Sidney Paget (1860–1908)

Sherlock Holmes and his friend/biographer Dr. John Watson work on a series of cases that showcase Holmes' abilities for minute observation and deduction to brilliantly solve mysteries that no one else can.

The Original Illustrated Sherlock Holmes includes the typeset and illustration of The Strand magazine where the stories were first published. Once I got used to the double columns, I did find the illustrations by Sidney Paget quite interesting. My only complaint about the typeset is that show more some of the letters had faded partially or almost completely; I could figure out what the word was, but it was jarring. Having four books in one made it a rather large book and hard to hold.

The stories themselves are interesting to read as early examples of the mystery genre. Among the more well-known stories included is the opening one, "A Study in Bohemia," and the novel The Hound of the Baskervilles. The focus is all on the intricate plot and the brilliant sleuth, who knows more than the reader possibly can. They generally follow a similar pattern of Holmes being presented with the problem, showing the victim or Watson a bit of his deducting powers about something small and unrelated to the mystery, investigating a bit more, and then coming to the end of the investigation and explaining the solution. It's a bit more of a marvel if you read the stories further apart; reading too many on top of one another made me feel that Holmes is a bit of an insufferable know-it-all (though Dr. Watson is fawning enough). I find I prefer a more modern mystery with characters who are more sympathetic than analytical. show less

This is a book I've kept on my shelves for many years. I just love the illustrations, and how it was produced as the stories originally appeared in the Strand. It really feels like you're picking up a piece of history. This format adds to the flavor of the great stories in this volume.

Some of the stories are great, some not so great, but it almost beside the point. The writing, the characters, settings are all great, but the sum is greater than the parts. I couldn't stop reading these and will start the other stories soon. I'm also watching the Granada TV series to compare. I'm a bit obsessed right now.

It was such a treat to have the stories written up in the original form. I liked all of the illustrations and the format of a newspaper. I wonder what it would have been like to recieve the story in installments like this, having to wait a week or more to find out what happens next.