Free to read
A Study in Scarlet
Arthur Conan Doyle
Two unlikely flatmates take on a baffling London murder. Meet Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson at the start of their partnership, in a case whose clues lead far beyond Baker Street.
- Language
- English
- Genre
- Mystery
- Length
- 14 chapters · About 4 hours
- First published
- 1887
- Availability
- Free
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Start here if you want Holmes from the beginning. A compact detective novel with a surprising change of setting and a revenge story beneath the puzzle.
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Text source: Project Gutenberg. Source license and territorial terms.
THE OPENING PAGES
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In the year 1878 I took my degree of Doctor of Medicine of the University of London, and proceeded to Netley to go through the course prescribed for surgeons in the army. Having completed my studies there, I was duly attached to the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers as Assistant Surgeon. The regiment was stationed in India at the time, and before I could join it, the second Afghan war had broken out. On landing at Bombay, I learned that my corps had advanced through the passes, and was already deep in the enemy’s country. I followed, however, with many other officers who were in the same situation as myself, and succeeded in reaching Candahar in safety, where I found my regiment, and at once entered upon my new duties.
The campaign brought honours and promotion to many, but for me it had nothing but misfortune and disaster. I was removed from my brigade and attached to the Berkshires, with whom I served at the fatal battle of Maiwand. There I was struck on the shoulder by a Jezail bullet, which shattered the bone and grazed the subclavian artery. I should have fallen into the hands of the murderous Ghazis had it not been for the devotion and courage shown by Murray, my orderly, who…Start reading this book ↗