The adventures of sherlock holmes, hardcover/arthur conan doyle

A collection of the most famous cases faced by Sir Arthur Conan Doyles peerless creation, now in a beautiful hardcover edition designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith This collection of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and the Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes includes many of the famous cases - and great strokes of brilliance - that made the legendary detective one of fictions most popular creations.

With his devoted amanuensis Dr Watson, Holmes emerges from his smoke-filled room in Baker Street to grapple with the forces of treachery, intrigue and evil in such cases as The Speckled Band, in which a terrified woman begs their help in solving the mystery surrounding her sisters death, or A Scandal in Bohemia, which portrays a European king blackmailed by his mistress.

In Silver Blaze the pair investigate the disappearance of a racehorse and the violent murder of its trainer, while in The Final Problem Holmes at last comes face to face with his nemesis, the diabolical Professor Moriarty - the Napoleon of crime.

About the Author: Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) was born in Edinburgh and took a degree in medicine at Edinburgh University before becoming a doctor in Southsea.

He began writing detective stories to supplement his income and A Study in Scarlet (1887) introduced his finest creation, the hawk-eyed detective, Sherlock Holmes.

Iain Pears is the best-selling author of six detective novels, including An Instance of the Finger Post .

Ed Glinert is a journalist and writer.