COVE

The first story in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes collection is published in Strand Magazine. After two novels starring Holmes and his partner Dr. Watson, this is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s first short story featuring the detective as well as his second publication in Strand. It also marks the first time Sidney Paget provides the illustrations for a Holmes story. Paget is hired by Strand Magazine to illustrate all of the Holmes stories in the collection. This first collaboration leads to a long-time partnership between Conan Doyle and Paget, with Paget going on to illustrate more than 350 images for one novel and 37 short stories. Paget and Conan Doyle’s partnership extended beyond just Holmes stories, with Paget providing hundreds of illustrations for Conan Doyle’s non-detectives works in the magazine as well.

Conan Doyle’s stories and Paget’s iconic images made the Sherlock Holmes stories among the most popular of the Victorian era and created the blueprint for the sleuthing detective figure in mystery fiction for centuries. The popularity of these stories often led to issues of Strand Magazine featuring Holmes stories selling out. This resulted in frequent publications of Doyle’s works — including Holmes stories, other short stories, poems, articles, and interviews — being published in Strand Magazine until the final issue of the magazine was released in 1930.

Primary Sources:

Sidney Paget, The Victorian Web

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Victorian Web

Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is one of literature's most famous recurring characters and a staple in the mystery genre. Arthur Conan Doyle has crafted a series that has stood the test of time and cemented its place amongst literary canon. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes was published on October 14th, 1892, by The Gresham Press and George Newnes as a collection of short stories containing over 100 images. In essence, Doyle’s work has been responsible for creating much of the conventions that are a staple of the mystery genre. Between 1887 and 1927, Doyle wrote four novels and fifty-six stories with Sherlock Holmes. All the short stories appeared first in The  Strand magazine before eventually being published as book editions. Without question Sherlock Holmes is a classic literary figure, and his iconic look has played a large role in his historical staying power. Sidney Paget, the illustrator responsible for the work in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, played an essential role in the creation of the Sherlock Holmes that we know today. Paget used a photomechanical half-tone method of illustration that is directly responsible for the sketch style that defined the series’ illustration. What’s significant about Paget’s illustration is that he created these drawings entirely based on Doyle's references to Holmes’ dress. This is important because it speaks to the notion of the artist and author as separate bodies, each interpreting the text in their own individual way.

Source: victorianweb.org 

Submitted by: Simon Mancuso, Alexandra Monstur and Marina Arnone