Being Sherlock

I had a blast reading this, I've loved Sherlock stories for a long time and this book was great. It was fun and well-written, I couldn't put it down.

Enjoyed reading this Sherlock collection. I liked the background given on the stories, the information on
which movies/tv shows that had episodes based on the stories. It gave one another view of the stories and allowed me to notice more about them.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. This will be available on October first.

For those who don’t have the dubious pleasure of knowing me personally, let me say: I love Sherlock Holmes. I have read the Complete Sherlock Holmes multiple times. I’ve enjoyed many different works in the Holmes pastiche, including (but not limited to) Mycroft Holmes by Kareem Abdul-Jabaar and Anna Waterhouse, the Charlotte Holmes books by Brittany Cavallaro, and The Improbable Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.

This book is a superb addition to the list of Sherlockian books. It added a new angle to the lore and many iterations of Conan Doyle’s famous detective that have sprung from his original works.

I loved the addition of the photos and the author’s viewpoints, as well as her reasoning behind what she included in the book. She points out aspects of Conan Doyle’s writing that I’ve taken for granted up until now. It’s given me an even greater appreciation of the genius of his writing.

My only suggestion would be to read the full original works before picking up this book, simply because it will cause you to appreciate this introspective stroll through Sherlock even more. If you love Holmes, this book is for you.

I requested this book expecting it to be an entertainment history of different versions of Sherlock Holmes stories. Instead, it contains many of Doyle's original stories, each introduced with an overview of different adaptations, photos from TV and movies, and interesting behind-the-scenes tales. This will appeal to fans of Doyle's stories and any version on screen.

Ashley D. Polasek, who has a Ph.D in film and television adaptations of Sherlock Holmes, is an internationally recognized expert on the fictional detective.

Sherlock Holmes is one of literature's most recognizable characters, and - due to his vast popularity - has been depicted in a gamut of radio shows, stage plays, movies, and television series.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 56 short stories and 4 novellas make up the 'canon' of Sherlock Holmes, to which other writers have added their own stories, books, scripts, poems, songs, etc. Thus it seems like Sherlock Holmes will never go out of style.

Almost two hundred actors have portrayed Sherlock Holmes over the years. One of the first was William Gillette who played Holmes in stage plays and silent films.

Two all time favorite depictions of Sherlock Holmes' are by Basil Rathbone in films and Jeremy Brett on television. More recent front-runners are Robert Downey Jr. in movies, and Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller on television.

More unconventional portrayals of Sherlock Holmes include Sir Ian McKellan as an aging sleuth in the movie 'Mr. Holmes' and Yûko Takeuchi as a female detective in the Japanese television series 'Miss Sherlock.' The author also notes that brilliant diagnostician Dr. Gregory House on 'House, M.D.' (played by Hugh Laurie) is a Sherlockian character. And the list could go on and on.

Though film and television adaptations of Sherlock Holmes are very popular, Polasek prefers the original stories. She writes, "For all the time I've spent immersed in the screen appearances of Sherlock Holmes, I always return to Conan Doyle's tales. They offer all the delights of the characters, the mysteries, and the atmosphere, and even after wearing the mystery out of them through endless rereading, they still utterly transport me."

In this book Polasek introduces the reader to "the very best the canon has to offer." Polasek shares the stories she loves most, the reasons she adores them, and all kinds of interesting minutiae related to the tales and their screen adaptations. The narrative is illustrated with photos, and it's fun to see Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson in an assortment of incarnations.

Polasek includes her favorite Sherlock Holmes stories in their entirety, and - though I've read the tales many times - I enjoyed this excursion into the cream of the canon.

A Scandal in Bohemia
Among other things, this story - about the consequences of an unwise romance - introduces the character of Irene Adler. Adler, whom Holmes calls "the woman", is one of Conan Doyle's most notable female protagonists. Over the decades Adler has morphed into a wide variety of guises on screen, including a romantic foil for Holmes.

The Red-Headed League
This yarn, which features a carrot-top man who's hired to copy out the Encyclopedia Britannica, not only stimulates Holme's intellectual curiosity, it also tickles his "blissful sense of the absurd."

