The real Sherlock Holmes (8 photos)

The protagonist of Conan Doyle's books is ingenious and practically unkillable superman. These do not happen ... Or do they still exist?





The writer gave his Victorian character a unique memory, incredible logical skills and absolute genius in absolutely young science - criminology. What can I say, he even brought back from the dead to complete the superhero look.



It was believed that almost the only prototype of Holmes was Joseph Bell, Conan Doyle's teacher and mentor, under whose guidance The writer worked in a hospital. Bell really played a major role in shaping the image of Holmes, which Doyle himself admitted in his letters. But researchers of his work suggested that there were others prototypes. And not only with Holmes, but also with Watson, and with the professor Moriarty, and Irene Adler.

Joseph Bell





Bell taught at the University of Edinburgh, where the future the writer received the profession of a doctor. The students watched in fascination by his professor during practical classes. He could identify the gender the patient's activities, guess the place of his birth, tell some details his biography. Ability to notice details and summarize observations Doyle developed the conclusion in Sherlock to a very impressive level.



In an interview, Bell, when he was called the prototype of the detective, noted, that he is still very, very far from the genius Holmes. And in one of letters to Doyle, Bell wrote that the character he invented looked more like my father". But the aquiline nose, tall stature and lean figure were accurately copied from Joseph Bell.

Henry Littlejohn



He was Bell's colleague at the university and concurrently his close associates. friend. And also Henry was considered the most progressive specialist in forensics in Scotland.

Littlejohn worked as an Edinburgh Surveyor health care and was the first to go to the call on a signal from the police about suspicious death. For several decades, he uncovered complex and complicated police cases and Joseph Bell helped him in this.

The latter, in the future, called himself the right hand of Littlejohn and compared himself no longer with Holmes, but with Watson.

Conan Doyle, a few years after Henry's death, admitted that the criminologist acted as the inspiration for Holmes. But lifetime glory Littlejohn and there were reasons for this: the writer did not want to involve him excessive media attention so that he calmly goes about his main business - the capture of criminals, without the possibility of being recognized.

Jerome Caminada



More recent research has put forward as the most important possible the prototype of Sherlock is his. He worked in Manchester as a policeman inspector and was a real thunderstorm of criminals. Caminada became famous shortly before the release of "Study in Scarlet" and in his biography there is even intersection with the fate of Holmes.

But there are other similarities with the book sleuth.

The inspector also had his own network of agents from the world of crime, whose he regularly used the services. Caminada recruited them not only to receive information on certain crimes. They taught him knowledge about the habits of the inhabitants of the underworld and shared information about its features. Jerome has upgraded his knowledge so much that he could tell a thief by his walk. The policeman often dressed up as a worker, either a drunkard, or a beggar, or even a "white collar" and that's all to get close to the suspect. He disguised himself professionally, that even his colleagues did not recognize him.



Caminada even has his own professor Moriarty: hardened criminal Bob Horridge, who hated the detective. A police officer once caught him on banal theft of watches, which infuriated Bob, because he did not pierced on more serious crimes. Horridge released from prison after 7 years and laid down his whole life to take revenge on the inspector. 20 long their confrontation lasted for years, and Horridge managed to be on the edge for a long time. a step or two ahead of the police.

But when the gunman shot two officers, the Caminada tracked down Bob. in Liverpool and arrested him, putting him in jailfor life.

Irene Adler



Caminada's life also had its own Irene Adler. A lady named Alicia Ormond, who in the criminal world was reputed to be extremely quirky swindler and thief.

She had excellent manners, an excellent education, and she loved luxury. Kaminada tracked her down and even detained her, but... fell in love with her.

A year later, Irene Adler appeared in the life of Sherlock Holmes.