A comprehensive guide to this important literary figure and his author A classic literary character, Sherlock Holmes has fascinated readers for decades-from his repartee with Dr. Watson and his unparalleled powers of deduction to the settings, themes, and villains of the stories. Now, this friendly guide offers a clear introduction to this beloved figure and his author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, presenting new insight into the detective stories and crime scene analysis that have has made Sherlock Holmes famous. Inside you'll find easy-to-understand yet thorough information on the characters, recurring themes, and locations, and social context of the Sherlock Holmes stories, the relationship of these stories to literature, and the forensics and detective work they feature. You'll also learn about the life of the author. A plain-English guide that helps you better understand and enjoy this influential literary character Gain insight on these classic Doyle tales-from the classic Hound of the Baskervilles to the lesser-known short stories to Holmes stories written by other mystery writers. Explores the appearance of Sherlock Holmes on film, TV, and stage Discusses Holmes today-from the ever-expanding network of fans worldwide to story locations that fans can visit It's elementary "Sherlock Holmes For Dummies" is an indispensable guide for students and fans alike