With the recent release of the increasingly popular Sherlock Holmes Movie, I came to realize that many people around the UK still believe that Sherlock Holmes actually really existed. Initially, I thought to myself: “How can these people possibly think so?” However, the more I chatted to friends, listened to rumours and then found out that there is an actual Sherlock Holmes Museum in Marylebone, London; I actually started to wonder if perhaps I was incorrect.
For this very reason, I decided to undertake a little research project of my own and find out once and for all whether Sherlock Holmes was really a man, or a myth!
So, did Sherlock Holmes really exist, or is he completely fictional?
The truth about Sherlock Holmes is that he is a fictional character created in the late 19th century by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Those who think that he was a real person aren’t entirely incorrect though, as Holmes is actually based on a real man named Dr. Joseph Bell whom Conan Doyle worked for at the Edinburgh infirmary in the 1800’s. Bell, like Sherlock Holmes, was renowned for summing up crime scenes from just the tiniest pieces of evidence.
The history of Sherlock Holmes
The first Sherlock Holmes adventure was published in 1887. Conan Doyle wrote only a few full length novels about Holmes and his trusty sidekick “Watson,” however, the duos’ popularity only really flourished with the publication of no less than 56 short stories which first appeared in “The Strand Magazine” in 1891.
Sherlock Holmes’ address at 221B Baker Street is well known amongst fans, a fact that any Marylebone estate agent will be sure to remind you of should you be seeking property for rent in Marylebone. The Sherlock Holmes Museum located in Baker Street is famous for being the first museum in history to be dedicated to a fictional character.
A “real life” replica of Sherlock Holmes’ Baker Street living room and study can be found at the Sherlock Holmes Pub in London. This popular pub boasts a variety of memorabilia collected from the first ever Sherlock Holmes Expedition at the Festival of Britain in 1957. The pub is a definite must-see next time you’re in Marylebone.
Why the big hype about a fictional character from the 1800’s?
Unless you’ve been hiding under a large rock, you will know that the recent hype about Sherlock Holmes has been triggered by the release of the Sherlock Holmes movie starring Robert Downey Jnr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams and Mark Strong. Although the movie is very much a Hollywood production (despite being directed by local director Guy Ritchie), the movie is based in London and those watching the film won’t be able to help but feel the patriotism as they watch the Sherlock Holmes story unfold in the streets of London. If you’re not a fan of the cinema, then make sure you find out what the hype is about by getting your paws on the Sherlock Holmes DVD which will be released later this year. Until then, it’s simply: “Elementary, my dear Watson”