FAQ About Sherlock Holmes

In Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's original Sherlock Holmes stories, the character of Sherlock Holmes meets his end in the story "The Final Problem," which was published in 1893 as part of "The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes" collection.

In "The Final Problem," Sherlock Holmes confronts his arch-nemesis, Professor James Moriarty, a criminal mastermind and the "Napoleon of Crime." The story culminates in a deadly confrontation between Holmes and Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls in Switzerland. In a desperate struggle, both Holmes and Moriarty fall to their deaths over the edge of the falls.

Conan Doyle initially intended "The Final Problem" to be the end of Sherlock Holmes, seeking to focus on other literary works. However, due to public outcry and demand for more Holmes stories, he eventually brought the detective back in "The Adventure of the Empty House," published in 1903. In this story, it is revealed that Holmes had managed to survive the encounter at the Reichenbach Falls and had spent several years traveling incognito before returning to London to resume his detective work.

Conan Doyle's decision to resurrect Sherlock Holmes and continue writing stories about him led to many more adventures, both before and after "The Final Problem," making Holmes one of the most enduring and beloved characters in literature.