122, Baker-street

From The Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia

122, Baker-street is an article published in the Daily Mail on 3 september 1927, including a part of an interview with Arthur Conan Doyle.


122, Baker-street

Daily Mail (3 september 1927, p. 7)

THE SHERLOCK HOLMES MYTH.

A mystery worthy of the man himself is introduced by a habit of certain guides to London of describing 122, Baker-street, W., as the home of Sherlock Holmes.

Of course, Sherlock Holmes was a mythical detective who brought his creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, fame and fortune. It is true that Sir Arthur mentions Baker-street as the street in which Holmes lived, but yesterday Sir Arthur said he had not the faintest recollection of ever identifying him with No. 122.

"Really," he said, "I don't know at the moment where he lived; I believe it has been suggested that he lived at two or three addresses, but of course he didn't. If anyone wants to know where he lived show him Baker-street and say he lived there — that's the nearest you will ever get to it"

The occupants of No. 122 had never heard of the suggestion that the most famous detective of fiction ever resided there, and happily no inquisitive American or other admirer of Holmes's doings has as yet asked to see his rooms.