(author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

”A Scandal In Bohemia” is one of the 56 Sherlock Holmes short stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. He ranked it as his fifth favorite among his top 12 Sherlock Holmes stories. The character of Sherlock Holmes appears in 4 novels and 56 short stories by its creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, not to mention countless radio, TV, movie, litterary and internet adaptations by impressed fans. Sherlock Holmes is a consulting detective who relies on his acute deductive powers to solve mysteries or criminal cases. These are usually cases that stump the authorities and leave the reader several steps behind Sherlock Holmes in the investigation.

The story begins when a married Dr. Watson stops by to pay Sherlock Holmes a visit. In earlier stories Dr. Watson and Sherlock Holmes were housemates but now Dr. Watson is married. A masked visitor arrives and introduces himself as Count von Kramm in the service of a wealthy client. Sherlock Holmes is not fooled and we find out that the man is the Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, Wilhelm Gottsreich Sigismond von Ormstein- The King of Bohemia. (It is important to say that this is a work of fiction and there never was a king of Bohemia.). The Grand Duke explains to Mr. Holmes that he is due to have an important polititcal mariage and he fears the possibility that a woman from his past could ruin it.

The other woman´s name is Irene Adler. She is an American opera singer. Mr. Holmes sets out investigating the woman with various disguises. He learns that Irene Adler has married a man named Godfrey Norton. He also discovers that Irene Adler is a decent woman who keeps the photograph to protect herself and has no intention of ruining anyones life. As it turns out, she really did love the Grand Duke and it was the Duke who took advantage of the situation between them. Furthermore, the Duke recognizes that she was a decent person but explains that she was not a high enough social rank for him. The Duke´s conduct disgusts Sherlock Holmes.

I can see why this is one of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle´s favorite Sherlock Holmes stories because it involves a character named Irene Adler who may well be his professional equal. She is both intelligent and decent and because of this I think it is safe to assume that Sherlock Holmes may have been in love with her. Maybe he saw in her the qualities he would want in a wife. Another interesting aspect to the story is the fact that she is not who the Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, Wilhelm Gottsreich Sigismond von Ormstein portrays her to be. She is not a gilted lover who is set on ruining anyone and she is not a flousy. Needless to say, by the end of the investigation Sherlock Holmes is disgusted with the Duke. The Duke may have titles and wealth but he seems to lack the qualities that really count in a person.

I really enjoyed this story for its antics and twists and turns. I also enjoyed the characters. That is why I highly recommend this short read. It really is alot of fun and should be a part of everybody´s library.

(Commentary by www.ink2quill.com )

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