It took Arthur Conan Doyle just three weeks to write the first Sherlock Holmes novel, A Study in Scarlet, published in 1887. The novel first introduced the classic literary characters of the detective Sherlock Holmes and his friend Dr. John Watson, and is one of just four full-length novels featuring the characters. Its title is in reference to a part of the story, in which he refers to solving murders as “a study in scarlet.”
The Sherlock Holmes character became so popular with the public, 56 short stories were published up until 1927 – even after Doyle originally killed off the Holmes character in 1893’s The Final Problem.
More about Sherlock Holmes:
- The first Sherlock Holmes novel introduced the first literary instance of a detective using a magnifying glass, a tool that eventually became synonymous with detective portrayals.
- The name Sherlock was inspired by a cricket player that Doyle admired – the original name of the detective was going to be Sherrinford.
- Sherlock Holmes is the fictional human character that has been portrayed on film the most times: 226.
By Allison Boelcke
, Former Writer
Allison Boelcke, a digital marketing manager and freelance writer, helps businesses create compelling content to connect with their target markets and drive results. With a degree in English, she combines her writing skills with marketing expertise to craft engaging content that gets noticed and leads to website traffic and conversions. Her ability to understand and connect with target audiences makes her a valuable asset to any content creation team.