Study In Scarlet

Sir Arthur Conan Doyles A Study in Scarlet is the literary debut of the worlds most famous fictional detective Sherlock Holmes introduced by Iain Sinclair with notes by Ed Glinert in Penguin Classics.Convalescing in London after a disastrous experience of war in Afghanistan Dr John Watson finds himself sharing rooms with his enigmatic new acquaintance Sherlock Holmes. But their quiet bachelor life at 221B Baker Street is soon interrupted by the grisly discovery of a dead man in a grimy ill-omened house in south-east London his face contorted by an expression of horror and hatred such as Watson has never seen before. On the wall the word rache - German for revenge - is written in blood yet there are no wounds on the victim or signs of a struggle. Watsons head is in a whirl but the formidable Holmes relishes this challenge to his deductive powers and so begins their famous investigative partnership.In his introduction Iain Sinclair discusses the links between Sherlock Holmes mysteries and the Jack the Ripper murders Conan Doyles narrative style and his depiction of London. This edition also includes further reading a chronology and notes.Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) was born in Edinburgh where he qualified as a doctor but it was his writing which brought him fame with the creation of Sherlock Holmes the first scientific detective. He was also a social reformer who used his investigative skills to prove the innocence of individuals. Iain Sinclair is the author of Downriver (winner of the James Tait Black Memorial Prize and the Encore Award) and his latest book Ghost Milk: Calling Time on the Grand Project is published by Penguin.Ed Glinert writes a regular column for Time Out magazine and is the author of The Literary Guide to London. Glinerts latest book The London Compendium is published by Penguin.If you liked A Study in Scarlet you might enjoy The Hound of the Baskervilles also available in Penguin Classics. Review “[Holmes] is probably the only literary creation since the creations of Dickens which has really passed into the life and language of the people.”-G. K. Chesterton About the Author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) was born in Edinburgh where he qualified as a doctor but it was his writing which brought him fame with the creation of Sherlock Holmes the first scientific detective. He was also a convert to spiritualism and a social reformer who used his investigative skills to prove the innocence of individuals.Iain Sinclair is the author of numerous works of fiction poetry non-fiction includingLud Heat;White Chappell Scarlet Tracings;Downriver;Radon Daughters;Lights Out for the Territory;Rodinskys Room with Rachel Lichtenstein;Landors Tower;London Orbital;Dining On Stones;Hackney That Rose-Red Empire andGhost Milk;American Smoke andLondon Overground.Downriver won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize and the Encore Award. He lives in Hackney east London. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. CHAPTER IMr. Sherlock HolmesIn the year 1878 I took my degree of Doctor of Medicine of the University of London and proceeded to Netley to go through the course prescribed for surgeons in the army. Having completed my studies there I was duly attached to the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers as Assistant Surgeon. The regiment was stationed in India at the time and before I could join it the second Afghan war had broken out. On landing at Bombay I learned that my corps had advanced through the passes and was already deep in the enemy’s country. I followed however with many other officers who were in the same situation as myself and succeeded in reaching Candahar in safety where I found my regiment and at once entered upon my new duties.The campaign brought honours and promotion to many but for me it had nothing but misfortune and disaster. I was removed from my brigade and att