Ever since the first appearance in 1887, Sherlock Holmes has had a devoted readership. After Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s 56 short stories and four novels were published, Sherlock Holmes lived on, not only in his ongoing readership but also in the numerous adaptations.

In this seminar, we will look at a selection of these Sherlock Holmes adaptations, exploring the ways in which they engage with Doyle’s texts and with each other, thus creating a Sherlock Holmes who outgrew his origins and became a cultural artefact rather than a mere literary character. We will read a selection of Doyle's short stories and Sherlock Holmes novels by other authors, like Laurie R. King’s The Beekeeper’s Apprentice. Karl Boller’s graphic novel adaption Watson and Holmes: A Study in Black will complement these text and lead us to adaptations in other media such as Guy Ritchie’s 2009 film Sherlock Holmes.