Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes – A worldwide

phenomenon

The purpose of this paper is to analyse in detail Conan Doyle’s life, his works and the
iconic characters he created, such as Sherlock Holmes, John Watson and James Moriarty, that
are still stealing people’s hearts.
The reason behind my theme of choice is the fact that Conan Doyle is one of the most
ingenious writers I have ever read and his Sherlock Holmes stories caught my attention more
than five years ago, convincing me to visit Baker Street not once, but twice. Sherlock’s way of
making deductions and observations enthralled me to read more and more, eventually dicovering
new information about him as a charater and about the man behind the pen.
The chapters of this paper will explore some highlights of Conan Doyle’s life, a brief
description of the three main characters from Doyle’s books: Sherlock Holmes, John Watson and
James Moriaty. Advancing, we will go through two of the most iconic Sherlock novels and
novellas, the first being A study in scarlet, and then The final problem, Sherlock’s bow. In the
end, we’ll take a look at Doyle’s legacy and how the stage and screens manage to portray his
detective.
Holmes mania looks set to continue well into the 21st century, over 100 years since the
first story was penned. The popular BBC television series Sherlock, starring Benedict
Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, has spawned a host of new fans around the world. In 2014,
devotees dressed in deerstalkers and capes gathered near University College, London in an
attempt to create a world record for the largest group of people dressed as Sherlock Holmes.
Fans still can’t get enough of Sherlock, and it could be said that in his popularity lie the
roots of fandom as we know it today. Sherlock Holmes’s adaptability, and the public’s
enthusiasm, appear to be truly endless.
Since he first appeared in print more than 125 years ago, Sherlock Holmes has been an
almost constant presence in the media. Conan Doyle’s unstoppable creation has transcended
literature to become a global phenomenon, continuing to fascinate and entertain fresh audiences.