The Speckled Band
This tale, about a woman who fears something is amiss in the home she shares with her stepfather, is a notable example of Conan Doyle's domestic trope. It features "a heavily veiled young woman, shaking from fear....who ignites the action by recounting the unexplained death of her sister, Julia."

The Man With the Twisted Lip
This narrative, about a man who disappears in a criminal London neighborhood, "draws on all of the anxieties that feed urban gothic works, beginning with the threat posed by the teeming London underworld to middle-class respectability."

The Solitary Cyclist
This story, about a young woman alarmed by a stalker, allows us to observe Holmes "knightly conduct as he stands toe to toe with one of the canon's most notorious scoundrels: Roaring Jack Woodley."

The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton
In this narrative about blackmailer Charles Augustus Milverton, Sherlock Holmes calls him "the worst man in London." We get a picture of the revolting rotter, including "details of his appearance, manner, speech, reputation, public and private behavior, and his effects on those around him."

The Adventure of the Bruce Partington Plans
This tale, about submarine plans that are stolen, is a harbinger of the popular spy fiction genre. "It's complete with advanced military technology, foreign agents, international intrigue, personal betrayal, and espionage."

The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle
This yarn, about a valuable gem found in the crop of a Christmas goose, is the only holiday themed story in the canon. "It offers everything one might want from a Victorian Christmas tale."

The Adventure of the Dancing Men
This mystery, about a woman threatened with notes written in code, helped cement the popularity of cyphers in detective fiction.

The Adventure of the Abbey Grange
This story, about a murdered aristocrat in a VERY male-dominated culture, is "one of Conan Doyle's most moral stories."

The Hound of the Baskervilles
This novella, about a family cursed with a hound from hell, is "arguably the most popular and easily the most read of the sixty tales that make up the Sherlock Holmes canon and beyond that, is recognized as one of the most beloved novels in the English language." The Hound of the Baskervilles is one of the most cinematic of the Sherlock Holmes stories, and has been adapted into numerous films and television episodes.

I strongly recommend this entertaining book to fans of Sherlock Holmes and to newbies who want to get acquainted with the famous sleuth.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author (Ashley D. Polasek), and the publisher (Lyons Press) for a copy of the book.

Most people first encounter Sherlock Holmes through popular culture, which can give a narrow and distorted view. The Sherlock Holmes of Arthur Conan Doyle's original stories has complexities and inconsistencies, and the character has gathered elements--some of which are more familiar than the ones contributed by Doyle--from illustrators, playwrights, novelists, short story writers, screenwriters, radio and television script writers, actors (including actresses) and other creative individuals.

Sherlockians appreciate the breadth of result, although most will dismiss some aspects as unworthy. Some hew strictly to Doyle's texts, others delight in extrapolations and improvements added over the years. Some love the reasoning, others the attitude; some feel he should remain in Victorian Europe, others allow him to travel anywhere in time and space.

This book combines a collection of the most famous of Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories with comments about film and television adaptations ranging from faithful to loosely based. It's an excellent way for a reader unfamiliar with the original texts to read some of the best ones, and connect them to some of the most popular shows and movies.

It may not please readers who already know a bit about Holmes because the stories are likely to be familiar and the comments relating to only the most currently popular, big-budget adaptations. They are written oddly in disconnected paragraphs, as if by different people, often repeating information and sometimes contradicting each other. A minor gripe that may bother people who appreciate Doyle's elegant English prose is misuse of words like "whence" and "whom," which seem thrown in to give a Victorian feel to the comments--but when misused just make them sound pompous (most readers will likely not notice to be offended).

There are many collections of Sherlock Holmes stories, and even more books about the broader Holmes character's evolution and meaning. This is a good one to take the reader from watching the recent BBC Sherlock series or the Robert Downey films to a basic appreciation of the original Sherlock along with some of the more popular interpretations such as by Basil Rathbone (actor) or Nicholas Meyer (author). But it's just a toe dip into a deep ocean. There are many other worthy stories by Doyle that are less familiar to modern readers, and much, much more to learn about how Holmes went from Victorian magazine serials to conquer nearly all forms of entertainment.

