Sherlock Holmes Biography
Name an actor who has played Sherlock Holmes?
...Basil Rathbone, Jeremy Brett, Robert Downey Jr., Benedict Cumberbatch, Peter Cushing
What span of time were the stories published?
1887-1927
What is the famous address where he lived/had his practice?
221B Baker Street. London
How many novels were written?
4
How many short stories were written?
60
What were Holmes' interests?
A taste for the unusual. Also enjoyed playing the violin and attending the symphony.
Who was the fictional inspiration for Holmes, created by American Gothic Author, Edgar Allen Poe?
C. Auguste Dupin
Why were the Holmes stories such a popular form of entertainment in the 1880's?
Crime sells. There was no radio or T.V.
What myth did the character of Holmes dispel about the "type" of people capable of crime?
Criminals were no longer just social outcasts and the lower class. Crime could spread to the gentry/upper class.
What famous phrase of Holmes' never actually appeared in Doyle's writing?
"Elementary, my dear Watson."
What did Doyle do before writing "Sherlock Holmes"?
He received Bachelor of Medicine and Master of Surgery qualifications from the University of Edinburgh's Medical School and he wrote several medical articles.
Who created the character of Sherlock Holmes?
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Who is Sherlock Holmes?
a fictional detective that was featured in the short stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
What abilities did this person have that mirror Holmes'?
observation & deduction
What is the name of his dear friend and sidekick? (Prior to working with Holmes, this character was a surgeon in the army.)
Dr. John Watson
Who was the real-life inspiration for Sherlock Holmes?
Dr. Joseph Bell, Doyle's medical professor.
What was his relationship like with the police of Scotland Yard?
Found their help quite worthless, but often left the credit to them.
Who are "Sherlockians" or "Holmesians" and what is their purpose?
Holmes devotees who gather in societies to pay tribute to the great detective. Ex. The Baker Street Irregulars.
In 1888, Holmes' popularity gained momentum along with what infamous Victorian criminal?
Jack the Ripper
When was Sherlock Holmes "born"?
January 6, 1854
What did Doyle try to do with Holmes, but couldn't, due to popular demand?
Kill him off
What was Holmes' attitude towards women like?
Love was emotional and biased his judgement. He didn't associate with women and admitted he had never loved.
Describe Holmes' habits and "vices"?
No regard for tidiness or order. Smoked cigars, cigarettes, and pipes. Drug use - both morphine and cocaine (injected 7% solution)
According to Holmes, what are the three necessary qualities of the "ideal detective"?
Observation, Deduction, and Knowledge
Approximately how many film adaptations have been done of Holmes?
Over 200
Describe Holmes' attitudes and personality?
Restless, impatient, nervous, excited, harsh, curious, egotistical, eccentric, laid back lifestyle, extroverted
What motivated Holmes'?
Stimulation of the mind
What artist inspired the look of Holmes in the first illustrations ever done of him for the Doyle stories?
Sydney Paget
Describe Holmes' physical appearance and clothing?
Tall, gaunt, thin, clean, tweed suit or frock coat, deerstalker hat, black pipe
What is the name of the magazine in which the Holmes stories appeared for popular entertainment?
The Strand Magazine
Name the times period (era of British history) and describe it as a setting/backdrop of Holmes' stories
The Victorian Age. No electricity, no cars, tremendous change for work and opportunity, tremendous growth, big socio-economic gap
What inventions developed by the 1880's that proved how "the speed of travel and communication" helped in solving many of Holmes' cases?
Train and the telegraph
What I.Q. (intelligence quotient) did each Watson and Holmes have?
Watson 130 - Holmes over 200
Does 221B Baker Street really exist?
Yes and no. They have since created the address at 239 Baker St. and it is the Sherlock Holmes Museum.
What is Holmes' profession?
consulting dectective
What role did Dr. Watson have in the stories?
side-kick and narrator