Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street: A Life of the World's First Consulting Detective

This is a(n obviously) fictional biography based very largely on information in Conan Doyle's original stories. There is also some speculative stuff, for example Holmes's alleged solution of the Ripper murders involving the great detective's dressing up as a prostitute; and other genre influences, for example from the Basil Rathbone films, such as Holmes having been involved in WWII (though unlike in the films he is here logically a very old man at this time and Watson is already dead - the details of these late adventures are not revealed). He dies on his 103rd birthday, his life having been prolonged by eating royal jelly from the bees he keeps at his secluded cottage on the Sussex Downs. An entertaining read for those already show more familiar with the basic line of his main stories. show less

There have been several attempts to write the life of the great detective. The first was W S Baring-Gould’s Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street — still the most popular despite its romantic flights of fancy (or perhaps because of them).

Review: William S. Baring-Gould (1913-1967) was one of the world's foremost Sherlockian scholars. His "biography" of Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street demonstrates his knowledge and passion for all things Holmes.
Originally published in 1962, the book is an interesting, if a bit uneven, portrait of the great detective, examining his childhood, formative years, early detective career, his cases and his last days. There are some great items in the early part of the book, describing his family and including some allusions to some famous "relatives " (cousin Professor Challenger) and descendents (Nero Wolfe has long been speculated to be Sherlock Holmes' son). Baring-Gould as a storyteller leaves much to be desired, the book show more is replete with direct prose from John Watson's accounts of his adventures with Holmes; but Baring-Gould does include a few very nice asides. There are a couple of news reports of the Jack the Ripper slayings, followed by an account of Holmes involvement. And he does a very nice study of the years Holmes traveled in Tibet as Sigerson the Norwegian after his "death", even describing his investigation of the Abominable snowman and his relationship with "The Woman" - Irene Adler.
Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street contains quite extensive footnotes from many well- known Sherlockian works, as well as from the Canon, making it an enjoyable read. It isn't a great work, but it is a nice addition to any fan's collection.
Reviewed by: Kevin C. Belton, November 2004 show less

Review: William S. Baring-Gould (1913-1967) was one of the world's foremost Sherlockian scholars. His "biography" of Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street demonstrates his knowledge and passion for all things Holmes.
Originally published in 1962, the book is an interesting, if a bit uneven, portrait of the great detective, examining his childhood, formative years, early detective career, his cases and his last days. There are some great items in the early part of the book, describing his family and including some allusions to some famous "relatives " (cousin Professor Challenger) and descendents (Nero Wolfe has long been speculated to be Sherlock Holmes' son). Baring-Gould as a storyteller leaves much to be desired, the book show more is replete with direct prose from John Watson's accounts of his adventures with Holmes; but Baring-Gould does include a few very nice asides. There are a couple of news reports of the Jack the Ripper slayings, followed by an account of Holmes involvement. And he does a very nice study of the years Holmes traveled in Tibet as Sigerson the Norwegian after his "death", even describing his investigation of the Abominable snowman and his relationship with "The Woman" - Irene Adler.
Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street contains quite extensive footnotes from many well- known Sherlockian works, as well as from the Canon, making it an enjoyable read. It isn't a great work, but it is a nice addition to any fan's collection.
Reviewed by: Kevin C. Belton, November 2004 show less

There have been several attempts to write the life of the great detective. The first was W S Baring-Gould’s Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street — still the most popular despite its romantic flights of fancy (or perhaps because of them).

Una de las cosas que más nos atraen de Holmes y Watson es todo lo que no sabemos de ellos. ¿Tuvo padres Sherlock Holmes? Es de suponer que sí: el hecho de que exista un hermano parece confirmarlo. ¿Se casó John H. Watson más de una vez? Si es así, ¿cuántas? ¿Era el buen doctor una versión moderna de Barba Azul? Y ¿qué hizo Holmes en el Tíbet? ¿Por qué no siguió la pista a su contemporáneo, Jack el Destripador, en lugar de quejarse tanto de que «ya no hay grandes crímenes»? ¿Por qué esa debilidad por atender a clientes llamadas «Violet»? ¿Acabó su relación con Irene Adler en “Un Escándalo en Bohemia”? ¿Por qué Watson muestra esa escandalosa tendencia a equivocarse con las fechas? ¿Tenía acaso buenos show more motivos para hacerlo? show less