"Being Sherlock" contains commentary on the various film and television incarnations of arguably the most famous (fictional) private detective in conjunction with a selection of short stories and the full length novel "The Hound of the Baskervilles". It's a great introduction for those who only know of the great detective through the more recent versions and perhaps never read the original stories. The commentary touches upon the classic interpretations as well as the modern takes and does its best to not favor one actor over another - each incarnation highlights an aspect of the original character and one can't help but picture their favorite version (my personal favorite is Jeremy Brett) while reading the Conan Doyle story.

Thank you, Netgalley, for this advance readers copy! Here is my honest opinion in return.

As a fan of everything Sherlock Holmes, I was excited to get my hands on this book. It did not disappoint!! I love how the author combines the stories with background information, adds information about the movie and TV show adaptions, and includes pictures of the movies and TV shows. For example, Dr. House in the TV show "House" reminded me of Sherlock, now I know why! This is a great collection of Sherlock Holmes stories. It is not just another collection of Sherlock Holmes stories, but goes way beyond that with the additional information.

The author certainly seems to be an expert in everything Sherlock Holmes. The information was not just something you would google and throw together to write a book. She knows what she is talking about!

Great read and I loved rereading some of my favorite Holmes adventures! Made me feel nostalgic!

Princess Fuzzypants here: Elementary! Sherlock Holmes has ignited the imagination of generation after generation since his birth in the fertile mind of Arthur Conan Doyle. Whether it was in serial form when first written or reprint after reprint, generations have embraced him and his associate Dr. Watson. He has also been the star of film and television with many storied actors slipping on his persona.
This is an interesting collection of many of his best tales but it has an intriguing twist. As a preface to each story, the author conjures up some of the finer performances that were based on the particular story. Basil Rathbone, Jeremy Brett, Benedict Cumberbatch are three actors who have, in the own ways, defined how we see Sherlock. Each has a somewhat different take but all true to the material. It is fascinating to see where the performances originated and how the productions, although vastly different, have all captured the essence.
With its combination of the visual with the written material, this book is an excellent addition to any Sherlockian’s collection. Four purrs and two paws up.

Being Sherlock is a survey course and context commentary for 10 of the author's choices for 'best' Holmes stories plus the Hound of the Baskervilles . Released 20th Sept 2019 by Lyons Press, it's 448 pages and available in hardcover and ebook formats.

This is an engaging and thoroughly readable collection by Ashley D Polasek, an academic who has specialized in the study of the Holmes canon and media representations. The stories themselves are perennial and almost certainly familiar to anyone picking up this book. What's fresh and really delightful are the author's interesting and -accessible- comments and background for the stories, their history, and the media depictions which they inspired. The author writes well and entertainingly and manages to avoid the pedagogy and convoluted prose which are the hallmark of all too many general reader books written by very specialized academics.

I really enjoyed this book. I would recommend it unreservedly for fans of Holmes, the films & TV appearances, and mystery lovers as well. She refers to a number of lesser known but worthy spin offs in print and film which will give the reader more Holmesian goodness to hunt down. This would make a great book club or buddy read (one story with commentary per meeting? Yes, please!).

The book is richly annotated and full of photographs and illustrations. This is a lovingly and respectfully written book. Five stars.

This was a great book if you've seen the BBC SHERLOCK or CBS's ELEMENTARY, but have never read any of the Sherlock Holmes books. It introduces you to the canon and the best of the short stories and one novel (HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES) and explains why the particular story was famous ("Scandal in Bohemia" for Irene Adler, for instance), and any adaptations made of that story.

If you're already familiar with the stories and have read many books on Sherlock Holmes, what you read here may be redundant. Well illustrated with drawings from the stories and photographs from the various media adaptations of Holmes' tales, this is a great introduction to the Great Detective.

I put together the newspaper's Books section annual gift guide again this season and was delighted to include this book as a selection in The Globe and Mail's massive Best Holiday Gift Books package (in print December 7, 2019)