Regarding abigwhitewolf's question
“A Scandal in Bohemia” is an iconic story, but it’s a bad index to Holmes’s attitudes toward women, simply because it is the first SH short story. Much of what Watson—newly married—tells us about Holmes’s lack of respect for women is flat-out contradicted by his behavior in later stories. I recommend reading “The Copper Beeches” and “A Case of Identity” for a better perspective.
Edit by the Babes: Thank you to mommybird for this submission, it’s spot on and well played. But we reiterate that there are many, many, many women in the canon who influence Holmes and it’s well worth reading all of it! Other cases featuring notable women include “The Sign of Four,” “The Solitary Cyclist,” “The Illustrious Client,” “The Problem of Thor Bridge,” “The Red Circle,” “The Dancing Men,” “The Veiled Lodger,” “The Yellow Face,” “The Second Stain,” “The Abbey Grange,” …OK, see? There’s too many to name. That wasn’t the half of them.
Rock on, ACD, with your divorce law reform crusade and your AWESOME.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 19 favorite Sherlock Holmes short stories
In 1927, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle selected what he regarded as his best Sherlock Holmes short stories for Strand Magazine of London. He set them down in descending order of merit with his all-time favorite listed as number one.
1. “The Adventure of the Speckled Band”
2. “The Redheaded League”
3. “The Adventure of the Dancing Men”
4. “The Final Problem”
5. “A Scandal in Bohemia”
6. “The Adventure of the Empty House”
7. “The Five Orange Pips”
8. “The Adventure of the Second Stain”
9. “The Adventure of the Devil’s Foot”
10. “The Adventure of the Priory School”
11. “The Musgrave Ritual”
12. “The Reigate Squires”
Later, considering his short stories about Sherlock Holmes written after 1927, and reconsidering some written before that date, Doyle added seven more favorites, again listing them in descending order of merit.
1. “Silver Blaze”
2. “The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans”
3. “The Crooked Man”
4. “The Man with the Twisted Lip”
5. “The Greek Interpreter”
6. “The Resident Patient”
7. “The Naval Treaty”
Source: http://www.trivia-library.com/b/sir-arthur-conan-doyle-favorite-sherlock-holmes-stories.htm
Do you know if there is a list that has what canon cases have been referenced in Sherlock so far? Like the The Speckled Blonde is from The Speckled Band, etc?
To our knowledge not a full one, however our Ardy did an annotated The Hounds of Baskerville one. Which lists all the canon references just in that episode. You can read it [HERE]
Ardy uses the abbreviations for the canonical stories, a full list which you can find [HERE].
Going through all the episodes and finding the canonical references would be a huge thing, but it’s something we’re definitely looking at doing!
“I fear that Mr. Sherlock Holmes may become like one of those popular tenors who, having outlived their time, are still tempted to make repeated farewell bows to their indulgent audiences. This must cease and he must go the way of all flesh, material or imaginary. One likes to think that there is some fantastic limbo for the children of imagination, some strange, impossible place where the beaux of Fielding may still make love to the belles of Richardson, where Scott's heroes still may strut, Dickens's delightful Cockneys still raise a laugh, and Thackeray's worldlings continue to carry on their reprehensible careers. Perhaps in some humble corner of such a Vallhalla, Sherlock and his Watson may for a time find a place, while some more astute sleuth with some even less astute comrade may fill the stage which they have vacated.”
—Arthur Conan Doyle (Preface to The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes)
Guys, I can’t stop laughing. This is just hilarious.
Sherlock Holmes (canonverse) fic recs!
They’re all Holmes/Watson with sexual situations.
These are my three favorites so far that don’t involve a very squicky prequel:
- Casefic. Virgin Holmes. Don’t worry, Watson loves him and will take care of that—once they’ve solved the case.
- An interlude set after “The Five Orange Pips.” Sweet and just lovely. So lovely. I love it. Especially when
Holmes says “Take me, Watson.”Oops. Spoilers.
- Holmes and Watson boxing with each other until the sexual tension builds so much that they must do something about it. Plus, they’re all bruised and bloodied by each other. Mmm. Yes.
- I recommend this one most highly. Read it. Read it now even if you have only basic familiarity.
…
Oh, and this one’s nice, too, but it’s listed under ACD and the 2009 film:
- Watson unknowingly takes Holmes’s virginity and feels guilty for not making it special.
I tend to imagine Jude Law as canon Watson all the time, and yet Holmes is often Benedict Cumberbatch in my mind still.
“I moved my head to look at the cabinet behind me. When I turned again, Sherlock Holmes was standing smiling at me across my study table. I rose to my feet, stared at him for some seconds in utter amazement, and then it appears that I must have fainted for the first and the last time in my life. Certainly a grey mist swirled before my eyes, and when it cleared I found my collar-ends undone and the tingling after-taste of brandy upon my lips. Holmes was bending over my chair, his flask in his hand.”
—The Adventure of the Empty House,
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
