Sherlock Holmes: A Scandal in Bohemia
Ratings47
Average rating4.2
15
Ratings47
Average rating4.2
"A Scandal in Bohemia" is the first short story, and the third overall work, featuring Arthur Conan Doyle's fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. It is the first of the 56 Holmes short stories written by Doyle and the first of 38 Sherlock Holmes works illustrated by Sidney Paget. The story is notable for introducing the character of Irene Adler, who is one of the most notable female characters in the Sherlock Holmes series, despite appearing in only one story. Doyle ranked "A Scandal in Bohemia" fifth in his list of his twelve favourite Holmes stories.
"A Scandal in Bohemia" was first published on 25 June 1891 in the July issue of The Strand Magazine, and was the first of the stories collected in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes in 1892.
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Also contained in:
- [Adventures of Sherlock Holmes](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL262421W)
- [Adventures of Sherlock Holmes](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL18191906W)
- [Annotated Sherlock Holmes. 1/2](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL1518438W)
- [Aventuras de Sherlock Holmes](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL262552W)
- [Aventures de Sherlock Holmes](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL14930215W)
- [Bedside Conan Doyle](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL14929890W)
- [Best of Sherlock Holmes](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL262571W/Best_of_Sherlock_Holmes)
- [Best Stories of Sherlock Holmes](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL14929901W)
- [Best of Sherlock Holmes](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL18195589W)
- [Boys' Sherlock Holmes](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL8696809W)
- [Casebook of Sherlock Holmes](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL18193108W)
- [Classic Adventures of Sherlock Holmes](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL14929956W)
- [Eight Great Sherlock Holmes Stories](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL1518171W)
- [Favorite Sherlock Holmes Detective Stories](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL1518175W)
- [Favourite Sherlock Holmes Stories](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL16344900W)
- [Obras completas de Conan Doyle: II](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL20787319W)
- [Un scandale en Bohême suivi de Silver Blaze](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL14930612W)
- [Sherlock Holmes Reader](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL14930658W)
- [Sherlock Holmes: Master Detective](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL14930421W)
- [Sherlock Holmes: His Most Famous Mysteries](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL14930414W)
- [Sherlock Holmes Mysteries](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL1518392W)
- [Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Reader](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL18235145W/The_Sir_Arthur_Conan_Doyle_Reader)
- [Sign of the Four, A Scandal in Bohemia and Other Stories](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL20630338W)
- [Six Great Sherlock Holmes Stories](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL1518361W/Six_Great_Sherlock_Holmes_Stories)
- [Some Adventures of Sherlock Holmes](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL24168603W)
- [Study in Scarlet and Other Stories](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL16742094W)
- [Tales of Sherlock Holmes](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL14929819W)
- [Tales of Sherlock Holmes](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL1518418W)
Reviews with the most likes.
This book reminds me a little of “The Purloined Letter” by Edgar Allan Poe. But Conan Doyle focuses on the same problem in a different way and that makes the story unique. Besides the character of Irene Adler is (apart from Professor Moriarty) equals the only intelligence to Sherlock Holmes. It's a great story set in Victorian London.
“You see, yet you do not observe” is a phrase to live by. Holmes and Watson encounter the mysterious Irene Adler in this short story, which then puts into question everything that Holmes is and represents. For one, he is often thought of as being a misogynist and/or gynophobic (something that I do not entirely agree with), but his meeting with “The Woman” changes that perception very quickly. While Irene Adler is an interesting character inasmuch as she helps the reader to see a different side of the detective-hero, she is not as spectacular as what a lot of critics make her out to be. The BBC TV series really expanded on her character and made her a true force to be reckoned with, but the original Irene is rather dull by comparison and does very little in ways of outwitting the great Sherlock Holmes. Overall, this little story is enjoyable just as much as the others, but it is not the most interesting of cases in the canon.
“To Sherlock Holmes she is always the woman. I have seldom heard him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses and predominates the whole of her sex...there was but one woman to him, and that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable memory.”
In A Scandal in Bohemia Watson describes a woman who fooled Sherlock Holmes. It all kicks off when Sherlock receives a guest who makes Sherlock and Watson swear secrecy. He's Count Von Kramm, the future King of Bohemia who has had an affair with a woman called Irene Adler. Irene has a picture of them together and is going to use it to ruin his upcoming marriage. He asks Sherlock to retrieve the photo. Sherlock Holmes theorises that in a crisis women run to save their most precious They then proceed to convince Irene there is a fire. She runs to a nearby box and takes the picture, knowing where the picture is Watson and Sherlock leave. The next day Sherlock and Watson return when Irene is out of the house but instead of the photo they find a letter. It says Irene had been watching Sherlock and that she burned the photo. She asks to be left alone forever. Holmes refuses a heavy emerald encrusted ring but accepts Irene's photograph as payment for his services.
A Scandal in Bohemia might only be a short story but it's entertaining enough. It has a memorable opening line and is definitely worth picking up.
Featured Series
11 primary booksThe Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is a 11-book series with 11 primary works first released in 20 with contributions by Arthur Conan Doyle.
