When readers speak of “the Canon” of Sherlock Holmes, they are referring to the body of work written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle that introduced the world’s most famous detective.

Traditionally, the Canon is recognised as 4 novels and 56 short stories, published between 1887 and 1927. These works established Holmes and Dr. Watson as enduring figures in literature and gave rise to what many consider the most influential detective stories of all time.

The Four Novels

The Holmes novels form the backbone of the Canon, presenting longer, more complex mysteries:

1. A Study in Scarlet (1887)

2. The Sign of Four (1890)

3. The Hound of the Baskervilles (1902)

4. The Valley of Fear (1915)

The Fifty-Six Short Stories

The short stories were collected in five published volumes:

• The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1892)

• The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (1893)

• The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1905)

• His Last Bow (1917)

• The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes (1927)

Together, these volumes comprise the canonical 56 stories, widely accepted as the definitive collection.

The Debate: 56 or 58 Stories?

Some scholars, however, include two additional short works by Arthur Conan Doyle:

• The Field Bazaar (1896)

• How Watson Learned the Trick (1924)

These stories are sometimes listed alongside the Canon, bringing the total to 58, though they were not originally part of the collected volumes.

Noted Holmes editor and scholar Leslie S. Klinger, among others, has discussed these works in the context of the Canon. On SherlockHolmes.com we present the traditional 56-story count, while acknowledging the existence of these two additional works.

Why the Canon Matters

The Canon is more than a list of titles — it is the foundation of modern detective fiction. The stories have inspired countless adaptations, pastiches, films, and television series. They are studied for their literary craft, admired for their logical puzzles, and beloved for their characters’ humanity.

For over a century, readers around the world have returned to these stories not just for their mysteries, but for the enduring friendship of Holmes and Watson.

Explore the Canon Online

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• 🧩 Dive into our Sherlock Holmes Wiki