5 Surprising Facts About Sherlock Holmes You Probably Didn't Know

Sherlock Holmes is one of literature's most iconic and enduring characters, with a devoted fan base spanning generations. While most people are familiar with the basic premise of the Sherlock Holmes stories – a brilliant detective solving mysterious crimes in Victorian England – there are a number of interesting and lesser-known facts about the character that may surprise you.

Here are five facts about Sherlock Holmes that you probably didn't know:


Number 1. You Won't Believe the Original Intention for Sherlock Holmes's Character


Image Source - Twitter


Sherlock Holmes was never meant to be a detective. In his 1892 story "A Study in Scarlet," Sir Arthur Conan Doyle intended Sherlock Holmes to be a scientist who used his skills to solve crimes. The character, however, quickly became popular, and Conan Doyle eventually turned him into a detective in subsequent stories.


Number 2. The Real-Life Inspiration behind Sherlock Holmes


Image Source - Twitter


Sherlock Holmes was modelled after a real person. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was inspired by Dr. Joseph Bell, a real-life forensic scientist known for his ability to solve mysteries through observation and deduction. Conan Doyle was a medical student under Dr. Bell's tutelage, and he based Sherlock Holmes on him.


Number 3. A Polymath with many talents


Image Source - Twitter


Sherlock Holmes was a multi-talented individual. Holmes is portrayed in the stories as an expert in a variety of fields, including chemistry, biology, and archaeology. He was also a skilled boxer and an accomplished violinist.


Number 4. Sherlock Holmes and his rivalry with Professor Moriarty


Image Source - Twitter


Sherlock Holmes had an adversary. Professor Moriarty, a criminal mastermind considered to be Sherlock Holmes's equal in intelligence and cunning, was the detective's arch-rival in the Sherlock Holmes stories. In several stories, the two characters clashed, including "The Final Problem," in which Moriarty appears to kill Holmes in a confrontation at the Reichenbach Falls. (However, due to popular demand, Conan Doyle later brought the character back.)


Number 5. One character. Multiple actors


Image Source - Twitter


Numerous actors have played Sherlock Holmes. Numerous actors have played Sherlock Holmes in film, television, and stage adaptations of the stories. Basil Rathbone in the 1940s, Jeremy Brett in the 1980s and 1990s, and Benedict Cumberbatch in the 2010s were among the most famous portrayals. Alongside these actors, film adaptations of the detective have seen popular actors like Robert Downey Jr. and more, recently, Henry Cavill, don the role of the famous detective.


I hope you enjoyed learning some new Sherlock Holmes facts! Have you got any more questions about the character or the stories? Please let me know in the comments section.

Comments