The Return of Sherlock Holmes

The Return of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle (1905)

Holmes is alive! Thirteen stories marking the detective's triumphant return from the dead after "The Final Problem." Including "The Adventure of the Empty House," "The Adventure of the Dancing Men," and "The Adventure of the Six Napoleons."

Historical Significance:
After killing Holmes at Reichenbach Falls in 1893, Doyle resisted enormous pressure to revive him for ten years. The American magazine Collier's finally offered such a staggering sum ($45,000 for 13 stories — over $1.5 million today) that Doyle relented. "The Adventure of the Empty House," published in October 1903, caused a sensation — queues formed at newsstands, and The Strand Magazine's print run sold out immediately. Holmes' explanation of his survival (a fictional martial art called "baritsu") is one of the great hand-waving moments in literature.

This public domain classic was originally published in 1905. Free to read and share.