The Complete Sherlock Holmes
The Heirloom Collection
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
3 Months Free
The Complete Sherlock Holmes
Buy Now for £18.88
-
Narrated by:
-
Simon Vance
Winner of the 2014 Audie Award for Classics
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes tales are rightly ranked among the seminal works of mystery and detective fiction. Included in this collection are all four full-length Holmes novels and more than forty short masterpieces—from the inaugural adventure A Study in Scarlet to timeless favorites like “The Speckled Band” and more. At the center of each stands the iconic figure of Holmes—brilliant, eccentric, and capable of amazing feats of deductive reasoning. By his side is Dr. John Watson, his steadfast assistant and our trusty narrator. This set is a must-have for every discriminating bibliophile and Sherlock Holmes fan.
Volume 1
A Study in Scarlet: A Novel
A Sign of Four: A Novel
Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: Short Stories
Volume 2
Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes: Short Stories
The Hound of the Baskervilles: A Novel
Volume 3
The Return of Sherlock Holmes: Short Stories
The Valley of Fear: A Novel
Volume 4
His Last Bow: A Novel
The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes: Short Stories
Editor reviews
The audiobook contains many different stories that are usually 30 - 120 minutes in length so everything can be broken down into much smaller chunks. Audible has also sliced the book into seven downloads so it doesn't fill your device for months on end.
I listen most days for about thirty minutes and it has taken me about five months to get through it and I'm very pleased I did.
The whole book is narrated by Simon Vance who is, as you would expect, wonderfully versatile as his craft. The distinction between the characters is very clear but the main vocal contrast between the two main characters - Holmes and Watson is perfectly pitched. Vance's Sherlock booms with confidence, mischief and intrigue whilst Watson semi-simpers three paces behind his better, hoping that Holmes will propose and they can run off and keep bees together on the South Downs.
Vance's remarkable vocal talent is not to be glossed over and only the imperious Jim Dale could produce the wide range of voices needed for this book.
The stories themselves are mostly well known and Conan-Doyle’s crown jewels such as Hound of the Baskervilles and A Study in Scarlet or The Sign of the Four are brilliantly realised but many of the lesser known treasures really do come to life.
Some of the language is now archaic and sometime a little unpalatable particularly on subjects of race or religion. One should remember that most of the stories are well over a century old and the world has turned since.
However the archaic language provides some laugh-out-loud moments for a puerile mind such as my own - Watson will constantly 'ejaculate' his exclamations and one scene sees a lady arrive at Baker Street on a cold, damp evening where she proceeds to pull and handkerchief from her muff and blow her nose on it - all perfectly innocent but very snigger-able is the mood takes one.
There is a downside and it's a technical one.
The producers of the book or Audible have labelled each of the chapters numerically which fulfils a function but could be so much better over a long book such as this (or indeed any book). The audiobook standard allows for chapters to properly names and it would have been great to have each chapter named according to the story being read. A couple of times, my MP3 player has dropped my position and it has taken me a long time to find it again. Properly labelled chapters would really help this and it wouldn't take much extra effort from the people producing the books.
A long and rewarding listen....
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Any additional comments?
This audiobook is superb! I'm new to Sherlock Holmes but am now a convert and intend to read all the stories. Sherlock is a great literary creation, who it seems has not been done justice by the various TV and films I've seen. I've had this on while decorating the house for hours on end and I'm just not tiring of hearing of Holmes' and Watson's adventures. The narrator has just the right voice and he does a great job of bringing the characters to life, particulalry Holmes. For stories and narrator performance this is the best audiobook I've bought so far. Add to that the superb value and you just can't go wrong. If you have been disappointed as some other listeners have by other readings of holmes with "unusual" accents or pronunciation, give this a try.Fabulous!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
The character of Sherlock Holmes is a very clearly defined, and any representation of it must in my mind adhere to that formula, and the reading of this book does exactly that!What was one of the most memorable moments of The Complete Sherlock Holmes?
Consistency and accuracy through the entire book, a pleasure to listen to. On the downside there is no whisper sync which is a shame but that shouldn't put you off!What about Simon Vance’s performance did you like?
Simon Vance clearly has an understanding and an affinity for the character, alongside a strong understanding of Victorian life, and culture of the time.His characterisations are consistent and entertaining and his memory of what each characters voice sounds like is faultlessIf you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
As complete as Sherlock Holmes can get!Any additional comments?
For a one credit download this is perhaps excellent value, and as the quality is so high in its reading and its content there is really no good reason not to consider this high quality piece of work!Everything you should expect
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Would you consider the audio edition of The Complete Sherlock Holmes to be better than the print version?
Yes, Simon Vance makes it so.Who was your favorite character and why?
Holmes of course.What does Simon Vance bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
Everything.Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes. Very hard to switch offAny additional comments?
Better than I thought it would be.Incredible performance. Simon Vance is a genius.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I have listened to this fantastic book over many months, able to dip in and out because of the way the investigations are separated. Sherlock Holmes is so special. I have enjoyed going back over an investigation again, knowing the end and enjoying the way this wonderful author spins his web. I am certain this is a book I will keep on my iPad indefinitely. A masterpiece.
Thank you Simon Vance for your brilliant narration of a true classic.
5 Star.......Excellent Performance - A Classic
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.