TheCompleteSherlockHolmes,VolumeI,bySirArthurConanDoyle,ispartoftheBarnes&NobleClassicsseries,whichoffersqualityeditionsataffordablepricestothestudentandthegeneralreader,includingnewscholarship,thoughtfuldesign,andpagesofcarefullycraftedextras.HerearesomeoftheremarkablefeaturesofBarnes&NobleClassics:
Newintroductionscommissionedfromtoday'stopwritersandscholars
Biographiesoftheauthors
Chronologiesofcontemporaryhistorical,biographical,andculturalevents
Footnotesandendnotes
Selectivediscussionsofimitations,parodies,poems,books,plays,paintings,operas,statuary,andfilmsinspiredbythework
Commentsbyotherfamousauthors
Studyquestionstochallengethereader'sviewpointsandexpectations
Bibliographiesforfurtherreading
Indices&Glossaries,whenappropriate
Alleditionsarebeautifullydesignedandareprintedtosuperiorspecifications;someincludeillustrationsofhistoricalinterest.Barnes&NobleClassicspullstogetheraconstellationofinfluences—biographical,historical,andliterary—toenricheachreader'sunderstandingoftheseenduringworks.
TheCompleteSherlockHolmescomprisesfournovelsandfifty-sixshortstoriesrevolvingaroundtheworld’smostpopularandinfluentialfictionaldetective—theeccentric,arrogant,andingeniousSherlockHolmes.Heandhistrustedfriend,Dr.Watson,stepfromHolmes’scomfortablequartersat221bBakerStreetintotheswirlingfogofVictorianLondontoexercisethatuniquecombinationofdetailedobservation,vastknowledge,andbrilliantdeduction.Inevitably,Holmesrescuestheinnocent,confoundstheguilty,andsolvesthemostperplexingpuzzlesknowntoliterature.
VolumeIofTheCompleteSherlockHolmesstartswithHolmes’sfirstappearance,AStudyinScarlet,achillingmurdernovelcompletewithbloodstainedwallsandcrypticclues,followedbythebafflingTheSignofFour,whichintroducesHolmes’scocaineproblemandWatson’sfuturewife.ThestorycollectionsTheAdventuresofSherlockHolmesandTheMemoirsofSherlockHolmesfeaturesuchrenownedtalesas“AScandalinBohemia,”“TheRed-HeadedLeague,”and“TheMusgraveRitual.”
TiredofwritingstoriesaboutHolmes,hiscreator,SirArthurConanDoyle,killedhimoffattheendof“TheFinalProblem,”thelasttaleinTheMemoirs.ButthepublicoutcrywassogreatthateightyearslaterhepublishedthemasterfulTheHoundoftheBaskervilles,whichsupposedlytakesplacebeforeHolmes’sdeath.
TheseparateVolumeIIofTheCompleteSherlockHolmescollectstheremainingaccountsofHolmes’sexploits,including“TheAdventureoftheEmptyHouse,”whichrevealstheelaboratecircumstancesbehindHolmes’sliteraryresurrection.
KyleFreeman,aSherlockHolmesenthusiastformanyyears,earnedtwograduatedegreesinEnglishliteraturefromColumbiaUniversity,wherehismajorwastwentieth-centuryBritishliterature.