Sherlock Holmes Short Stories ContentsReviewSherlock Holmes Short Stories AssignmentsRead the Introduction. Match the sentences with the writers. (a) This writer created two detectives called Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple.(b) This writer wrote social history as well as mystery stories.(c) This writer was a lawyer and a judge.(d) This writer wrote stories about a priest.(e) This writer wrote four collections of ghost stories.(f) This writer wrote about a secret agent called Roger Brook.(g) This writer wrote serious books about ghosts. Agatha Christie Margery Allingham Cyril Hare (d) G. K. Chesterton (e) M. R. James (f) Dennis Wheatley (g) Elliott ODonnellPlot A detective is on the trail of a famous thief. There are strange clues and a simple-looking priest holds the answers . Characters Valentin Flambeau Father BrownThe Blue Cross G. K. ChestertonPlotA murderer betrays himself through his use of an America expression . CharactersEdward Hart John Benjamin Spencer Joseph Wilbur Spencer William Harris Thomas Wilson PlaceAn Unpleasant Man Cyril HarePlotThe story is an eerie ghost story. Characters Fernaghan Peter Lindsey Guy Lang Raymond Ross Langs wifeThe Unlucky TheatreElliott ODonnellPlotA young woman marries a man she has recently met. Then she realises that her life is in danger . CharactersAlix Dick WindyfordGerald MartinGeorgePhilomel cottage Agatha ChristiePlotThe story is about a picture which keeps changing. Characters Mr. Williams Arthur Francis GawdyThe Mezzotint M. R. JamesPlotA couple disappear from their house in the middle of breakfast. Characters Charles Luke Albert Campion Peter McGill & MaureenFamily Affair Margery AllinghamPlotThe story is about how we do not notice “ordinary” people. But in this case, ordinary person is a murderer.Characters John Turnbull Angus Laura Isidore Smythe James Welkin Father Brown FlambeauThe Invisible Man G. K. ChestertonPlota succession of mystifying murders is solved in an extraordinary manner.Characters Bruce Neils Orsen Mark Hemmingway Angela MorgenfeldThe Case of the Thing that WhimperedDennis WheatleySherlock Holmes Short Stories1 About the Author 2 About the Characters 3 The Man with the Twisted Lip1 About the AuthorSir Arthur Conan Doyle (18591930) was born in Edinburgh and qualified as a doctor after studying medicine at Edinburgh University. He went into medical practice at Southsea on the south coast but began writing stories to supplement his income and in 1887 published the first long Sherlock Holmes story, A Study in Scarlet.Four years later, when his short stories about the detective began to appear regularly in the Strand Magazine, he gave up his career as a doctor, though he later received a knighthood for organizing the medical services during the Boer War in Africa (18991902).2 About the CharactersSherlock Holmes is by far the most famous fictional detective. His name has become part of the English language, and the stories still appeal to readers today.Conan Doyle based Holmes on one of his teachers at Edinburgh University, a man called Bell, who had the ability to guess his patients background from minute observation of small details. This kind of analysis and explanation continually astonishes Watson and delights readers. In contrast to Watson, Conan Doyle also gave Holmes characteristics that would have appeared rather exotic. He is a confirmed bachelor, he plays the violin, he takes drugs, and he despises authority. Part of his attraction, then, is that he is a rebel, but a rebel on the side of justice, and consequently he has a freedom of thought and action which the average policeman doesnt have. But he is also well able to defend himself physically and a master of disguise so that even Watson fails to recognize him. The contrast between Holmes and Watson is vital to the success of the stories. Watson asks all the questions the reader wants to ask, and when Holmes impatiently explains what to him is obvious, Watson is acting on our behalf. a In Baker Street, in London.b He is a private detective. c Dr Watson, a doctor. d He isnt married, he smokes, he plays the violin and takes drugs as medicine.The Man with the Twisted Lip Characters Mr Isa Whitney Kate Waston Mary Mr Neville Saint Clair Olivia Hugh BooneThe Engineers Thumb Characters Mr. Victor Hatherley Captain Lysander stark Mr. Ferguson EliseThe Patient Characters Dr Percy Trevelyan BlessingtonBiddle Hayward Cartwright Sutton