Sherlock Holmes stories and the popularization of forensic science
Sherlock Holmes, the fictional consulting detective created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, first appeared in "A Study in Scarlet" in 1887 and quickly became a global icon of detective fiction. Holmes popularized the role of the forensic investigator by showcasing empirical investigative methods, which had a significant influence on the development of forensic science. Doyle's background in medicine, particularly his studies under Dr. Joseph Bell, who emphasized careful observation and evidence-based conclusions, shaped Holmes's character and methods.
While Holmes's techniques were innovative, it is essential to note that similar forensic advancements were already occurring in parts of Europe during the 19th century. Despite this, the popularity of Holmes's stories, especially in publications like The Strand Magazine, helped to disseminate scientific ideas and the principles of forensic science to a wider audience. The character provided a sense of hope during a time of social upheaval, promoting the belief that science could bring about order and justice.
Holmes's lasting legacy can be seen in the careers of many forensic scientists and law enforcement professionals inspired by his adventures. Modern adaptations, like the BBC's "Sherlock," continue to explore his deductive reasoning while integrating contemporary forensic practices, demonstrating the enduring relevance of this iconic figure.
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Sherlock Holmes stories and the popularization of forensic science
IDENTIFICATION: A fictional consulting detective based in London, Sherlock Holmes first appeared in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s A Study in Scarlet, published in 1887. By the time he made his last appearance in a work by Doyle in 1927, he was the most widely known fictional detective in the world.
SIGNIFICANCE: With Sherlock Holmes, Doyle popularized the figure of the forensic investigator, introducing empirical investigative methods to a worldwide audience. In turn, Holmes offered a model for forensic scientists.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) began medical studies at the University of Edinburgh in 1876. Forensic medical investigation had been introduced there during the late eighteenth century, and a new kind of scientist was overturning the tradition-burdened medicine and law-enforcement practices of the past. Among these scientists was Dr. Joseph Bell, an eminent surgeon and occasional forensic investigator who became Doyle’s mentor. Bell argued for the full use of the senses in the observation of evidence; he insisted that investigators should draw conclusions from alone and reject unsupported theories. Earlier investigators had too frequently formed theories and then sought evidence to support them.
Doyle several times acknowledged Holmes’s debt to Bell, but whether Bell and Holmes were pioneers is doubtful. In the nineteenth century, was far more advanced in some parts of Europe than it was in England or the United States. Holmes, for example, often called on Bell’s ability to identify a man’s occupation from his appearance, but French forensic scientist Auguste Ambroise Tardieu had published on this subject as early as 1849, referring to similar work by earlier investigators. Holmes’s interest in was similarly anticipated; Matthieu-Joseph-Bonaventure Orfila, a Spaniard, published a work in 1813 that is considered to be a founding document in the field of forensic toxicology. In 1891, Holmes stories began to appear regularly in The Strand Magazine. By 1893, Hans Gross’s System der Kriminalistik (Criminal Investigation, 1906) had appeared. The Holmes stories nevertheless impressed scientists. Edmond Locard (1877–1966), the pioneer of forensic science who originated the dictum that came to be known as Locard’s exchange principle, advised his students to read Doyle’s detective fiction.
Through the Holmes stories, Doyle popularized scientific ideas. Sherlock Holmes first appeared at a time when the United States, England, and Europe were experiencing terrorist attacks, assassinations, and other social turmoil, and the stories offered hope that science and reason could find a path to social order and justice. When Doyle attempted to kill Holmes off in “The Adventure of the Final Problem” (1893), thousands dropped their subscriptions to The Strand; thousands more renewed when Holmes returned in The Hound of the Baskervilles (serialized in the magazine, 1901–02). The Sherlock Holmes character, which went on from Doyle’s original publications to be featured in countless plays and films, helped to create worldwide acceptance of the principles of forensic science.
The character of Sherlock Holmes had a profound effect on modern forensic science. Many members of law enforcement and forensic scientists chose their professions after reading Doyle’s tales or watching film adaptations of Holmes. In 2010, a TV series titled Sherlock (2010–2017) made its debut on the BBC. The series, which was set in modern-day London, starred Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes. Like most TV and film portrayals of the character, the series focused on Holmes’ keen deductive reasoning to solve crimes but included some references to modern forensic science.
Bibliography
Costello, Peter. Conan Doyle Detective: True Crimes Investigated by the Creator of Sherlock Holmes. Carroll & Graf, 2006.
Schwartz, Roy. "The Fictional Character Who Changed the Science of Solving Crime." CNN, 20 May 2022, www.cnn.com/2022/05/20/opinions/sherlock-holmes-father-of-modern-forensic-science-schwartz/index.html. Accessed 16 Aug. 2024.
Stashower, Daniel. Teller of Tales: The Life of Arthur Conan Doyle. Henry Holt, 1999.
Wagner, E. J. The Science of Sherlock Holmes: From Baskerville Hall to the Valley of Fear, the Real Forensics Behind the Great Detective’s Greatest Cases. John Wiley & Sons, 2006.