During lockdown, when not working, as well as planning future 'Sherlockian Sojourns', I have been catching up on my Sherlockian reading. As well as pastiches and some recently acquired reference works by noted Sherlockian Kelvin I. Jones (email enquiries@cunningcrimebooks.co.uk to order a signed copy of his latest - 'The Art of Deduction', a highly recommended book of 10 monographs), I have also been regularly visiting several SH Facebook groups, one of which directed me to a newly published ranking of the 60 stories of the Canon on the website 'Book Riot' (Click here to read it). Already incensed by its 'woke' claims of racism, ableism and antisemitism, having only just read in the booklet for my newly acquired 'Doctor Who; The Collection - Series 14' boxset that 'Talons of Weng-Chiang' "contains language that may offend", I turned on ITV3 to find 'The Last Vampyre', the Jeremy Brett dramatisation that ruins one of my favourite stories, 'The Sussex Vampire'. I therefore decided to make my own list, of my favourite stories in the Canon.
In March 1927, just before the final volume of Sherlock Holmes stories, 'The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes', was due to be published in book form, 'The Strand Magazine' introduced a competition for its readers. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself would select the very best (that is, his own favourites) Holmes stories, and whichever fan guessed the author’s list “most nearly” would win £100 and an autographed copy of Conan Doyle’s 'Memories and Adventures'. His list, revealed in June 1927, comprised twelve of the stories, but included none from the about to be published 'Casebook', which had all already featured in 'The Strand'. However, he did disclose which two stories would have made the list if he had included these stories. Given this, I decided to also make a list of fourteen, which appears below in publication order, with a brief (non-spoilery) reason why I like it.
- 'A Scandal in Bohemia' - Holmes vs. 'The Woman'
- 'The Man With The Twisted Lip' - Appropriately because of its twist.
- 'The Blue Carbuncle' - Literally a Christmas 'wild goose chase'
- 'The Speckled Band' - The best of the 'waiting in the dark' sequences
- 'Silver Blaze' - My favourite of the 'racing' stories
- 'The Final Problem' - For the battle of wills with the Napoleon of Crime, and Watson's 'final' tribute to Holmes.
- 'The Abbey Grange' - The best example of 'all not being as it seems'
- 'The Bruce Partington Plans' - How can a body end up on the Underground tracks without being in receipt of a ticket ? The best of the 'stolen document' cases.
- 'The Dying Detective' - Holmes the actor to the fore.
- 'The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax' - The most exciting climax of all the short stories.
- 'The Devils Foot' - Holmes and Watson facing danger together, with Watson saving Holmes' life.
- 'The Problem of Thor Bridge' - To quote Holmes, "Was there ever a more exact demonstration ?"
- 'The Sussex Vampire' - The best of the 'rational explanation for seemingly supernatural events' stories
- 'The Three Garridebs' - For the brief moment when Holmes' 'mask' slips and he declares how much he cares about his only friend, Watson.
Conan Doyle's list (again in publication order) was as follows (with those that are also in my list marked in red):
- 'A Scandal in Bohemia'.
- 'The Red-Headed League'
- The Five Orange Pips'
- 'The Speckled Band'
- 'The Musgrave Ritual'
- 'The Reigate Squires'
- 'The Final Problem'
- 'The Empty House'
- 'The Dancing Men'
- 'The Priory School'
- 'The Second Stain'
- ''The Devils Foot'
- 'The Illustrious Client'
- 'The Lion's Mane'
ACD chose 4 from 'The Adventures', 3 from 'The Memoirs', 4 from 'The Return', just 1 of 'His Last Bow' (my favourite of the collections) , and 2 from 'The Casebook'. We only share four stories (29%).
To paraphrase Jessica Plummer whose original post incensed me so - 'This list is a matter of opinion, and my opinion is always correct, all the time, about everything'.
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