Sherlock Holmes
| |
| Sherlock Holmes | |
| Developer | Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, various |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Various |
| Platforms | As noted below |
| Released | November 1887-present |
| Added to Museum |
See Sherlock Holmes category |
Sherlock Holmes is a public domain character that is part of a multinational multimedia series consisting of books, comics, films, magazines, music, television shows, and video games.
He is a detective created in 1887 by the Scottish writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
The character first appeared in the detective novel A Study in Scarlet in the November 1887 issue of the Beeton's Christmas Annual magazine. The novel was then published in book form in 1888.
Fictional character biography
Sherlock Holmes is a genius detective that solves crimes that perplex other investigators.
He is aided by his friend and biographer, Dr. John Watson, who often helps Holmes overcome his eccentricities.
He has a brother, Mycroft, who is also a genius but is not addled with the addictions Sherlock suffers.
His nemesis is Professor James Moriarty, who is as skilled at committing crimes as Holmes is at solving them.
Public domain status
Sherlock Holmes entered the public domain in 1981 in one-hundred seventy-nine of the countries that were signatories of the 1886 Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, in 2000 in the United Kingdom, and in 2023 in the United States of America.
Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1887-1927)
The canon of Sherlock Holmes consists of the fifty-six short stories and four novels written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and published from November 1887 to April 1927.
Non-canon Sherlock Holmes stores written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle were published from November 20, 1896 to May 2, 1921 plus a stageplay written in 1889 that was published posthumously on April 1, 2002.
Canon works
Canon Sherlock Holmes stories are considered those which exist within the official universe created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Novels
| Title | Author | Publisher | Release | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Study in Scarlet | Sir Arthur Conan Doyle | Ward Lock & Co. | 1887 | |
| The Sign of the Four | Sir Arthur Conan Doyle | J. B. Lippincott & Co. | 1890 | |
| The Hound of the Baskervilles | Sir Arthur Conan Doyle | George Newnes Ltd. | 1901-1902 | |
| The Valley of Fear | Sir Arthur Conan Doyle | George Newnes Ltd. | 1914-1915 |
Short stories
Non-canon works
Non-canon Sherlock Holmes stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle exist outside of the main canon works.
Novels
Stageplays
| Title | Author | Publisher | Release | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angels of Darkness | Sir Arthur Conan Doyle | Baker Street Productions | 1889 | Published in 2002 |
| Sherlock Holmes | Sir Arthur Conan Doyle William Gillette |
Star Theatre | 1899 | |
| The Speckled Band | Sir Arthur Conan Doyle | Adelphi Theatre | 1910 | |
| The Crown Diamond: An Evening with Sherlock Holmes | Sir Arthur Conan Doyle | Bristol Hippodrome | 1921 |
Sherlock Holmes by Towa Chiki (1986)
The Towa Chiki version of Sherlock Holmes was an action-oriented detective that appeared in a series of Famicom video games beginning on December 11, 1986.
Video games
| Title | Developer | Release | System | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherlock Holmes: The Kidnapping of the Earl's Daughter | Towa Chiki | 1986 | Family Computer | |
| Great Detective Holmes: A Case of Murder in the London Fog | Towa Chiki | 1988 | Family Computer | |
| Great Detective Holmes: A Challenge from M | Towa Chiki | 1989 | Family Computer |
Sherlock Holmes by Frogwares (2002-present)
The Frogwares version of Sherlock Holmes premiered on December 29, 2002. This version of Sherlock Holmes stories has supernatural elements.
