Gender and the Modern Sherlock Holmes

<p> From his 1887 literary debut to his many film and television adaptations Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes has lost none of his appeal. Besides Holmes himself no character in Conan Doyle's stories proves as interesting as the astute detective's constant companion Dr. Watson who somehow seems both superfluous and essential. While Conan Doyle does not depict Holmes and Watson as equals he avoids presenting Watson as incompetent as he was made to appear on screen for decades. A variety of reimagined Holmeses and Watsons in recent years have depicted their relationship as more nuanced and complementary. Focusing on the Guy Ritchie films the BBC's Sherlock and CBS's Elementary this collection of new essays explores the ideas and implications behind these adaptations.</p>