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|title=Sherlock Holmes: The Man Who Never Lived and Will Never Die

|author=Alex Werner

|publisher=Ebury press

|date=October 2014

|summary=Who is Sherlock Homes? Find out what influenced Conan-Doyle to write his famous detective stories and discover how they continue to delight a new generation of fans in this comprehensive guide to all things Holmes.

}}

It has been over 125 years since the first Sherlock Holmes story was written and since then, the character has been subject to countless interpretations on stage, screen and in literature. Such was the popularity of the famous detective, that his creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, attempted on more than one occasion to 'free himself' from Holmes, the most notable example being his 'death' at Reichenbach Falls. Readers were most upset and Doyle eventually bowed to public pressure, reviving the eponymous hero for further adventures. In the years that followed, Holmes took on a life independent of his author, as his stories were adapted for stage and film. An unconcerned Doyle allowed free rein with the character, famously saying: ''You may marry or murder or do whatever you like with him.''