The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

[dimitrovb]

So, here is the first paragraph of the famous Sherlock Holmes story:

"To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard
him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses
and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt
any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that
one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but
admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect
reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a
lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never
spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They
were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the
veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner
to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely
adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which
might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a
sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power
lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a
nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and
that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable
memory."
~1892

This paragraph creates a this kind of certain atmosphere. Let's just look at it: Holmes is with no doubt described as the "most perfect reasoning and observing machine", so this means he is but perfect in what he does, second to none. But his perfectly set mind has one weakness: passion. And though he is cold and appears emotionless, we are left with the impression that Holmes simply hides his feelings for "THE" woman. The mysterious woman. The only thing that can get him out of his internal and apparently impenetrable equillibrium.
I believe that this beginning is good and intrigueing, so it deserves five out of five stars.

[sUpErUsEr]

Great writing! I rated this one 5 stars! Just think, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a physician, as well as a great writer.

[dimitrovb]

A physician, really? Well, only a comples mind could create a such complex character as Sherlock Holms'. I bet his experience as a doctor helped a lot in writing this book.
And, by the way, are you an M.D.? I feel a little stupid for not realising it until now...

[Shahid]

Perhaps the paragraph describes the anatomy of the relationship between a man and a woman. You can be Sherlock Holmes to the world but all your reasoning, observation, precision and perfection comes to zero when it is about a woman. Nevertheless you are not going to admit that you love her. Ain't this a description of a love-hate relationship?
I am really amazed to know that the creator of the Sherlock Holmes was no one else but a physician i.e Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. He may not be a great healer but perhaps he was one of the greatest creators. Even 5 stars look small to this person.

[iceiscool]

No doubt Sherlock Holmes has the greatest minds in terms of logic. But in terms romance, he seems to be at lost for that one woman. It shows that even the most seemingly impenetrable person has a weakness, especially when it comes to the matters of the heart.