Sherlock Holmes: Beyond the Elementary

By: James Krasner, The Great Courses

Narrated by: James Krasner

Every hero works to soothe the fears of the people during their period in history. Heroes are not only brave, but they’re also able to navigate the convoluted corridors of society, and to see through the respectable pretense of others to detect the evil that lies within.

So, who better to take on the foggy, crime-ridden streets and strict social mores of Victorian London than the iconic literary detective Sherlock Holmes?

In Sherlock Holmes: Beyond the Elementary, you’ll investigate the history behind Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s whip-smart, charismatic detective. James Krasner, a scholar of British Victorian literature, will play the role of “Watson”, as he offers a clearer picture of the imaginative influence Sherlock Holmes has maintained over readers, from the 19th century through today. While you examine the secrets of novels like A Study in Scarlet and The Hound of the Baskervilles and stories like “A Scandal in Bohemia” and “The Final Problem”, you’ll deepen your appreciation of these enduring works. You’ll also gain insights into Holmes’ continued relevance to the social problems we face in our own world.

What does the relationship between Holmes and Watson tell us about friendship? Is Sherlock Holmes just a “thinking machine”? How do these adventures lay bare gender dynamics in surprising ways?

The answers are far from elementary.

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Excellent overview of Doyle’s creation, Sherlock Holmes!

A must listen for fans of Sherlock Holmes and Watson.
There are intimate details of Holmes and Watson woven within the historical period in which the characters were created.

Observant, Relational, intelligent look at an old friend.

These lectures shift the reader from consumer to analyst and encourages another reading of the collection in order to appreciate more fully the crafting of a legend.

More for Holmes fan-atics, than for typical fans.

This series of lectures is pretty interesting to those of us who enjoy Holmes/Watson and Doyle trivia, but this would probably bore the casual reader & typical fan to death.

Sherlock unveiled

This work is worth the investment of time to listening to the mystery behind the greatest detective of all times. The author does an excellent job of historically accurate synthesis of facts and fiction. Definitely a great read.

Adds New Dimensions to Sherlock Holmes Stories

This made me want to reread the Sherlock Holmes stories. The lectures provided some background about London during the time when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote the stories. The lecturer also analyzed elements that most readers never considered. For example, why did Doyle have Watson get married and write in extra scenes for Sherlock to contact Watson for help? It would have been easy for Watson to remain a bachelor living on Baker Street. How is Doyle comparing the life of a crime-fighter versus a married person?

Loved it

I highly recommend this for Krasner's deep research and love for his subject. I found this audible book to be has cozy the Conan Doyle's stories!

Sherlock within his personal culture

This is an excellent exposition of Doyle, Holmes, and Watson within the London of their day. This is a thoughtful and well researched set of lectures about Doyle and his literary creations.
Anyone with a deep love of the Sherlock books and short stories will appreciate and enjoy this particular focus

Again I came to listen this particular book as it was part of a group of works suggested for me by Audible.

WAY Beyond the elementary!

Great insight into the mind of Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes, and all the characters fiction, film, and books. I want sure going into the book/lectures, but was thoroughly intrigued and pulled into the authors world. I consider myself to be somewhat of a Holmesian scholar, but learned and relearned so many bits of trivia dating back to the first stories. Great background info. A definite treasure and something any fan of Holmes, Conan Doyle, or mysteries will find enjoyable. The game is afoot!

Thoughtful and informative Lecture Series

This lecture series considers Holmes and Doyle from many angles and I found it very engaging, without getting too long. 1.2x seems to be a good speed. I’m inspired to reread the series now with Krasner’s points in mind!

Fascinating Look at Holmes - Literary and Cultural

Enjoyed the lectures immensely and learned a lot about AC Doyle and his relationship to the Holmes character. I don't agree with others who say the presentation is dry. There are a lot of interesting details and, after all, these are academic lectures, not dramatic fiction.

Tha author's themes and conclusions are insightful and thought provoking- not at all elementary ;)