The Final Collection

Introduction

The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes, published in 1927, is the last collection of short stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle featuring Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John H. Watson. Consisting of twelve stories written between 1921 and 1927, the collection portrays Holmes in his later years, retired in Sussex but occasionally returning to detective work. While sometimes darker in tone than earlier tales, these stories extend the canon into the modern era of the 1920s.

Stories Included

The collection contains twelve stories:

1. The Adventure of the Illustrious Client
2. The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier
3. The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone
4. The Adventure of the Three Gables
5. The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire
6. The Adventure of the Three Garridebs
7. The Problem of Thor Bridge
8. The Adventure of the Creeping Man
9. The Adventure of the Lion’s Mane
10. The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger
11. The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place

Publication History

The stories were originally published individually in magazines such as The Strand between 1921 and 1927. By this time, Doyle had largely turned away from detective fiction to focus on spiritualism, but he returned intermittently to Holmes due to public demand and publishers’ interest. The collected volume was published in June 1927 by John Murray (UK) and George H. Doran (US).

Significance

The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes is notable for its experimental elements and darker subject matter. Stories such as “The Sussex Vampire” explore the gothic and supernatural, while “The Veiled Lodger” deals with trauma and despair. Two stories — “The Blanched Soldier” and “The Lion’s Mane” — are narrated by Holmes himself rather than Watson, offering a rare shift in perspective. Though some critics consider the Case-Book less polished than earlier works, it demonstrates Doyle’s willingness to explore new directions for his famous detective.

Adaptations

• Granada Television (1990s): Jeremy Brett’s Holmes starred in several Case-Book adaptations, including “The Creeping Man” and “The Sussex Vampire.”
• Radio: Many of the Case-Book stories have been dramatised by the BBC, keeping them in circulation for new generations.
• Modern Influence: Stories like “The Three Garridebs” and “The Mazarin Stone” have inspired reworkings in contemporary film, television, and fan fiction.

Conclusion

The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes represents the detective’s final bow in Doyle’s canon. Though sometimes uneven, it expands the Holmes universe into new thematic territory and ensures that the detective’s adventures stretched across four decades of publication. The collection remains essential for completing the Holmes cycle and understanding the evolution of Doyle’s creation.