Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection Audiobook By Arthur Conan Doyle, Stephen Fry - introductions cover art

Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection

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Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection

By: Arthur Conan Doyle, Stephen Fry - introductions
Narrated by: Stephen Fry
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About this listen

"Fry's Holmes is crisp and high-handed, his Watson enthusiastic and bemused, and the rest of the narration colorful without being mannered. Have fun. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award." (AudioFile magazine)

"...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 millions of fans. Now Audible is proud to present Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, read by Stephen Fry. A lifelong fan of Doyle's detective fiction, Fry has narrated the complete works of Sherlock Holmes. And, exclusively for Audible, Stephen has written and narrated nine insightful and personal introductions to each title.

Fry is an English actor, screenwriter, author, playwright, journalist, comedian, film director and all round national treasure. He is the acclaimed narrator of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and recently recorded The Tales of Max Carrados - which earned Fry the accolade of "quite irresistible" from the Washington Post.

©2017 Stephen Fry (introductions); original text public domain. (P)2017 Audible, Ltd
Detective Fiction Mystery Traditional Detectives Celebrity Sherlock Holmes Scary Feel-Good Suspenseful Classic Mystery

Go Behind the Scenes with Stephen Fry

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Editorial review


By Seth Hartman, Audible Editor

SHERLOCK HOLMES IS THE WORLD'S GREATEST DETECTIVE, AND WITH GOOD REASON

Sherlock Holmes is, without a doubt, a character who transcends his series. While the majority of people I know have not read a single one of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic stories, they all have a clear picture of Sherlock Holmes in their mind. The pipe, hat, and long overcoat are just what people think of when they hear the word "detective." Despite the fact that general knowledge of Holmes doesn’t go far beyond the phrase, "Elementary, my dear Watson," there is so much more to this character than meets the eye.

While it is fun to aspire to be the shrewd detective while reading a Sherlock Holmes caper, the calculating crime solver would be nothing without his trusty sidekick, John Watson. While intelligent and ambitious like Holmes, Watson is a far more relatable character. He is often used as an earpiece for Holmes to explain his genius deductions to the reader. Despite his lower status in the duo, Watson is far more passionate and empathetic than his boss, acting like a "normal human" might in most scenarios.

I have not revisited the grim world of Sherlock Holmes in many years, yet I still retain many of his best lessons. I always check behind the door when I enter a new room, and aspects of deductive reasoning are still applied when I need to solve a complex problem. Yes, most people have not actually read any Sherlock Holmes, but I contend that there is much to be gained from cracking open one of his stories. As the man himself once said, "Education never ends, Watson. It is a series of lessons, with the greatest for the last."

Continue reading Seth's review >

Critic reviews

"The pairing of Fry and Holmes is a bit of a marriage made in heaven...In the Holmes books, he reads just under a thousand pages in his wonderfully even and infallibly intelligent voice, touching the characters deftly...[H]e finds a variety of accents and tones for the many foreigners Holmes encounters; his American accents are lightly done, without attempting, for example, a Utah accent in 'A Study in Scarlet'.... Fry's triumph is in striking and maintaining exactly the right tone for the narrations, all, with a handful of exceptions, in the comfortable, slightly pompous voice of Dr. James Watson, Boswell to the great man's Johnson. Fry's Holmes is sharp-witted and mercurial, though not especially idiosyncratic: quite right, as he is merely being reported by deal old Watson. But Fry's skill in phrasing and articulation over the whole 60-plus hours is beyond praise.... Every consonant in place, every phrase perfectly shaped and filled with sense. There are other complete recorded Holmeses...but none that sustains the course so buoyantly, and none with the added pleasure of the readers' pithy commentary on each book." (The New York Times Book Review)

"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)

"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)

Featured Article: The Sherlock Holmes Universe, Explained


The world’s most famous detective almost didn’t survive the 19th century! In our shared joy of finding a new corner of the Sherlock Holmes universe, Holmes fandom appeared inextricable from the universe it helped to build. Fans encouraged keeping the Holmes narrative alive in the 19th century; fan devotion fueled the Sherlock Holmes universe of book, film, TV, streaming, audio, and more. In the 21st century, the game has never been more afoot!

What listeners say about Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection

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Not Complete...

Great as this is, and I could go on for days about how great it is, it’s not ALL there. The final collection called “The Casebook of...” and the 12 adventures there in are notably absent.

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One of Life's Great Pleasures

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I will recommend this audiobook to anyone and everyone. The Holmes canon has been a lifelong favorite of mine, and Stephen Fry's narration is absolutely perfect. He seamlessly voices the different characters, his inflection and pacing are natural. I can happily sink into this audio and not return for hours.

What other book might you compare Sherlock Holmes to and why?

I'm not sure that SH has a comparison. But I find it as enjoyable as all my favorite mysteries (the Inspector Gamache series, and of course, Mary Russell!)

Have you listened to any of Stephen Fry’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I'm quite fond of his Hitchhiker narrations, but this is even better, I think.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It does make me chuckle in places. I had forgotten that there is a bit of humor here and there. But mostly I make my daily commute with a big smile, so happy to have such a singularly enjoyable listening experience.

Any additional comments?

I can't recommend this audio enough. If you enjoy audiobooks, you must try this one, and if you aren't an audio listener, you should become one just for this experience.

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Amazing book and a unsurpassable performance

One of the best performances for any book in the history of audiobooks. I take off my hat for you, my dear sir Fry, and give you my deepest bow, heartfelt congratulations and my sincerest thanks. You have made Sherlock Holmes come to life in a way, that only a few, if ever, will surpass. Thank you.

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Utterly Enjoyable!

Would you consider the audio edition of Sherlock Holmes to be better than the print version?

Yes. Stephen Fry does an amazing job! You can tell he put a lot of love into making this series

What was one of the most memorable moments of Sherlock Holmes?

The forwards by Mr. Fry

What about Stephen Fry’s performance did you like?

Fantastic voices! A pleasure to listen to!

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Classic Fiction, can't beat 60 hrs for 1 credit

Solid classic fiction. The introductions by Fry do occasionally help in understanding the context of the stories. Narration is excellent.

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Almost Perfect

What made the experience of listening to Sherlock Holmes the most enjoyable?

The Story is amazing. I never know how good Sherlock really was.

What does Stephen Fry bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Stephen Fry is perfect for this. There is no one better.

Any additional comments?

The only thing missing from this collection is The Case-book of Sherlock Holmes. Not sure why they don't include it. Everything else about this collection is amazing. I will listen to it over and over again.

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excellent

Stephen Fry is an amazing narrator, to the point that I will likely seek out other books he has narrated. I'm afraid other narrators will be a disappointment after this excellent production.
the stories, of course, speak for themselves.

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this is my comfort story time :)

I always return to these classic tales when I need stimulation. Bravo to Stephen Fry for such an entertaining interpretation.

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great treat

looks like order of chapters has been fixed, perfect! narration is awesome as well, recommended

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A joy!

Having now listened to the complete works, I can honestly say I will miss Stephen Fry as my traveling companion. I usually listen while commuting and in addition to the marvelous stories, his voice and characterizations were delightful. Happily, I will be able to listen again sometime.

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