A Study in Scarlet (Enhanced‪)‬

A Study in Scarlet is a detective mystery novel written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, which was first published in 1887. It is the first story to feature the character of Sherlock Holmes, who would later become one of the most famous literary detective characters, with long-lasting interest and appeal. The book's title derives from a speech given by Holmes to his companion Doctor Watson on the nature of his work, in which he describes the story's murder investigation as his "study in scarlet": "There’s the scarlet thread of murder running through the colourless skein of life, and our duty is to unravel it, and isolate it, and expose every inch of it."


Conan Doyle wrote the novel at the age of 27 in less than three weeks. As a general practice doctor in South Sea, Portsmouth, he had already published short stories in several magazines of the day, such as the periodical London Society. It was illustrated by D. H. Friston. The novel was first published as a book on July 1888 by Ward, Lock & Co., and featured drawings by the author's father, Charles Doyle. Numerous further editions, translations and dramatizations have appeared since. (Wikipedia)