Sherlock Holmes

Last weekend I was on a last minute, end of the summer getaway in Astoria, OR, my family's new favorite vacation spot.  Amidst the myriad of antique shops and coffee parlors, and with a little help from my sister's iphone, we found a bookstore. Heading back to the literature section, we began to peruse the shelves and I came upon an excellent find.  The original illustrated Sherlock Holmes, as published in the Strand magazine.  This is definitely going on my senior table at graduation.

My fascination with the character of Sherlock Holmes began in eighth grade when my english teacher, Mr. Baker, read us The Adventure of the Speckled Band.  What makes the stories of Sherlock Holmes so compelling is the character of Holmes himself.  The way in which Conan Doyle originally wrote the character is incredible, but it is also fun to watch what modern writers have been able to do with the world's only consulting detective to bring him to life on the screen. 

We see the original illustrations of the classic Sherlock Holmes with his pipe, sitting in his parlor with the faithful Dr. Watson, explaining all his deductions in a way that the average mind can comprehend. 

And then we see the quick witted, resourceful Robert Downey Jr. version running down dark alleys firing off shots at the fleeing criminal with his faithful Jude Law/Dr. Watson in tow. 

And then, my personal favorite movie version of Holmes, is the BBC Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freemen modern twist on this classic.  The brilliance of Holmes is demonstrated in his long monologues of deductions similar to those that we find in the original stories. 

And so, my fascination with the stories, interpretations, and character of Sherlock Holmes continues.