The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes is Arthur Conan Doyle's second collection of Sherlock Holmes stories, presenting eleven more adventures originally published in 1892–1893 – and infamous for containing the account of Holmes's «death» at Reichenbach Falls. These Memoirs continue the high standard set by the first collection, with Dr. Watson recounting cases that further illuminate Holmes's genius and humanity. Among the selections: «Silver Blaze,» featuring the disappearance of a racehorse and the clue of «the dog that did nothing in the night-time,» one of Holmes's most famous deductions; «The Musgrave Ritual,» an old family riddle that Holmes solves to uncover hidden treasure (and which Watson notes as an early case from Holmes's student days); and «The Greek Interpreter,» notable for introducing Mycroft Holmes – Sherlock's older, even more intellectually gifted brother in the Diogenes Club. Tones range from comic (Holmes outwitting a conniving maid in «The Adventure of the Yellow Face,» while respecting a client's sensitive secret) to sinister (the murderous betrayal in «The Resident Patient»). The collection's climax comes in «The Final Problem,» where Doyle attempted to bid Holmes farewell: Holmes and arch-nemesis Professor Moriarty engage in a deadly struggle atop Switzerland's Reichenbach Falls, and Holmes apparently plunges to his doom. Watson's heartbroken narration of Holmes's demise was so impactful that Victorian London mourned a fictional character – and public pressure later compelled Doyle to resurrect Holmes. Thus, Memoirs is both a treasure trove of classic cases and a dramatic turning point in the Holmes saga. Today, it's cherished for its brilliant mysteries (the clever twist in «The Naval Treaty,» for example) and for giving us Moriarty – the Napoleon of Crime – in a fittingly epic confrontation with our hero. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes cements Holmes's legacy, leaving readers both satisfied by his accomplishments and emotionally stirred by his seeming end – a literary canon moment that still resonates.