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Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection
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Publisher's Summary
Now updated to include Chapter Name Information, so you can easily find your favourite story or novel
Winner of Audible's 2017 Members' Choice Award
"...it was reading the Sherlock Holmes stories as a boy that first turned me on to the power of writing and storytelling." (Stephen Fry)
Ever since he made his first appearance in A Study In Scarlet, Sherlock Holmes has enthralled and delighted millions of fans throughout the world. Now Audible is proud to present Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection, read by Stephen Fry. A lifelong fan of Doyle's detective fiction, Fry has narrated the complete works of Sherlock Holmes - four novels and five collections of short stories. And, exclusively for Audible, Stephen has written and narrated nine insightful, intimate and deeply personal introductions to each title.
Stephen Fry is an English actor, screenwriter, author, playwright, journalist, comedian, television presenter, film director and all round national treasure. He is the acclaimed narrator of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter audiobooks and most recently recorded The Tales of Max Carrados for Audible Studios. Stephen has contributed columns and articles to newspapers and magazines, appears frequently on radio and has written four novels and three volumes of autobiography.
Part 1
Chapter 1: Opening Credits and Introduction to A Study in Scarlet
Chapters 2-15: A Study in Scarlet
Chapter 16: Introduction to The Sign of Four
Chapters 17-21: The Sign of Four, Part 1
Part 2
Chapters 1-7: The Sign of Four, Part 2
Chapter 8: Introduction to The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Chapters 9-21: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Part 1
Part 3
Chapter 1: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Part 2
Chapter 2: Introduction to The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
Chapters 3-14: The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
Chapter 15: Introduction to The Hound of the Baskervilles
Chapters 16-21: The Hound of the Baskervilles, Part 1
Part 4
Chapters 1-9: The Hound of the Baskervilles, Part 2
Chapter 10: Introduction to The Return of Sherlock Holmes
Chapters 11-21: The Return of Sherlock Holmes, Part 1
Part 5
Chapters 1-2: The Return of Sherlock Holmes, Part 2
Chapter 3: Introduction to The Valley of Fear
Chapters 4-18: The Valley of Fear
Chapter 19: Introduction to His Last Bow
Chapters 20-21: His Last Bow, Part 1
Part 6
Chapters 1-7: His Last Bow, Part 2
Chapter 8: Introduction to The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes
Chapters 9-20: The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes and Closing Credits
What the critics say
"The pairing of Fry and Holmes is a bit of a marriage made in heaven...." (New York Times)
"[Fry] gets into character with his habitual genius..." (The Times)
"Sherlock Holmes. Narrated by Stephen Fry. Need I say more? Honestly though, what a perfect way to get away from it all while you're cooking dinner, commuting, or tidying up this weekend." (Buzzfeed)
"If you're a fan of Sherlock Holmes, Stephen Fry, or the simple pleasure of the audiobook, today's your lucky day. Audible have unveiled a brand new reading of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's entire Sherlock Holmes catalogue, all performed by Fry's dulcet tones." (Evening Standard)
"If you've ever listened to the Harry Potter audiobooks, you'll know that Stephen Fry is responsible for the cosy and eternally reassuring voice that plays out during the recording of J.K Rowling's iconic books. Now, he's turned his talents to a brand new reading of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's entire Sherlock Holmes catalogue - and the thought of it has already got us clambering to pull up a comfy armchair in front of a roaring fire." (Metro)
"Having already narrated one of the world's best-selling book series in the form of Harry Potter, Stephen Fry has returned to the recording booth to take on another hugely popular series." (BBC)
"It doesn't get much more British than Stephen Fry talking about Sherlock." (Mashable)
"Sherlock Holmes is the unfading literary icon - as beloved and as relevant as he was over 120 years ago. To celebrate his currency, Audible has released Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection; Arthur Conan Doyle's complete adventures of the famed detective, as narrated by lifelong fan Stephen Fry, including nine personal introductions exclusive to Audible." (The Independent)
What members say
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Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Gentleman Gamer
- 2017-09-21
An Elementary Purchase
... though Holmes never says once in the canon 'Elementary, my dear Watson', but I digress.
The Holmes stories are timeless, and thus easy to recommend to anyone; some of the novels may be a bit hard to get into for some- I'm thinking here of the lengthy backstory of the criminal included in the end of A Study in Scarlet particularly, though The Sign of Four and The Valley of Fear each in their turn also have lengthy, if more readable, backstories of their respective villains- but generally speaking, they're as interesting and readable now as they were when Conan Doyle wrote them. They're less a series of typical 'mysteries', but are more truly a series of 'adventures', as Watson puts it: there are plenty of conundrums to be sure and there is usually some problem posed to Holmes that he needs to solve, but they're not always of the 'whodunit' or 'howdunit' variety. In two stories he deals with threats of blackmail made to someone, another he attempts to stop a jaded woman from marrying a scoundrel, in several there's less investigation and more action, and then there are plenty of whimsical stories where merely something bizarre happens, and the whole of the story is spent in finding out the wherefore and why. Even by today's standards the stories never feel 'typical', mix things up a good deal, and are compulsively readable; they're not really 'mysterious' and tax your brain as you try to figure out a killer's identity as you would in a Christie novel, but the Holmes stories draw you in and seldom fail to engage and entertain. Thus I would recommend them to absolutely anyone and everyone, bar none.
