Jeremy Brett (r) and Edward Hardwicke as Holmes and Watson
"Come, Watson, the game is afoot."
Course Description
The enduring popularity of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous fictional detective continues
unabated since the first Sherlock Holmes story was published in 1887. Recent big screen
portrayals by Robert Downey, Jr. and Ian McKellen maintain Holmes' position as "the most
portrayed movie character in history" while several recent TV series have drawn large
audiences. Sherlock Holmes video games sell in the millions. Sherlockian societies exist
around the world, many of their members whimsically maintaining that Holmes and his
friend and colleague Dr. John Watson were real people.
Explore the world of the original Sherlock Holmes by reading and discussing eight of
Conan Doyle's most popular short stories. Follow the great detective through the foggy
streets of Victorian London as he uses his extraordinary detective skills to solve baffling
mysteries. Learn about Holmes' quirky personality and habits, his relationship with
Watson, and about other story characters including Sherlock's more brilliant and more
eccentric brother Mycroft, and "the woman" who outwitted Holmes.
Instructor talks provide information on Conan Doyle's creation of the stories, the 130
years of the Holmes cultural phenomena, and many interesting and amusing tidbits of
Sherlockian information.
The Course Readings
Your instructor will email you one month before the course begins with various options
for obtaining the needed Holmes stories in book, eBook, or audiobook format, and on
the two stories to read before the first class. Expect about two hours of reading or
auiobook listening per week.
Please read the two assigned readings for Session 1 before the first day of class (see the Course Syllabus)
The enduring popularity of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous fictional detective continues
unabated since the first Sherlock Holmes story was published in 1887. Recent Holmes movies
maintain Holmes' position as "the most portrayed movie character in history" while several recent
TV series have drawn large audiences. Sherlock Holmes video games sell in the millions.
Explore the world of the original Sherlock Holmes by reading and discussing eight of
Conan Doyle's most popular short stories. Follow the great detective through foggy
Victorian London as he uses his extraordinary detective skills to solve baffling
mysteries. Learn about Holmes' quirky personality and habits, his relationship with
Watson, and about other story characters including Sherlock's more brilliant and more
eccentric brother Mycroft, and "the woman" who outwitted Holmes.
Instructor talks provide information on Conan Doyle's creation of the stories, the 130
years of the Holmes cultural phenomena, and many interesting and amusing tidbits of
Sherlockian information.
Explore the world of the original Sherlock Holmes by reading and discussing eight of
Conan Doyle's most popular short stories. Follow the great detective through foggy
Victorian London as he uses his extraordinary detective skills to solve baffling
mysteries. Learn about Holmes' quirky personality and habits, his relationship with
Watson, and about other story characters including Sherlock's more brilliant and more
eccentric brother Mycroft, and "the woman" who outwitted Holmes.
Instructor talks provide information on Conan Doyle's creation of the stories, the 130
years of the Holmes cultural phenomena, and many interesting and amusing tidbits of
Sherlockian information.
