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Sherlock Holmes remains the world's most iconic detective. His status has become so ingrained in culture that a casual reference to him—such as calling someone ‘Sherlock’—automatically conveys a sense of wit or intelligence. The enduring appeal of his stories has made them almost feel like historical accounts. Yet, despite their timelessness, they also reflect the ignorance and outlandish beliefs of the era they came from.
10. Holmes’s Disturbing Encounter with a Black Gangster
In 'The Adventure of the Three Gables,' Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are peacefully spending time in their sitting room when a large black man barges in. The man immediately begins threatening them, warning them not to take on a case they haven’t even been offered. He addresses Holmes as 'Masser Holmes' and insults him for supposedly challenging him. Holmes, in turn, responds dismissively, implying he doesn’t need to take such threats seriously.
Later in the narrative, a police constable describes the man, Steve Dixie, as 'a big n-word'—and yes, the full racial slur appears in the original text. While Holmes himself does not use such language, he remains silent and does nothing to address or correct the derogatory remark. This interaction, and Holmes's own racially insensitive comments, are parts of the story that many modern readers find uncomfortable and troubling.
Although there is no solid proof to support the claim, some fans are convinced this story was written by a different author. One of their main arguments is based on the fact that Conan Doyle also wrote 'The Adventure of the Yellow Face.' In 'Yellow Face,' a young black girl from a previous marriage, whose father has passed away, is warmly accepted by her new, white English stepfather when he learns of her existence.
9. The Moment a Man Temporarily Turns into a Monkey
In 'The Adventure of the Creeping Man,' Sherlock Holmes is brought in to solve a mystery that doesn’t involve a crime, but rather an attempt to avert a social scandal. A highly respected professor at a fictional English university has been behaving erratically, and his daughter, along with her fiancé, wants to uncover the cause and put an end to it. The professor has been spotted at night crawling on all fours, scaling windows, and even being attacked by his own dog during these strange episodes.
In this case, Sherlock does not solve much; he merely observes the professor's odd actions. After engaging in some increasingly bizarre behavior, the professor teases his dog and narrowly escapes death. Upon examining some mysterious letters the professor had been receiving, Holmes concludes that the professor had been injecting himself with a monkey serum to restore his youth. This bizarre serum caused the man to temporarily lose his senses, acting like a monkey and abandoning his humanity. Even by the standards of the time, this was a completely absurd notion.
8. Phrenology, a Discredited Pseudoscience, Is Regularly Cited as Fact
In the world of Sherlock Holmes, one recurring topic is the size and shape of people's skulls, with a belief that these physical traits can reveal details about their intelligence or personality. While Holmes himself seldom mentions these ideas, other characters, particularly Dr. Mortimer, discuss them in great detail. In 'The Hound of the Baskervilles,' Dr. Mortimer openly admits his admiration for Sherlock Holmes’s skull and becomes quite enthusiastic about its form. Within the Holmes universe, phrenology is accepted as a scientific truth.
The unfortunate reality is that phrenology—the study of human skulls to infer someone’s characteristics—is entirely baseless. This makes revisiting these stories today, especially for younger readers who should be learning real science rather than outdated pseudoscience, feel awkward. Adding to the discomfort is how casually phrenology is used in the stories, often in ways that might be perceived as racist by modern readers.
7. Some Sherlock Holmes Fans Subscribe to a Ghostwriting Conspiracy Theory
A popular theory among Sherlock Holmes enthusiasts is one proposed by Mr. D. Martin Dankin, suggesting that several of the Sherlock Holmes stories were not written by Arthur Conan Doyle at all. This idea is especially prevalent in discussions surrounding 'The Adventure of the Three Gables.' The theory also points to 'The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone' and a few other stories, though they are considered less significant by theorists, since they don’t present Holmes in a racially problematic light.
The crux of this theory is based on the belief that Holmes makes racist remarks to Steve Dixie, a boxer, which seems out of character for both Holmes and Doyle. This is particularly striking given Doyle’s own anti-racism stance, as seen in 'The Yellow Face.' The theorists also point to uncharacteristic behavior from Holmes, such as leaving a woman he suspects of being robbed with her lawyer, rather than staying with her to investigate, and exposing a maid who is clearly a spy instead of observing her. Finally, he makes a troubling remark to her, implying that her life may be in danger with the comment, 'Wheezy people don’t live long, Susan.'
6. Holmes’s Demise Stirred Such Deep Grief That Fans Mourned Him as Though He Were a Real Person
At the height of his fame, when Arthur Conan Doyle could have set any price for a new Sherlock Holmes adventure, he made the surprising decision to end the life of his iconic detective in "The Final Problem." This wasn't due to any dislike of Holmes but because the character had begun to monopolize his time and creative energy, leaving him little room to write the historical and other fiction works he longed to create.
Yet, the public's reaction far exceeded what Conan Doyle could have anticipated. Fans were so devastated by the loss of Sherlock Holmes that they wore black armbands in public, grieving him as if he were a real person. Ultimately, driven either by the public outcry or a need to replenish his finances, Doyle revived Holmes in "The Adventure of the Empty House."
