1 December 1887: Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson first appear

A Study in Scarlet, the original Sherlock Holmes novel, written by Arthur Conan Doyle, first appeared on 1 December 1887 in the Beeton’s Christmas Annual. This story not only introduced these iconic characters but also laid the foundation for an entire genre of mystery and detective fiction.

The story, and its main characters, attracted little public interest at first. Only eleven complete copies of Beeton’s Christmas Annual for 1887, are known to exist now. Although Doyle wrote 56 short stories featuring Holmes, A Study in Scarlet is one of only four full-length novels in the original canon.

The book’s title is from a speech given by Holmes, a consulting detective, to his friend and chronicler Watson on the nature of his work, in which he describes the story’s murder investigation as his “study in scarlet”: “There’s the scarlet thread of murder running through the colourless skein of life, and our duty is to unravel it, and isolate it, and expose every inch of it.”

Doyle’s writing in A Study in Scarlet not only showcases his talent for intricate plotting and captivating storytelling but also introduces a new kind of detective – one who relies on science, logic, and astute observation rather than solely on traditional policing methods.

The novel’s impact was profound, setting the stage for a series of stories and novels featuring Holmes and Watson. Sherlock Holmes became a cultural icon, and A Study in Scarlet remains a seminal work in the world of detective fiction, inspiring numerous adaptations, sequels, and reimaginings across various mediums over the decades.