Well, here’s a compilation of Sir Arthur’s favourite dozen Sherlock Holmes stories out of the 56.* I thought it worth putting these stories together in one audio file, just in case anyone wants to power through the ‘best ones’.
Timestamps
0:00 The Speckled Band
57:32 The Red-Headed League
1:49:50 The Dancing Men
2:48:28 The Final Problem
3:33:25 A Scandal in Bohemia
4:23:44 The Empty House
5:18:14 The Five Orange Pips
6:03:06 The Second Stain
7:05:01 The Devil’s Foot
8:11:53 The Priory School
9:24:51 The Musgrave Ritual
10:08:17 The Reigate Squire
It was in March 1927, as the book version of ‘The Case-book of Sherlock Holmes’ was about to go to press, that the Strand came up with a readers’ competition. Sir Arthur himself would select the very best of the Holmes tales, and whoever then guessed the author’s list “most nearly” would win the £100 prize.
“It is as a little test of the opinion of the public that I inaugurate the small competition announced here,” Conan Doyle wrote. “I have drawn up a list of the twelve short stories contained in the four published volumes (excluding The Case-book) which I consider to be the best, and I should like to know to what extent my choice agrees with that of Strand readers. I have left my list in a sealed envelope with the Editor of the Strand.”
In June 1927, the Editor plucked open the envelope to reveal the list, and helpfully for posterity (is that us?) Doyle had also written down the process he went through to whittle down the list. Here is part of it:
“When this competition was first mooted I went into it in a most light hearted way, thinking that it would be the easiest thing in the world to pick out the twelve best of the Holmes stories. In practice I found that I had engaged myself in a serious task. In the first place I had to read the stories myself with some care. ‘Steep, steep, weary work,’ as the Scottish landlady remarked.
“I am now faced with some forty odd candidates to be weighed against each other. There are certainly some few an echo of which has come to me from all parts of the world, and I think this is the final proof of merit of some sort. There is the grim SPOILER story, “The Speckled Band.” That, I am sure, will be on every list. Next to that in popular favour and in my own esteem I would place “The Red-Headed League” and “The Dancing Men,” on account in each case of the originality of the plot. Then we could hardly leave out the story which deals with the only foe who ever really extended Holmes, and which deceived the public (and Watson) into the erroneous inference of his death. Also, I think the first story should go in, as it opened the path for the others, and as it has more female interest than is usual. Finally, I think the story which essays the difficult task of explaining away the alleged death of Holmes, and which also introduces such a villain as Colonel Sebastian Moran, should have a place. This puts “The Final Problem,” “A Scandal in Bohemia,” and “The Empty House” upon our list, and we have got our first half-dozen…”
And so he goes on… until:
“It is proverbially a mistake for a judge to give his reasons, but I have analysed mine if only to show any competitors that I really have taken some trouble in the matter.
The list is therefore as follows:
1. The Speckled Band (1892)
2. The Red-Headed League (1891)
3. The Dancing Men (1903)
4. The Final Problem (1893)
5. A Scandal in Bohemia (1891)
6. The Empty House (1903)
7. The Five Orange Pips (1891)
8. The Second Stain (1904)
9. The Devil’s Foot (1910)
10. The Priory School (1904)
11. The Musgrave Ritual (1893)
12. The Reigate Squire (1893)”
As usual this video/audio is read by Greg Wagland for Magpie Audio.
I recorded the earliest of these stories in a chilly pantry/studio somewhere on the Suffolk coast. Please feel free to leave comments about your favourite stories. As you know I was much struck by The Veiled Lodger!
Cheers!
*Although ACD didn’t include the Case-book stories in this list, as it hadn’t been published as a book at this point.. So this list of 12 is really out of 44 or so, including His Last Bow stories.
source
Fantastic!
I think you should remove the second stain and add the nevel treaty and also the blue carbuncle. Its better. Thank you
Thank you so much for this ❤
Silver Blaze didn't make the list? The curious incident of the dog in the night? Holy cow, The Six Napoleons didn't make it either. I would drop The Reigate Squires and The Second Stain.
10 hours of Sherlock Holmes, thank You so much ❤ And also, the way you read the stories is just perfect!
