Arthur Conan Doyle’s first Sherlock Holmes novel was a commercial failure that sold for £25
In short: Published in 1887, A Study in Scarlet introduced the world to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Despite launching the most famous detective duo in literature, the book initially attracted little public interest. Today, only eleven copies of the magazine where it first appeared are known to exist, making them highly valuable.
Written by Arthur Conan Doyle at age 27, the novel was completed in less than three weeks. After facing numerous rejections, it was eventually published in Beeton's Christmas Annual for 1887. The author received a flat payment of £25 for the rights, a sum equivalent to about £3,371.95 today. The story was notable for being the first detective fiction to utilize a magnifying glass as an investigative tool.
The narrative is split into two distinct parts. The first follows the meeting of Holmes and Watson at 221B Baker Street in 1881 and their investigation into the murder of Enoch Drebber, whose body is found with the word "RACHE" written in blood. The second part shifts to 1847 Utah, detailing the history of the Latter-day Saints and the vengeful motivation of the killer, Jefferson Hope. This depiction of Mormonism later became a point of controversy, with some critics and descendants of Brigham Young labeling the portrayal as scurrilous or historically inaccurate.
The novel's legacy is defined by its endless adaptations. While the original text remains a cornerstone of the canon, it has been reimagined across radio, film, television, and even puppetry. Notable variations include the 1933 film that bears no plot relation to the book and the 2010 BBC series "A Study in Pink," which modernized the setting while retaining key elements like the poisoned pills and the killer's aneurysm. In 2011, the book even sparked educational debate when an Albemarle County school board removed it from a sixth-grade reading list due to its controversial depiction of religious groups.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: A Study in Scarlet
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