Because no one had actually witnessed Holmes’s death or examined his body, it was relatively easy for Conan Doyle to plausibly bring him back to life. This moment highlighted the fierce devotion of his fans, who continue to discuss the tales as if they were historical records.
5. The Devil’s Foot Root Powder Is a Fictional Creation, Representing a Departure from Most of Doyle's Work
After Conan Doyle resurrected Sherlock Holmes, he began experimenting with different types of stories and settings. This shift was partly due to his own dwindling inspiration, as he had initially hesitated to bring Holmes back. Additionally, Doyle sought to break away from predictability. In "The Adventure of the Devil’s Foot," the plot involves individuals mysteriously losing their sanity, one of whom dies. The story becomes even more dramatic when the local vicar suspects the devil’s involvement. After another death occurs in a similar manner, Holmes uncovers that the original murderer was also killed in the same way by someone seeking revenge for their previous killings.
Holmes, as usual, chooses to compound a felony, a common trait for him in such cases. However, the real departure from the usual plotlines is the solution, which is based on sheer nonsense. The killer uses a fictional powder called devil’s foot root, which induces hallucinations, feelings of impending doom, and ultimately death. The issue with this story is that it is impossible to guess the murderer, as the powder is entirely a figment of Conan Doyle’s imagination.
4. Conan Doyle Dramatically Exaggerates the Dangers of the Lion’s Mane Jellyfish
In "The Adventure of the Lion’s Mane," Sherlock Holmes is strolling along a beach when he encounters a man on the brink of death. The man’s final words are "Beware the lion’s mane," which others dismiss as the ravings of a delirious person. True to form, Holmes seeks out clues, uncovers some hidden social scandals, and solves the case. What sets this story apart, however, is that the culprit isn’t a person at all.
In the end, it is revealed that the murderer is a lion’s mane jellyfish. The story describes this jellyfish as having tentacles up to 50 feet (15 meters) long, capable of delivering a fatal sting. In reality, while the lion’s mane jellyfish can grow quite large, with tentacles potentially extending well beyond 50 feet, it is not particularly dangerous. Fatal stings are extremely rare, and while allergic reactions may occur, they are usually not deadly.
3. Holmes Prevents Watson from Assisting a Dying Man Because He’s a Blackmailer
In "The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton," we meet the story's villain, Charles Augustus Milverton, a notorious blackmailer who has been ruining lives for decades within the Holmes universe. Though he has destroyed countless lives by demanding high ransom sums, Milverton is not known for any violent tendencies. When negotiations with him fail, Holmes and Watson decide to break into his home and steal the incriminating documents.
Just as Holmes and Watson are about to crack the safe, Milverton himself enters the room, forcing the duo to hide. While they wait for him to finish smoking, a woman enters, pretending to sell information, but instead shoots Milverton multiple times. After her escape through the window, Watson, as a doctor, immediately tries to help the wounded man. However, Holmes intervenes, restraining him. Watson quickly relents, and the two proceed to open the safe and burn the papers before leaving the room locked, sealing Milverton’s fate.
This behavior is unusual for Holmes, as in "The Adventure of the Copper Beeches," he does not stop Watson from saving the life of a man who attempted to kill them with his dog, and who nearly met his own death as a result.
2. The Time Holmes and Watson Become Complicit in an Escaped Murderer’s Freedom
In The Hound of the Baskervilles, Watson travels to Baskerville Hall with the newly inherited Henry Baskerville to protect him from an elusive threat. As they make their way to the Hall, they learn that an escaped murderer is on the loose on the moor. Later, they discover that their own servants are aiding the convict because he is the brother of the butler’s wife. Watson and Baskerville initially attempt to capture the convict, but their efforts prove unsuccessful.
The following morning, the butler scolds Baskerville for chasing after his brother-in-law, who "has enough trouble already," even though the man is known to be a ruthless murderer. The butler assures them that the convict will no longer cause harm, and with this reassurance, Watson and Baskerville decide to let the matter go. Holmes later humorously suggests he should arrest them for their actions, but he knows he could not do so without implicating himself, as he was also aware of the murderer’s presence on the moor and chose not to intervene.
1. The Vampire Tale Relies on False Venom-Removal Science
In "The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire," Holmes is tasked with investigating a case involving the possible existence of vampirism. A woman has been seen twice sucking blood from her infant’s neck, leading the concerned father to separate her from the child. The two are estranged, and the father is deeply worried for his child’s well-being. Ultimately, it is revealed that the mother was attempting to suck out poison that someone had deliberately introduced to the child’s body.
Although the story is an entertaining one, it is based on entirely false scientific ideas. The notion that poison can be sucked out of a wound is nonsense. Once poison enters the body, it spreads too quickly through the bloodstream to be extracted. What is needed is an antidote, not a crude attempt to suck out venom. At best, this would have little effect; at worst, the person attempting to suck the poison could inadvertently poison themselves.