As for whether a potential purchaser should buy this version of the Holmes canon with readings by Stephen Fry or the Simon Vance ones... well firstly, if you enjoy the Holmes stories already I'd genuinely recommend getting both, as they both have their strengths. If you're new to the stories however and just want to get into one version, here's my recommendation:
If you want an engaging, dramatic read, Fry's your man. He's got a real talent for putting emotion and personality into every character he reads, making them feel unique and distinct from another, and generally helping the characters leap off the page. This is especially nice, given that a majority of the time Watson is narrating the stories in 1st person, and thus the added inflection to his readings is wonderful.
If you want to ease into the stories however, and want to relax with them as you would a nice cup of tea, go with Simon Vance's readings. His harmonious voice draws you into the setting particularly, makes it come to life in your mind, and eases you into the story like you would ease into a cozy armchair. While I couldn't call the rest of the characters' readings more than passable compared to Fry, he does a great job with Holmes' and Watson particularly, which really is the important thing.
So yeah; go with Fry for flair, and Vance for a relaxing read. You can't go wrong with either :)
#Audible1
40 of 42 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Al H.
- 2018-02-22
Stephen Fry is a master
Stephen Fry's personal love for Sherlock Holmes comes through in his masterful reading of this collection. An absolute delight filled with well acted voices, regional dialects and accents. Don't be surprised it you start listening again from the beginning as soon as you reach the end.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Patrick B
- 2018-05-01
Sherlock Holmes is excellent, but read by Stephen Fry makes it unbelievably awesome!
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories about everyone’s favorite fictional detective are amazing on their own. No dispute there.
However, these stories being given life by Stephen Fry’s breathtakingly amazing storytelling capabilities makes them an absolute must read (or listen, in this case).
Never have I ever been so immersed into stories as I was under Mr. Fry’s narration. There might as well have been an entire soundtrack of mood modifying music being his voice.
Absolute marvel is this collection of classics read by the eloquent Stephen Fry!
You will definitely be missing a masterpiece if you do not own Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection.
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- andrew eden
- 2018-01-29
simply fantastic!
Stephen Fry is brilliant as narrator. The stories come alive as he tells them with such enthusiasm!
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Maria Dolores
- 2018-05-13
What fun, and how wonderful Mr Fry’s performance
I can’t believe I listened to the whole 6 parts of the series in just a few weeks. Such great escapism. And I greatly enjoyed Mr Fry’s comments about Sir A. C. Doyle, and the circumstances in which he wrote these wonderful adventures. Sherlock Holmes is truly eternal.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Nes
- 2018-01-09
I absolutely amazing!!!
I love Sherlock Holmes and love Stephan Fry so this audio book was quite the treat. very enthralling. I highly recommend this audio book!
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mr. Layton
- 2019-09-25
great stories
really enjoyed the whole series lots of material. felt sad when finished but also like I accomplished something significant.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Zach
- 2017-12-18
Incredible
You don't have to be London's foremost consulting detective to see this is a masterpiece.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Michael
- 2019-12-04
A first class production.
A first class production of an amazing body of work. Stephen Fry brings the characters and the intrigue of each adventure to life.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ryan Haviland
- 2019-11-22
Excellent collection/performance
Stephen Fry does an excellent job of bringing these familiar tales to life. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire collection!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Antanas Grincevicius
- 2017-10-23
Excellent production
Previously bought Charlton Griffiths production of Sherlock Holmes.
Bought this one as I would like to listen to Stephen Fry’s narration.
Did an excellent job of pronunciation, characterisation including excellent Australian, South African and German accents.
The female voices were believable and added to the story.
Particularly liked the tone and inflection of the narration which fit with the speech. Eg Sherlock chuckled resulted in the passage being read with a chuckle.
Things which could have been added that I enjoyed Charlton Griffiths production were certain sound effects. Eg the gunshots during the narration of the killing of the despicable blackmailer Augustus Milverton.
Other than that very minor point would highly recommend to anybody wanting to transport themselves to a different age as I found it highly immersive.
I now press play to hear it again.
16 of 17 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- absRTP
- 2018-07-03
Best bang for credit!
Oh-my-god! Best purchase ever, 1 credit for 70+ hours of audio book! Stephan Fry is an amazing reader, he is a big fan of Sherlock Holmes and it shows!
14 of 15 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- SMB
- 2017-08-17
Outstanding!
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
I would recommend this to anyone without hesitation.
