The Return of Sherlock Holmes

Once, while visiting the Reichenbach Falls, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was struck by its beauty and decided that Sherlock Holmes should die there. The writer regarded the stories about the famous detective and his friend and biographer, Dr. Watson, as light reading and, at one point, buried his hero at the bottom of the falls after a deadly struggle with Professor Moriarty. However, a flood of letters from outraged readers, including members of the royal family, demanded the resurrection of the hero. As a result, the collection The Return of Sherlock Holmes was published, and a commemorative plaque honoring the famous literary character was installed at the viewing platform of the Reichenbach Falls. We present to readers the stories from this collection, supplemented with commentary and a glossary.