Sherlock Holmes: The Man Who Never Lived and Will Never Die

On Friday the Museum of London inaugurated a splendid exhibition immersing visitors into the adventurous life of the greatest detective ever – Sherlock Holmes.

Sherlock Holmes is a fictional character devised by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and introduced in “A Study in Scarlet” in 1887. His magnetic personality was depicted so vividly that readers had showered 221B Baker Street, the detective’s London address, with letters asking to investigate crimes.

Some museum halls embody Holmes’ spirit through his literary belongings, such as his hat, smoking pipe, violin, chemicals, down-at-heel shoes and glasses; whereas other rooms evoke the atmosphere of old Victorian England.

The exhibition showcases several unique pieces, including authentic manuscripts written by Holmes’s creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. One of them, namely “The Adventure of the Empty House”, was response to the avalanche of letters received from heartsore readers who had demanded Holmes be brought back to life after his death in the previous story. Supposedly, the Queen herself had signed one of those letters.

Photos and pictures that captured London in fog, at night and at dusk help reconstruct the mysterious atmosphere of Sherlock Holmes’s risky adventures.

The recent TV series “Sherlock” starring Benedict Cumberbatch as the genius detective has swept the board. Viewers are fascinated by the successful adaptation of Doyle’s stories to modern times and eagerly await the sequel. Modern Holmes’s greatcoat can be viewed at the exhibition.

Guests can also see pictures by Sidney Edward Paget, a Victorian-era artist whose Sherlock Holmes illustrations had become iconic.

This Sidney Paget portrait of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has been kept in the novelist’s family and is now exhibited for the first time.