Sherlock Holmes e Watson: the first meeting

On March 3, 1881, in the first novel starring Sherlock Holmes, "A Study in Scarlet", Conan Doyle brings Sherlock Holmes and Watson together and thus one of the most extraordinary literary friendships of all time is born.

Eccentric and humoral Sherlock, Watson poised and reasonable. 

Much has been said about the relationship between Watson and Sherlock, even going so far as to define it as a homosexual relationship and thinking that there was much more to what Conan Doyle tells us. Frankly, I am not interested in speculating on what is not written, certainly the greatness of Conan Doyle is precisely that of making people discuss and imagine over the written pages and the magic of Sherlock and Watson is continuing to live a life of their own. It is true that Sherlock is a loner who only gets attached to Watson and in his life there are no girlfriends or companions, I would define him as a kind of misanthrope too passionate about the study of crime to give space to anything else.

"A study in scarlet", even if the first editorial release was not a great success, is a true masterpiece. The story is written as if it were a collection of Watson's memoirs and this literary device makes the reader feel more involved in the story.

The title "A Study in Scarlet" refers to an explanation given by Holmes to Watson which reads: "There's the scarlet thread of murder running through the colourless skein of life, and our duty is to unravel it, and isolate it, and expose every inch of it."

Uno studio in rosso, anche se la prima uscita editoriale non fece un grande successo, è un vero capolavoro. Il racconto è scritto come se fosse una raccolta delle memorie di Watson e questo espediente letterario fa si che il lettore si senta più coinvolto nel racconto.

Il titolo "Uno studio in rosso" fa riferimento a una spiegazione data da Holmes a Watson che recita: "nella nostra vita, corre il filo rosso del delitto, il nostro compito consiste nel dipanarlo, nell'isolarlo, nell'esporne ogni pollice".

Holmes e Watson si incontrano nel gabinetto di analisi chimica dell'ospedale è la prima frase che gli rivolge è "ho trovato! Ho trovato! "Holmes era già stato descritto a Watson da un amico comune come un eccentrico che seguiva un percorso di studio tutto suo. Nel momento in cui si incontrano Holmes aveva appena scoperto un metodo per individuare le macchie di sangue. 

Nel presentarsi due si descrivono l'un l'altro così (il primo a parlare è Holmes):

"I have my eye on a suite in Baker Street," he said, "which would suit us

down to the ground. You don't mind the smell of strong tobacco, I hope?"

"I always smoke 'ship's' myself," I answered.

"That's good enough. I generally have chemicals about, and occasionally

do experiments. Would that annoy you?"

"By no means."

"Let me see—what are my other shortcomings. I get in the dumps at times,

and don't open my mouth for days on end. You must not think I am sulky

when I do that. Just let me alone, and I'll soon be right. What have you to

confess now? It's just as well for two fellows to know the worst of one another

before they begin to live together."

I laughed at this cross-examination. "I keep a bull pup," I said, "and I

object to rows because my nerves are shaken, and I get up at all sorts of

ungodly hours, and I am extremely lazy. I have another set of vices when I'm

well, but those are the principal ones at present."

"Do you include violin-playing in your category of rows?" he asked,

anxiously.

"It depends on the player," I answered. "A well-played violin is a treat for

the gods—a badly-played one——"

"Oh, that's all right," he cried, with a merry laugh. "I think we may

consider the thing as settled—that is, if the rooms are agreeable to you."

"A Study in Scarlet" is in the public domain so if you haven't yet read it you can download it below. I highly recommend it. Enjoy the reading!