The Bedside Companion to Sherlock Holmes

This wonderful little reference book is chockfull of information on Sherlock Holmes. It has chapters on the evolution of the characters in the stories, not to mention information on life in Victorian England, and many bits of interesting trivia. And sprinkled throughout the book are little one-page introductions to each of the stories in the Holmes canon. Overall, I found this to be a very interesting book to read, and highly informative. It will tell you a good deal about A. C. Doyle, and Sherlock Holmes. Plus, I must say that I liked the short chapters of this book, which make it excellent for picking up and putting down again. I highly recommend this book!

Did you know that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's brilliant detective Sherlock Holmes originally went by another name? That the character of Holmes was actuallly based on a real person? That Conan Doyle never described Holmes as wearing a deerstalker hat, and never, ever had him speak the words, "Elementary, my dear Watson"? The Bedside Companion to Sherlock Holmes is simply packed with fascinating facts, unexpected insights, and fresh observations about Conan Doyle, Watson, and everything that has anything to do with the world's greatest detective. With nearly 200 period and contemporary illustrations, this smashing smorgasbord of Holmesiana reveals surprising information about London in the days of gaslights, hansom cabs, and grizzly murders. It celebrates the great portrayers of Holmes on stage, screen, and television, and explains why Doyle chose to kill his hero in one story, only to resurrect him nine years later. You'll also find thoughtful commentary on the enduring friendship between Holmes and the ever-incredulous Watson, why Holmes is sometimes considered humorless even though he clearly loved a good time, and the darker side of Sherlock Holmes - his addiction to cocaine. Everything you ever wanted to know about Sherlock Holmes is in this book.

If you're not sure about the monetary system, nobility order and social & economic situations from the Victorian Era, this is the book to read. It will help you understand the Victorian Society as well as Sherlock Holms' & Dr. Watson's mindsets to some extent. Although some comments are not entirely correct (coming from a avid reader of Sherlock Holmes Cannons), this book is really fun to read and is an excellent addition to your Complete Sherlock Holmes collection.

Very informative, and a lot of fun to read. For new readers, a great introduction to Holmes and his world; for old-timers like me, a fun refresher course! Highly Recommended!