Sherlock Unlocked: Little-known Facts About the World's Greatest Detective

Sherlock Unlocked: Little-known Facts About the World's Greatest Detective

  • Downloads:7545
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2021-04-14 10:53:27
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Daniel Smith
  • ISBN:1789290694
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

Daniel Smith looks behind what we think we know about the well-known sleuth and reveals little-known facts of which every Sherlock aficionado should be aware。

Consulting detective Sherlock Holmes has been fascinating generations of readers, watchers and listeners for over 130 years, since he first appeared in print in 1887。 Now an internationally renowned cultural icon, his name appears on books, films, television dramas, radio plays, stage adaptations and the rest right across the world and he is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as ‘the most portrayed movie character’ in history。

With all this material readily available, one might think there’s not much to find out about Sherlock, but in Sherlock Unlocked, Daniel Smith looks behind what we think we know about the well-known sleuth and reveals little-known facts of which every Sherlock aficionado should be aware。 From the eccentric and odd characters to the bizarre plot twists, and from Conan Doyle to Moriarty, this book will appeal to Holmes’ fans old and new。

Full of fascinating facts, such as:

– The shameful addiction of Watson’s that Holmes kept secret – a dark gambling habit。
– The part the legendary Langham Hotel played, in both Conan Doyle’s literary friendships – including with Oscar Wilde – and in the storylines he created for Holmes and Watson。
– The Real Moriarty? The true-life London underworld thief-taker, Jonathan Wild, was a model for Professor Moriarty
– Holmes's retirement passion was bee-keeping。
– One of Conan Doyle’s childhood teachers, Eugene Chantrelle, became a notorious murderer。

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Reviews

Himanshi

Nice facts 。

John Nygma

A neat little book! to be honest, I expected there to be mostly things I was already familiar with, however there were a bunch of facts and back-ground info I'd never even heard of! The book could've done with some better editing though。 The short chapters are pleasant to read, but they seem to follow a random order almost all the time。 I would've preferred more of a linear structure, and also some of the chapters could've been thrown together instead of chopping them up into literally three sen A neat little book! to be honest, I expected there to be mostly things I was already familiar with, however there were a bunch of facts and back-ground info I'd never even heard of! The book could've done with some better editing though。 The short chapters are pleasant to read, but they seem to follow a random order almost all the time。 I would've preferred more of a linear structure, and also some of the chapters could've been thrown together instead of chopping them up into literally three sentences sometimes。 Anyway, for any Sherlock Holmes enthusiast this is an interesting read, and you might find yourself learning something about your favourite detective。 。。。more

Priyanshu Raj

If you are a Sherlockian/Holmesian, then, it is a must read。

Amritesh Mukherjee

Did you know that before settling on Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, Conan Doyle intended to call the duo Sherrinford Holmes (Sherrington Hope was also being considered) and Ormond Stacker (or Secker)? ⁣⁣Did you know Mark Twain, the acclaimed writer, wrote a parody on Holmes where Holmes's nephew, Fetlock Jones, reveals that Holmes can't detect a crime; rather, he plans it all out beforehand, arranges the clues and hires some fellow to commit it according to instructions?⁣⁣Did you that the tale Did you know that before settling on Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, Conan Doyle intended to call the duo Sherrinford Holmes (Sherrington Hope was also being considered) and Ormond Stacker (or Secker)? ⁣⁣Did you know Mark Twain, the acclaimed writer, wrote a parody on Holmes where Holmes's nephew, Fetlock Jones, reveals that Holmes can't detect a crime; rather, he plans it all out beforehand, arranges the clues and hires some fellow to commit it according to instructions?⁣⁣Did you that the tales by Doyle never mention that Holmes puffs that "famous cigar"? That William Gillette played the title role in Holmes over 1300 times? That Charlie Chaplin got his big break via a Holmes play?⁣⁣Coming to the book, this is not just another exercise in mentioning trivia related to the famous detective on earth。 This is not a simple factbook。 ⁣⁣This is a sort of a love letter to the greatest "consulting" detective the world has ever seen, the most intelligent, the most genius, the craziest, ever!⁣⁣If you are someone who has an obsession for the only consulting detective, who refuses to believe that it was "just" a fictional character, who wants to know more about this brilliant deduction artist, pick up this vastly entertaining book, and I give you my word, you won't be disappointed!⁣⁣As Daniel Smith paraphrases: "come, reader, come。 The Game is afoot!" 。。。more

Adam Nowicki

A nice quick read。 Full of fascinating little facts and tidbits that enhance the narrative of Sherlock Holmes。 The chapter titles, while entertaining, can be hard to navigate, and going back to reference something could be difficult when reading Sherlock tales in the future

KhepiAri

Found this book in Mumbai airport and I decided it was an ideal gift for my friend。 But before packing it I read it。 Does it make it a second book now? Who cares!Sherlock Holmes is the favourite detective of the world, like every other reader I too have devoured his stories。 Sadly, because of my zeal to read fast; my facts and memories are mixed up。 Recently Sherlock has made a come back with help of television。 He is accessible, his cases can be repackaged into modern day narrative and viewers Found this book in Mumbai airport and I decided it was an ideal gift for my friend。 But before packing it I read it。 Does it make it a second book now? Who cares!Sherlock Holmes is the favourite detective of the world, like every other reader I too have devoured his stories。 Sadly, because of my zeal to read fast; my facts and memories are mixed up。 Recently Sherlock has made a come back with help of television。 He is accessible, his cases can be repackaged into modern day narrative and viewers don't get bored。 So what does this book offer that the die hard Holmesians don't know? The book is filled with facts that happened and most probably inspired the stories。 It loosely retells Doyle's journey and pulls out extracts from his letters which showed his relationship with his imaginary son。 Doyle wanted to be a writer of Historical Fiction, but the popularity and the financial stability the Sherlock Holmes stories provided kept him busy。 This lovely light fact book is beautifully illustrated。 The pipe, the poison, the hat all make a cameo。 The author tried his best to keep the book spolier free。 What I loved was how every information was arranged in the book, seamless transition from one fact to another。 It was interesting to find out Doyle was helped by two of my favourite writers Louis Stevenson and J。M。 Barrie。 It was funny that Mark Twain wrote a parody of of Holmes。 It was funnier that Roosevelt claimed Sherlock was American! And we all know the most famous quote :"Elementary, my dear Watson。" Was never penned by Doyle。 Even the cap and the pipe were an addition by the early illustration and particularly mentioned in the stories。 While some scholars claim Watson had six wives!I loved the overall presentation of this book; binding to book cover to typesetting! A book by a nerd for nerds! 。。。more

Nick DeSalvo

Short book chock full of interesting tidbits about Sherlock Holmes and his creator。 Each topic has a clever chapter title。 It inspired me to reread some of the novels and short stories to catch those details I missed the first time。