Sherlock Holmes
(This
biography is an ongoing work)
What we know of the life of Sherlock Holmes is from the
writings of Dr. John Watson, his biographer. There is much speculation about him, but I have stuck to the known
facts for this monograph.
Sherlock Holmes was the world’s first and greatest consulting detective. Dr. John H. Watson, his biographer and comrade, brought his exploits to the world.
Born in 1854, the younger brother of Mycroft, he was the descendent of country squires, and one of his grandmothers was the sister of the French artist Vernet. It is believed he grew up in the countryside, and went to university somewhere around 1872.Whether this was Oxford or Cambridge is still debated today. He spent two years there, studying some science field.
Holmes was bitten by Victor Trevor’s bull terrier while at school and laid up for ten days. Trevor felt quite guilty about the incident, visited Holmes frequently, and the two became friends (the only one he made at college). Holmes visits Trevor over a break and becomes involved in the case of The Gloria Scott. Trevor’s father makes a statement that will alter young Holmes' life:
“I don’t know how you manage this, Mr. Holmes, but it seems to me that all the detectives of fact and of fancy would be children in your hands. That’s your line of life, sir, and you may take the word of a man who has seen something of the world.”
Holmes tells Watson “And that recommendation, with the exaggerated estimate of my ability with which he prefaced it, was, if you will believe me, Watson, the very first thing which ever made me feel that a profession might be made out of what had up to that time been the merest hobby.” Sherlock Holmes was on the path to a career as a consulting detective (see my monograph The Thousand-And-First Hero for an exploration of Holmes’ journey as a detective hero).
Early Career
It is unclear what he did after leaving school, but we know he had taken rooms at Montague Street in London by 1878. He was near the British Museum, where according to Holmes, he was “filling in my too abundant leisure time by studying all those branches of science that might make me more efficient” (Musgrave Ritual). He began taking cases, the third of which was for his former college classmate, Ronald Musgrave. We can assume that his career was slowly growing. His desire for new rooms was probably because he needed more space as his caseload grew. His need for a roommate to share the financial burden indicates the growth was not explosive. Holmes and Watson both knew “young Stamford,” who introduced the two in 1881. They would take a suite of rooms at 221B Baker Street, kept by Mr. Hudson. It was during this period, when Watson started chronicling his adventures, that we really start to learn about Sherlock Holmes.
Before the Great Hiatus
Holmes was very active from 1892 through 1889, serving both as a private inquiry agent and assisting Scotland Yard. During the Hound of the Baskervilles, he claimed to have investigated over five hundred cases. He had undertaken cases on behalf of the King of Bohemia (A Scandal in Bohemia), the King of Scandinavia (The Noble Bachelor) and the royal family of the Netherlands (A Case of Identity). The cases during this time make up the heart of the Canon, and I won’t summarize them here. Read the stories.
Holmes dedicated early 1891 to toppling the evil empire of Professor James Moriarty. Their showdown at the Reichenbach Falls in The Final Problem is legendary.
Holmes tells us that he spent the years of 1891 to 1894 visiting Tibet, Mecca, Khartoum and Montpelier before he returned to London to capture Moriarty’s lieutenant, Colonel Moran (The Empty House). More speculation has been done regarding Holmes’ activities during these years than any other aspect of his life.
Holmes undertook case after case until 1903. Many of Watson’s cases show Holmes at the peak of his powers during this period. Finally, in 1903, he retired to the Sussex Downs, where he engaged in beekeeping. Our best descriptions of Holmes’ retirement years come in His Last Bow and The Lion’s Mane. He may have been involved in more cases during these years, and we know he served England during World War I.
The Canon does not give any information on Holmes date of death (excluding his "first one" in The Final Problem). Noted Sherlockian William Baring Gould states he died in 1957, at the age of 103.
ABOUT HOLMES
To quote from The Valley of Fear: “In height he was rather over six feet, and so excessively lean that he seemed to be considerably taller. His eyes were sharp and piercing…and his thin, hawk-like nose gave his whole expression an air of alertness and decision. His chin, too, had the prominence and squareness which mark the man of determination.”
He was exceptionally strong and in fine physical condition. Sidney Paget’s depictions gave Holmes an Inverness cape and deerstalker cap, which were only infrequently referenced in the stories themselves. But one’s image of Holmes nearly always includes those two features.
If Holmes were a friend of my acquaintance, I would likely describe him as an arrogant genius. There is much in him that is not likable. He was egotistical, direct to the point of frequently being rude, condescending to associates (especially police officials he deemed incompetent), often insulting to his only friend, Dr. Watson, short with his landlady and a cocaine user.
On the positive side, he was honest, dedicated to his concept of justice, not a publicity hound, concerned for Watson’s welfare, willing to continue investigations in spite of police resistance and sometimes obstacles, committed to solving any case he undertook, and it was not uncommon that he took a case for clients too poor to pay his fees.
“A definition of deduction is to reach a conclusion by reasoning. One looks at all available evidence and tries to see a pattern.” (The Case of the Rewrapped Presents)
Holmes believed “that detection is, or ought to be, an exact science” (Sign of the Four). He based him method of detecting on three qualities: observation, deduction and knowledge. His “knowledge of sensational literature was immense.” (Valley of Fear). As Holmes said, his method “was founded upon the observation of trifles.” (Boscombe Valley Mystery). He collects all the data he can, then makes a deduction based on those facts, not a preconceived notion.
Misc.
Holmes was accorded public acclaim for his work, and was offered a knighthood in 1902 (which he turned down. He did receive several “generous” payments from satisfied clients.
He was an accomplished violinist and owned a Stradivarius. He wrote a monograph on the compositions of Lassus, and thoroughly enjoyed opera and concerts, though not the common music hall shows that appealed to Watson. He was a marvel at chemistry (he was undertaking a blood typing experiment when he first met Watson) and his knowledge in this field often aided his cases.
Many articles have been written on Holmes’ attitude towards women (which is included in my own Thousand-and-First Hero). Suffice to say, he did not think well of the fairer sex. His quote from The Sign of the Four typifies it: “Women are never to be entirely trusted – not the best of them.” There cannot be much equivocation on this topic. While he seemed affected by Irene Adler (A Scandal in Bohemia) and she has played a role in many post-Doyle Holmes tales, he was not fond of women.
I can recommend two very good
books with summary entries on Holmes. Tracy’s book deals only with the Canon.
Bunson’s includes film portrayals, pastiche authors, etc.
The Encyclopedia Sherlockiana – by Jack Tracy (1977)
Encyclopedia Sherlockiana – by Matthew Bunson (1994)
For books on the life of Sherlock Holmes:
Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street - by William Baring Gould
The World of Sherlock Holmes – by Michael Harrison