For anyone interested in life in Victorian London, the Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle are a must. In fact, the original 56 short stories and 4 novels remain some of the most popular historical fiction ever written. Holmes and Watson made their first appearance in ‘A Study In Scarlet’ in 1887, in which many of his deductive and analytic skills were introduced. Even if you’ve never read a Holmes book, you’re probably familiar with the images; Holmes smoking a pipe or playing the violin, rattling through the gas lit streets in a Hansom Cab, or fighting his nemesis Professor Moriarty. Hundreds of other writers have tried to portray Holmes over the years, and he’s been portrayed in film more than any other person. However, the original stories remain a lasting reminder of a bygone age, where the game is always afoot.
