This text is from the radio show I wrote. It was broadcast on simone station.
Audio – Gerry Rafferty Baker Street, song
Baker Street is a song by Gerry Rafferty from the album city to city. Its title is inspired by the name of a street in Glasgow, Scotland. If I chose this title to begin the column, it is also because it is a namesake. Indeed, 221B Baker Street is the fictitious address of the London apartment occupied by Detective Sherlock Holmes and Doctor John Watson, the two heroes of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective novels. While Sherlock Holmes is looking for a tenant to share the rent, a man named Stamford introduces him to Dr. Watson. Both will occupy accommodation rented by Mrs. Hudson who will live on the ground floor.
But let’s come back to its author. Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle was born on May 22, 1859 in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Doyles were an Irish Catholic family. Charles Altamont Doyle, Arthur’s father was an artist with a penchant for alcohol. He married Mary Foley who had a passion for books but also a talent for storytelling.
At the age of 9, Arthur stayed in a Jesuit boarding school where he spent very difficult years. He continued to revolt against corporal punishment, which was prevalent in most English schools of this period. During this time, Doyle escaped through writing and playing sports.
In 1876 Arthur decided to pursue a medical career. As a college student, he met a number of future writers such as James Barrie and Robert Louis Stevenson. At that time, he met Dr Joseph Bell, one of the professors who inspired him with the fascinating character of Sherlock Holmes.
Doyle had an atypical career. As a young surgeon, he got on a boat and traveled to the Arctic. Although he did not make a fortune, he drew on all his experiences to write various books. It was not until March 1886 that Doyle began writing the novel that propelled him to fame “A Tangled Skein” starring two characters, Sheridan Hope and Ormond Sacker. Two years later the novel was published under the title “a study in scarlet” in “Beeton’s Christmas Annual”. Holmes and Watson then made their appearance.
Like many writers, Conan Doyle was fascinated by the paranormal and spiritualism, and he wrote about it often. But it was not until 1889 that Doyle achieved great success with the novel “the sign of four” and Sherlock Holmes.
Let us now dwell a little on the main character and his different representations. Sherlock Holmes has become the archetype of the private investigator. With an incredible memory, he is a scholar just like his older brother Mycroft. He occupies a position of responsibility with the government and their relations are both fraternal and conflictual.
Accompanied by Dr. Watson who is also his confidant, Sherlock disentangles complex affairs and demonstrates relentless logic. He likes to disguise himself in particular by begging to blend in with the slums of the city. Quite often Sherlock has to face a formidable criminal named Moriarty. A fine strategist who gives him a hard time. Reluctant to socialize, Holmes is a tormented and elusive character whose character has evolved over time and with varying interpretations on screen.
Indeed, Sherlock Holmes has been the subject of many television and film adaptations and it is difficult to quote all of them. Among the most notable, I would give as an example, the series of the 80s played by actor Jeremy Brett. A British TV movie produced by Michael Cox and June Wyndham-Davies.
Generic audio of the series with Jeremy Bret
On the cinema side, the Guy Stuart Ritchie film made in 2009 appeals to the atmosphere bordering on steam punk that sometimes emerges from it and the originality of its original soundtrack composed by Hans Zimmer.
Audio from the credits of the Film
There are about 60 stories around Sherlock Holmes and unfortunately I cannot cover them all here. Thank you for listening to “vigilante and outlaw” and good luck everyone on simone station.
Visual of the broadcast by Station Simone