world wide panorama of everyday life, more "smoothly" presented then in scientific history books.
On the side of the main plot which leads us from London to North America and back there are details giving the reader a picture of past time.
Examples? Here we go:
Beginning of the story, Dr John Watson returns to London from Afghanistan where he served in the Second Anglo-Afghan War. As he was wounded there he received kind of a military pension to live on, however we immediately know it wasn't big as he couldn't afford hiring a flat by himself and is forced to look for someone to split the rent with. That gives us a peek in Victorian era welfare system, area of British Empire and situation on it's territory.
As the plot develops the picture of London and city life spreads before our eyes with episodes of various side characters, representing certain professions.
Part of the book that covers events in United States is a panorama of settlers life, creation of cities from the scratch, forming the systems of rules and laws in communities, even arising of new religious believes.
Have fun in finding many more while reading. 🙂
I would like to encourage you to read this book and other Sherlock/Watson stories and dive in the world of Victorian Era. You will find a lot of information in addition to excitement of solving criminal puzzles.
Original illustration of Holmes with magnifying glass, by David Henry Friston. Left to right: Watson, Holmes, Lestrade, Gregson