A Study in Scarlet (1887) marks the debut of the very gifted
and eccentric detective Sherlock Holmes, and his close friend and
chronicler, Dr Watson – two of the most well-known characters in
crime fiction. It was the first of four novels featuring the duo, and was
followed by The Sign of the Four (1890). Both novels have been adapted
extensively on film, television, and in theatre, especially A Study in
Scarlet, which also inspired the first episode of the immensely popular
BBC television series, Sherlock (2010–present), featuring Benedict
Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as Dr Watson.