A Study in Scarlet (1887) marks the debut of the very gifted and eccentric detective Sherlock Holmes, and his close friend and chronicler, Dr Watson – two of the most well-known characters incrime fiction. It was the first of four novels featuring the duo, and was followed by The Sign of the Four (1890). Both novels have been adapted extensively on film, television, and in theatre, especially A Study in Scarlet, which also inspired the first episode of the immensely popular BBC television series, Sherlock (2010–present), featuring Benedict Cumber batch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as Dr Watson.
