John H Watson MD

Category: Chronology

  • I have even contributed to the literature on the subject [REDH]

    David Martin Dakin’s 1972 book, A Sherlock Holmes Commentary, critically examines Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective stories, exploring their content, themes, and inconsistencies. Dakin, a scholar and a dedicated Sherlockian, analyses each story in the Holmes canon, taking a humorous yet thorough approach that highlights Doyle’s writing’s strengths and quirks.

    Following a brief Foreword, each story is discussed in order of their first publication, addressing the date that the adventure is thought to have occurred, followed by essential considerations arising from the story.

    Two stories published at the same time as Watson’s reminiscences but not attributed to Sherlock Holmes are covered at the end. Two appendices round off the book – a chronological table and a list of people from the stories with beards and/or moustaches.

    Detailed Analysis of Each Story

    Dakin reviews every Holmes story in the canon, often focusing on plot structure, character development, and the realism (or lack thereof) in Holmes’ deductions. He also identifies and discusses narrative inconsistencies within the stories, a hallmark of traditional Sherlockian scholarship.

    Insights into Conan Doyle’s Methods

    Dakin examines Doyle’s storytelling techniques, such as his use of red herrings, recurring themes, and particular settings that create a distinct atmosphere. He also assesses Doyle’s approach to Victorian society and views on justice, often reflected subtly in Holmes’ actions.

    Exploration of Character

    Dakin delves into Holmes and Watson’s personalities, their relationship, and the evolution of their characters for the stories. He compares the detective to real-life figures of the time and analyzes Watson as a reliable narrator and a somewhat overlooked character in his own right.

    Sherlockian Traditions and Canonical Playfulness

    Dakin’s commentary is rooted in the Sherlockian tradition of treating Holmes and Watson as real people. He addresses many of Doyle’s puzzles and contradictions, such as the dating of certain cases, conflicting timelines, and “errors” in Watson’s narration, which Sherlockians playfully analyze as part of the Holmes mythos.

    Critical but Affectionate Tone

    Dakin approaches the stories with respect for Doyle’s genius and a critical eye on the flaws and inconsistencies. His commentary is both scholarly and accessible, making it a valuable resource for fans and researchers alike.

    About the Author

    My copy of Dakin’s book is signed by the author “With the compliments of the author,” and below that, he quoted Holmes from The Red-Headed League, “ . . . and have even contributed to the literature of the subject.” However, in this case, it is solely the study of tattoos, having noticed the fish tattooed on Jabez Wilson’s wrist and deducing that he had been in China.

    Dakin was the first Brain of Britain Series Champion in 1954 and is reported, in addition to his extensive knowledge of Sherlock Holmes, to have been able to quote the chapter and verse number of any verse from the Bible.

    He served as a Religious Education teacher at Dagenham County High School, Dagenham, Essex.

    He died in 1979, aged 71, four years after signing my copy of his book.

  • The Canon

    Before we go any further and, despite the appearance from time to time of what their authors suggest are previously undiscovered cases that Holmes was involved in, it is to the original cases that you should first turn to understand the Great Detective’s singular talents.

    These 56 short stories and 4 novels are usually referred to as “The Canon”.

    In order of their publication, these are (with their usual abbreviation in brackets):

    1. A Study in Scarlet [STUD] 
    2. The Sign of Four [SIGN]
    3. A Scandal in Bohemia [SCAN]
    4. The Red-Headed League [REDH]
    5. A Case of Identity [IDEN]
    6. The Boscombe Valley Mystery [BOSC]
    7. The Five Orange Pips [FIVE]
    8. The Man with the Twisted Lip [TWIS]
    9. The Blue Carbuncle [BLUE]
    10. The Speckled Band [SPEC]
    11. The Engineer’s Thumb [ENGR]
    12. The Noble Bachelor [NOBL]
    13. The Beryl Coronet [BERY]
    14. The Copper Beeches [COPP]
    15. Silver Blaze [SILV]
    16. The Cardboard Box [CARD]
    17. The Yellow Face [YELL]
    18. The Stockbroker’s Clerk [STOC]
    19. The Gloria Scott [GLOR]
    20. The Musgrave Ritual [MUSG]
    21. The Reigate Squire [REIG]
    22. The Crooked Man [CROO]
    23. The Resident Patient [RESI]
    24. The Greek Interpreter [GREE]
    25. The Naval Treaty [NAVA]
    26. The Final Problem [FINA]
    27. The Hound of the Baskervilles [HOUN]
    28. The Empty House [EMPT]
    29. The Norwood Builder [NORW]
    30. The Dancing Men [DANC]
    31. The Solitary Cyclist [SOLI]
    32. The Priory School [PRIO]
    33. Black Peter [BLAC]
    34. Charles Augustus Milverton [CHAS]
    35. The Six Napoleons [SIXN]
    36. The Three Students [3STU]
    37. The Golden Pince-Nez [GOLD]
    38. The Missing Three-Quarter [MISS]
    39. The Abbey Grange [ABBE]
    40. The Second Stain [SECO]
    41. Wisteria Lodge [WIST]
    42. The Bruce-Partington Plans [BRUC]
    43. The Devil’s Foot [DEVI]
    44. The Red Circle [REDC]
    45. The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax [LADY]
    46. The Dying Detective [DYIN]
    47. The Valley of Fear [VALL]
    48. His Last Bow [LAST]
    49. The Mazarin Stone [MAZA]
    50. Thor Bridge [THOR]
    51. The Creeping Man [CREE]
    52. The Sussex Vampire [SUSS]
    53. The Three Garridebs [3GAR]
    54. The Illustrious Client [ILLU]
    55. The Three Gables [3GAB]
    56. The Blanched Soldier [BLAN]
    57. The Lion’s Mane [LION]
    58. The Retired Colourman [RETI]
    59. The Veiled Lodger [VEIL]
    60. Shoscombe Old Place [SHOS]

    The Canon can be found in many forms.

    1. The Complete Sherlock Holmes comprising all 60 stories.
    2. The Four Long Stories (STUD, SIGN, HOUN and VALL).
    3. The 56 Short Stories.
    4. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (SCAN, REDH, IDEN, BOSC, FIVE, TWIS, BLUE, SPEC, ENGR, NOBL, BERY and COPP).
    5. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (SILV, YELL, STOC, GLOR, MUSG, REIG, CROO, RESI, GREE, NAVA and FINA).
    6. The Return of Sherlock Holmes (EMPT, NORW, DANC, SOLI, PRIO, BLACK, CHAS, SIXN, 3STU, GOLD, MISS, ABBE and SECO).
    7. His Last Bow (WIST, CARD, REDC, BRUC, DYIN, LADY, DEVI and LAST).
    8. The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes (ILLU, BLAN, MAZA, 3GAB, SUSS, 3GAR, THOR, CREE, LION, VEIL, SHOS, RETI).

    The Cardboard Box [CARD], although published in The Strand Magazine between Silver Blaze [SILV] and The Yellow Face [YELL] was not published in the Memoirs but 24 years later in His Last Bow.

    A guide to the Sherlock Holmes Canon is available here.