Canon of Sherlock Holmes

Traditionally, the canon of Sherlock Holmes consists of the 56 short stories and four novels written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.  In this context, the term "canon" is an attempt to distinguish between Doyle's original works and subsequent works by other authors using the same characters.

Canon

The traditional canon consists of the four novels and fifty-six short stories collected.

Novels

Here is the list of the four novels of the canon:

1. A Study in Scarlet(published 1887)
2. The Sign of the Four(published 1890)
3. The Hound of the Baskervilles(serialised 1901 - 1902 in The Strand)
4. The Valley of Fear(serialised 1914 - 1915)

Short stories

The 56 short stories are collected in five books:

1. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes(published 1892)
2. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes(published 1894)
3. The Return of Sherlock Holmes(published 1905)
4. His Last Bow(published 1917)
5. The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes(published 1927)

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is a collection of twelve short stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It was first published in 1892.

This is the first collection of Sherlock Holmes short stories, originally published as serialised single stories in The Strand Magazine from July 1891 to June 1892[1] with original illustrations by Sidney Paget. The book was published in England on 14 October 1892 by George Newnes Ltd and in a US Edition on 15 October by Harper. The initial combined print run was 14,500 copies.

Stories in the Book

• "A Scandal in Bohemia"
• "The Red-Headed League"
• "A Case of Identity"
• "The Boscombe Valley Mystery"
• "The Five Orange Pips"
• "The Man with the Twisted Lip"
• "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle"
• "The Adventure of the Speckled Band"
• "The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb"
• "The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor"
• "The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet"
• "The Adventure of the Copper Beeches"

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes are a collection of twelve short stories published in The Strand as further episodes of the Adventures between December 1892 and December 1893 with original illustrations by Sidney Paget. They were first published as a collection in 1894.

They include one of the most famous Sherlock Holmes stories, "The Adventure of the Final Problem", in which Doyle "killed" Holmes. Several of the stories are told in a way which is more from Holmes' own point of view, as he tells Watson some of the early work that he did before meeting the doctor.

Stories

• "The Adventure of the Silver Blaze"
• "The Adventure of the Cardboard Box" [note 1]
• "The Adventure of the Yellow Face"
• "The Adventure of the Stock-Broker's Clerk"
• "The Adventure of the Gloria Scott" (Holmes's first case, described to Watson)
• "The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual" (another early case, told by Holmes to Watson)
• "The Adventure of the Reigate Puzzle"
• "The Adventure of the Crooked Man"
• "The Adventure of the Resident Patient"
• "The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter" (Mycroft appears for the first time)
• "The Adventure of the Naval Treaty"
• "The Adventure of the Final Problem" (Watson reports the death of Holmes)

The Return of Sherlock Holmes

The Return of Sherlock Holmes is a collection of 13 short stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. They were first published in The Strand Magazine between October 1903 and December 1904 with original illustrations by Sidney Paget. All of these stories take place after Sherlock Holmes' apparent death in "The Adventure of the Final Problem".

The book was first published in February 1905 by McClure, Phillips & Co. (New York) then on 7 March 1905 by Georges Newnes, Ltd. (London)

This was the first Holmes collection since 1893, when Holmes had "died" in The Final Problem. Having published The Hound of the Baskervilles in 1901–1902 (although setting it before Holmes' death) Doyle came under intense pressure to revive his famous character.

The first story is set in 1894 and has Holmes returning in London and explaining the period from 1891–94, a period called "The Great Hiatus" by Sherlockian enthusiasts.

Stories

• "The Adventure of the Empty House" (the return of Holmes)
• "The Adventure of the Norwood Builder"
• "The Adventure of the Dancing Men"
• "The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist"
• "The Adventure of the Priory School"
• "The Adventure of Black Peter"
• "The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton"
• "The Adventure of the Six Napoleons"
• "The Adventure of the Three Students"
• "The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez"
• "The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter"
• "The Adventure of the Abbey Grange"
• "The Adventure of the Second Stain"

His Last Bow (short stories)

His Last Bow (also known as The Reminiscence of Sherlock Holmes) contains seven stories published between 1908 – 1917. American editions often have "The Adventure of the Cardboard Box" in this collection instead of in The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.

Also of note is John Watson's statement in the last story of the cycle that Sherlock Holmes has retired, and forbids him to publish any more stories.

Preface

The book contains a short preface that reads as follows:

The friends of Mr Sherlock Holmes will be glad to learn that he is still alive and well, though somewhat crippled by occasional attacks of rheumatism. He has, for many years, lived in a small farm upon the downs five miles from Eastbourne, where his time is divided between philosophy and agriculture. During this period of rest he has refused the most princely offers to take up various cases, having determined that his retirement was a permanent one. The approach of the German war caused him, however, to lay his remarkable combination of intellectual and practical activity at the disposal of the government, with historical results which are recounted in His Last Bow. Several previous experiences which have lain long in my portfolio have been added to His Last Bow so as to complete the volume.

John H. Watson, M. D.

Stories in the Book

• "The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge"[note 1]
• "The Adventure of the Cardboard Box"[note 2]
• "The Adventure of the Red Circle"
• "The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans" (Mycroft appears)
• "The Adventure of the Dying Detective"
• "The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax"
• "The Adventure of the Devil's Foot"
• "His Last Bow" (told in third-person)

The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes

The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes is the last Sherlock Holmes books to be written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It was published in 1927 and contains 12 stories originally serialised 1921–1927.

Stories

Original Order (Written Order)

• "The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone" (told in third-person)
• "The Problem of Thor Bridge"
• "The Adventure of the Creeping Man"
• "The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire"
• "The Adventure of the Three Garridebs"
• "The Adventure of the Illustrious Client"
• "The Adventure of the Three Gables"
• "The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier" (narrated by Holmes; Watson does not appear)
• "The Adventure of the Lion's Mane" (narrated by Holmes; Watson does not appear)
• "The Adventure of the Retired Colourman"
• "The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger"
• "The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place"

Newer Order

• "The Adventure of the Illustrious Client"
• "The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier"
• "The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone"
• "The Adventure of the Three Gables"
• "The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire"
• "The Adventure of the Three Garridebs"
• "The Problem of Thor Bridge"
• "The Adventure of the Creeping Man"
• "The Adventure of the Lion's Mane"
• "The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger"
• "The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place"
• "The Adventure of the Retired Colourman"

The real last Sherlock Holmes story ever written is "The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place" rather than "The Adventure of the Retired Colourman".