Thanks so much, Greg. Wonderful reading. 💫
That's some first-rate voice acting! Really adds to the experience.
Great extended grouping… TY Greg. The orator is phenomenal.
Mahe Ohna ✌️ Favour ALL
Greg, this is a fabulous compilation, thank you. Also, Dr. Watson's preliminary remarks in 'The Musgrave Ritual' has me wondering if a work has been published that examines the interpersonal relationship of Holmes and Watson qua fellow lodgers, friends, etc., as well as character studies of themselves individually. If so, that would be something I'd love to read.
REALLY enjoy these stories. Listen at night, while retiring for the night. THANKS TO ALL WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE TREASURES
Thank you for the list. And if Sir Arthur was still with us, he would have chosen you as the official reader/narrator/performer of his magnificent stories.😊
Narrated so well .I so enjoys sherlock adventures. U definitely made the experience of listening great 🙏💜
Thanks!
Curious to hear what your favourite out of these are
Interesting that these are his favorites, as many of the plots are similar to other stories, e.g. the Red Headed League is quite similar to The Three Garridebs, and "antagonist afraid of losing their inheritance" comes up in other stories, too. That he thought these were the best of his work offers a unique insight into how he thought he best executed these ideas.
Only proper gents here.
No gangster talk.
A breath of fresh air.
Absolutely Superb!
Enjoy my good fellows…😊
Nice compilation, excellently performed by Mr Wagland!
Thank you, Mr. Wagland! Saves me the trouble of organizing Conan Doyle’s favorites by myself.
I hope all is well with you and yours.
PS- “power through the best ones”! Never! I need to read them all, multiple times. But having you read them to me is really the best.
Just what we all needed! Thanks Greg!
I remember the first time I read the opening story as an adolescent. I was fascinated by the ending. Even better now listening to Mr. Wagland.
Slept 🛌 like an angel 🙏🏼😇
This is impressive 10 hours of bliss thank you sir much appreciated 👍🥰
Why is the bird in your logo not a magpie? A mystery to be solved perhaps? Thanks as always, James
Greg Wagland is the Maestro of Holmes' Readings.
It's like Mr. Doyle reading a bedtime story. I think your tone is exactly what the author intended.
Cheers Creg thank you for all your hard work I've done narration work myself so I know the effort it takes
Your narration quite cool, Sir. Thanks!
Read to perfection.
his immunity to the wily ways of the feminine is inspirational I do have to say….
Bless you, my good sir, bless you! ❤️
Wow! 10 hours of listening to you read Sherlock Holmes stories! Doesn't get any better.
Thank you so much for taking the time to upload this, I've just started to listen to The Musgrave Ritual and will definitely listen avidly to the rest
Thank you! Great voice, and great stories.
You make me cry. Thank you Greg and Magpie Audio for your continued dedication.
I really really do appreciate your works, God Bless you all ❤
The incomparable Sherlock Holmes.
The tricky old cocaine connoisseur didn't include The Casebook or His Last Bow stories because he needed them all for his "12 Worst Adventures"…
10 hours of Holmes: excellent. The reader, BTW, is outstanding. Thanks.
Greg Sir it just does not get any better than this especially as I’m sure many of us were wondering how long it would be until we revelled in the Company of your Dulcet tones again🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Thank you Sir as always👍
I'm certain you're aware of the book; Sherlock Holmes's War of the Worlds by Manly Wade Wellman – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherlock_Holmes's_War_of_the_Worlds – i wonder what you think of it? it's not in the same league as either of the two monolithic authors it pay homage to, but in my opinion, its a wonderful romp. i was wondering if you might consider narrating it for the channel? perhaps as a fitting addendum to your complete Holmes? im no copyright lawyer, but it seems to me that a book whose content is wholly based on works that are firmly situated in the public domain might have little basis for complaint with regard to a sympathetic rendering in audio…… an idea in any case…….. thank you for your wonderful work, as always 🙂
You are great, you know what to expect from comments by now…^-^
Wonderful! Thanks so much for this, Greg. Interesting choices by ACD (and who are we to disagree?!).