SCHATTENHALB, Switzerland (AP) 鈥� From 221B Baker Street in central London to a cliffside waterfall in the Swiss Alps, generations of armchair detectives are celebrating on Friday.
Fans will mark ‘s birthday in tribute to the author and his most famous character whose adventures continue to shape popular culture
The celebrations began earlier this month when 鈥� sporting Victorian capes, deerstalker hats and period gowns 鈥� enthusiasts from the Sherlock Holmes Society of London traveled to ‘s Reichenbach Falls to reenact one of literature’s most famous fictional death scenes.
The fateful confrontation between and his nemesis Professor James Moriarty shocked readers of 鈥淭he Final Problem鈥� and appeared to bring one of literature鈥檚 most beloved detectives to an end.
In the original 1893 story, Holmes disappears over the edge of the falls with Moriarty, leaving his sidekick, Dr. John Watson, to discover a farewell letter near the water. Conan Doyle 鈥� who was born on May 22, 1859 鈥� intended the scene to permanently kill off Holmes because he feared were overshadowing what he considered his more serious historical writing.
At the time, readers canceled magazine subscriptions, wore black armbands in mourning and protested against Holmes鈥� death. A decade later, Conan Doyle reversed the decision and brought Holmes back in 鈥淭he Adventure of the Empty House,鈥� revealing that the detective had staged his death and survived the falls.
The Sherlock Holmes stories helped establish many of the conventions of Between 1887 and 1927, Conan Doyle wrote four Holmes novels and 56 short stories, introducing techniques such as forensic deduction, close observation and logical analysis that later became standard elements of crime fiction.
The stories have since been adapted for the around the world, with Jeremy Brett, Basil Rathbone, Christopher Lee, Robert Downey Jr. and starring in portrayals.
British actor Hero Fiennes Tiffin stars in the in Amazon Prime鈥檚 new prequel series created by Guy Ritchie and released earlier this year. A second season is in the works.
At 221B Baker Street, the Sherlock Holmes Museum has drawn visitors since it opened in 1990 with curiosities including Holmes’ violin and chemistry set, as well as a revolver resting inside a hollowed-out book.
Holmes, according to the stories, lived at the Georgian townhouse between 1881 and 1904 and shared the residence with Watson. But 221B didn鈥檛 actually exist when Conan Doyle was writing: Baker Street numbers didn鈥檛 reach that high at the time.
The museum, physically located between 237 and 241, had to be granted special permission by Westminster City Council to bear the renowned number.
鈥淚t has to be the most famous address in the world, I would say,鈥� tour guide Paul Leharne said. 鈥淣o matter what reincarnation Sherlock Holmes is going to take, he鈥檚 always going to be living at 221B Baker Street.鈥�
With theatrical poses, exaggerated acting and black cloaks billowing in the mountain spray, members of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London on May 3 reenacted the struggle between Holmes and Moriarty at Reichenbach Falls.
Founded in 1951, the society brings together readers, collectors, academics and enthusiasts of . The trip to the Reichenbach Falls followed part of the route described in 鈥淭he Final Problem.鈥� Members traveled through Switzerland in vintage buses before boarding a cog railway that climbs steeply toward the waterfall.
The Reichenbach Falls became one of the most famous locations in detective fiction after Conan Doyle visited the area during an 1893 trip.
Philip Porter, an author and publisher who starred as Sherlock Holmes in the society’s reproduction, said the setting itself remains central to the stories鈥� appeal.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a pilgrimage,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a very dramatic setting: The sound, the backdrop, the music behind us of the cascading water.鈥�
Peter Horrocks, who played Moriarty, said the return to normal life after spending several days in a villain’s costume can be tough. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a strange feeling, getting out of these clothes,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou do start to inhabit the character that you鈥檙e playing after a while.鈥�
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Fielder reported from London.
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