Fictitious private detective, created by the
English writer Arthur Conan Doyle in A Study
in Scarlet 1887 and recurring in novels and
stories until 1914. Holmes's ability to make
inferences from slight clues always
astonishes the narrator, Dr Watson. The
criminal mastermind against whom Holmes
repeatedly pits his wits is Professor James
Moriarty. Holmes is regularly portrayed at
his home, 221b Baker Street, London, where he
plays the violin and has bouts of determined
action interspersed by lethargy and
drug-taking. His characteristic pipe and
deerstalker hat were the addition of an
illustrator.