Springorchid Files

A Study in Scarlet was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle first novel featuring Sherlock Holmes. Written in 1887, it is a story of revenge against wrongful deaths. The novel showcased Sherlock Holmes’ deductive and investigative prowess.

Storyline

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.

Sherlock Holmes

The first part of the novel established the relationship between Sherlock Holmes and John Watson and how they came to live at 221B Baker Street. The second part established Holmes’ deductive prowess when he solved the murder in an empty room in record time.

A Study in Scarlet is a tale of revenge and obsession. I empathized with the murderer with a deep grievance but was sad that he wasted twenty years of his life seeking revenge. His name is Hope but he has no hope.

1. A Study in Scarlet with Reginald Owen as Sherlock Holmes (1933)

Reginald Owen plays Sherlock Holmes. This film has very few similarities with the original plot. In the original novel, Sherlock Holmes captured the murderer Jefferson Hope in record time. In this film, Sherlock Holmes behaved a lot more normal although still clever.

2. A Study in Scarlet with Peter Cushing as Sherlock Holmes (1968)

This television film version is closer to the original novel.

3. A Study in Scarlet Movie Animation

The quality of the animation is not too good but I am quite happy to have found it.

4. A Study in Scarlet Stage Play

It is interesting to see how a novel gets translated into a stage play. The production used very few props leaving more to the audience’s imagination.

5. Original novel read by Greg Wagland

A Magpie audio recording. Greg Wagland is a regular reader of literary classics. I enjoyed his recordings a lot.

6. Original novel read by Laurie Ann Walden

Another LibriVox audio recording. It is refreshing to listen to a female reader. I think she did a good job. Length: 4 hours and 14 minutes.

7. Radio drama by Saturday Night Theatre

This is an audio recording of a Saturday Night Theatre radio drama on BBC Radio 4. This is originally broadcast on 22 December 1962. Length: 1 hour 30 minutes.

8. Read the Book

• Find it at Amazon (affiliate link)
• Find it at a library

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