What about Stephen Fry’s performance did you like?
Stephen Fry is truly a treasure. His style and technique are simply perfect. He is clear and his tone is steady and consistent. His voice characterizations are realistic and do not, in any way, irritate me like so many other readers. Additionally, Mr. Fry provides commentary at the start of each section. His comments are humorous and intelligent. I can't think of anyone else of this calibre. It is so easy to see that this is truly a work of love for Mr. Fry.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
It is impossible to listen to 71 hours in one sitting!
Any additional comments?
I have read the original stories many times. I also have many variations of Sherlock Homes, either radio productions or voiced reading. By far and above, this is absolutely the finest collection and reading made. For anyone who wants a "definitive" version which will be their "go to" version, this is it. Hands down. I will be listening to this collection for many years.
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Aud Jorunn Hakestad
- Stavanger, Norway
- 2017-04-28
Stephen Fry's mastery performance
The stories are magical. The performance is splendid. One of my best listening experiences ever. Fry's different voices gives life to the great detective and his partner in a way that you think you're in the opposite chair.
9 of 11 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- andrea pliego
- 2018-10-25
For a sherlock holmes fan , just the best
Stefen Fry is a great interpreter for audio books and this collection contains all of the original stories,
just loved it
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Esbern Holmes
- 2018-10-13
Holmes & Fry can't go wrong
although the Holmes stories are not all world class 90 % are and Fry is always 100 %
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Aaron Upward
- 2017-04-19
WOW
I could listen to Stephen Fry all day, and I did, for multiple days, weeks even. This is a truely massive collection of stories and well worth the money!
8 of 10 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- DFK
- 2019-09-09
A gem to take in doses
Just shy of 72 hours, this is not a “book” (it is a collection of books) to listen to continuously. Sherlock Holmes stories can become a bit boilerplate, so it is good to listen to some, and then it it aside for a while, though many times when you think you figured it out, you missed something. But every one is delightful in itself, and I recommend that you definitely add this to your library, and then listen to a few stories at a time, especially when you need a break from whatever might be getting you down. You couldn’t get a better deal (and I think I got it on some sale), penny per amount of pleasurable listening. Stephen Fry is magical. In the introduction he tells us that he is a big fan, and you can hear the enchantment in his superlative rendition. (Even his American accent is not bad!) I felt truly privileged to listen to him read to me.
I would not be responsible, though, if I did not express my usual dismay at the bits of racism and anti-Semitic tropes found here and there in these stories. It is no surprise - it is pretty standard for literature of the time, but I squirmed when a particular thug, who happened to be black (why am I told this at all? Why the dialect?) was described as a savage, or his hair as wooly. We read of a “Jew peddler” and other such tropes, and, in the very last story, The Case of Shoscombe Old Place, we repeatedly hear about “the Jews”, when the intent is creditors. In fact, Sir Robert - a bad guy in deep debt - says that his “chief creditor” is Sam Brewer, which doesn’t sound like a Jewish name at all. But even if he is Jewish, Sir Robert is not “in the hands of the Jews”. He owes a lot of money to Sam Brewer. Like much other literature that is otherwise worthy, my own approach is that we should call it out, we should express our discomfort and hopes that it is history and that readers today recognize these attitudes for the bigotry that they were, but we can still enjoy the books. In the case of this collection, these are definitely minor warts (unlike, for example, Shylock or Fagin). There are essays and articles that address Arthur Conan Doyle’s attitudes to people who were not white and to Jews - they are worth looking at to put a historical context on this problem.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Barbara
- Brackendowns, South Africa
- 2019-09-02
Absolutely Enthralling
Have you ever binge watched your favorite series and when you finally get to the last episode, you feel a bit lost and sad that you have finished the series. That's how I felt after listening to the epic stories that make up this amazing audio book. I loved every story, so brilliantly told by Stephen Fry who is an absolute genius in his narrating. Rather than become old and dated, Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes is as clever and entertaining as he was when he first appeared on paper. I cannot state how much I enjoyed listening to these stories in the car, on my walks, while running, while cooking.. just whenever I could get away with having earphones attached to my head. This is the most worthwhile audio book I have ever bought!
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mikaela
- 2019-07-11
Best Read Sherlock ever!
I do not find words for how great this is! Superbly Read by Mr Fry and so much I had forgotten since reading them as a child!
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Agnes
- 2017-09-16
Grande qualité
Stephen Fry nous livre une merveilleuse performance, il trouve le ton pour chaque personnages. L'écoute est très agréable. Quand à l'histoire elle n'a pas perdue de son intérêt avec le temps.
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Deneva Ivelina
- 2018-12-08
So disappointed that the collection ended...
The most captivating stories that I've ever listened. Awesome reader, Bravo! The author and the reader together transfer you in other epoch.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 2019-09-21
I love Sherlock Holmes
This is great collection of Sherlock Holmes. It's a great audio book to listen and to enjoy.