Classic Tales (1847) by Arthur Conan Doyle Read the original texts here: 1. Adventure of the dancing men http://www.gutenberg.org/files/108/108-h/108h.htm#linkH2H_4_0003 2. Adventure of the final problem http://www.gutenberg.org/files/834/834-h/834h.htm#link2H_4_0011 3. The man with the watches http://www.gutenberg.org/files/537/537-h/537-h.htm#watches
Summaries of the stories (**SPOILERS!!!**): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventure_of_the_Dancing_Men https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Final_Problem https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_of_Sherlock_Holmes#.22The_Ma n_with_the_Watches.22_.281898.29
About the author Arthur Conan Doyle was born on 22 May 1859 in Edinburgh into a prosperous Irish family. He trained as a doctor, gaining his degree from Edinburgh University in 1881. He worked as a surgeon on a whaling boat and also as a medical officer on a steamer travelling between Liverpool and West Africa. He then settled in Portsmouth on the English south coast and divided his time between medicine and writing. Sherlock Holmes made his first appearance in 'A Study in Scarlet', published in 'Beeton's Christmas Annual' in 1887. Its success encouraged Conan Doyle to write more stories involving Holmes but, in 1893, Conan Doyle killed off Holmes, hoping to concentrate on more serious writing. A public outcry later made him resurrect Holmes. In addition, Conan Doyle wrote a number of other novels, including 'The Lost World' and various non-fictional works. These included a pamphlet justifying Britain's involvement in the Boer War, for which he was knighted and histories of the Boer War and World War One, in which his son, brother and two of his nephews were killed. Conan Doyle also twice ran unsuccessfully for parliament. In later life, he became very interested in spiritualism. Conan Doyle died of a heart attack on 7 July 1930.
Other interesting information: 221b Baker Street https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-mystery-of-221b-bakerstreet-3608784/ Curious facts http://www.sherlockholmes-fan.com/sherlock-holmes-trivia.html Interview with Arthur Conan Doyle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWjgt9PzYEM
Topics for Discussion: 1.
Explain Watson's role in the Sherlock Holmes stories.
2.
Describe the relationship between Sherlock Holmes and Watson.
3.
Give an example of Sherlock Holmes style of deduction.
4. Would Holmes's method of deduction be easier or harder to use today?
5.
How do class differences have an effect on these stories?
6. In what ways are Sherlock Holmes stories different from other detective stories?