Keywords
Sherlock Holmes
Edgar Allan Poe
Middle class
Periodicals
Submitted : 2023-12-21
Accepted : 2024-01-05
Published : 2024-01-20
Abstract
This paper explores the origins and evolution of detective fiction, debunking the myth surrounding SherlockHolmes’ famous quote and highlighting his enduring popularity. It traces the genre’s inception back to Edgar Allan Poe’sThe Murders in the Rue Morgue in 1841 and underscores the societal and political changes in 18th and 19th centuryEngland that paved the way for its rise. With the growth of the middle class and the demand for accessible entertainment,periodicals emerged as a key medium for short stories, with detective fiction becoming a prominent genre. This paper alsoemphasizes how Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories achieved commercial success and influenced a generationof writers, while the public’s passionate response to his character’s temporary demise underscores the genre’s profoundimpact on readers and its enduring popularity.
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