Arthur Conan Doyle "The Valley of Horror"
«Valley of horror"- one of their four detective stories worldwidefamous English writer Arthur Conan Doyle. Unfortunately, it is less popular than the other three stories, although it is not inferior to them in quality. What is the reason for this?
In addition to five collections of stories about the adventures of Detective Sherlock Holmes and his friend and assistant Dr. Watson Peru Arthur Conan Doyle belong four stories about the detective: "Study in Scarlet", "Sign of Four", "The Dog of the Baskervilles" and "The Valley of Horror". The first three stories are familiar to readers, but the "Valley of Horror", alas, can not boast of such popularity.
The story "Valley of Horror" (in another translation - "Valley of Fear") Was first published in 1915, anda year later it was translated into Russian and printed in the newspaper "Our Life". But since that moment almost 70 years the story has not been reprinted, because there was an unofficial ban on its publication (there are different versions as to the reasons for this prohibition). The story "The Valley of Horror" was published only in 1986 in the magazine "Smena".
The story begins with the fact that Sherlock Holmes comes an encrypted letter written by a certain Porlock - one of the assistant professors Moriarty, secretly supplying the detective information. The letter says that a certain Mr. Douglas is under threat of attack.
But it turns out that it's too late - five minutes after Holmes passed the letter, to house number 221B in Baker Street comes MacDonald, Inspector of Scotland Yard. He informs Holmes and Watsonthat Mr. Douglas was killed in his estate. Holmes is intrigued, so he decides to take up this matter.
The evidence is rather contradictory, and the witnesses clearlysomething is not talked out. Will Sherlock Holmes unravel this case, in which Masons are involved, a gang called "Cleaners", revenge and even his worst enemy Professor Moriarty? Or will it add to the short list of cases, which it turned out not to be able to solve even the great detective?
The Valley of Terror is one of the most undervalued works about Sherlock Holmes. This is an exciting and dynamic story that will not leave indifferent any fan of books about the adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.
Quotations from the book
"I'm inclined to think ..." I began.
"A commendable intention," Sherlock Holmes snapped at me curiously. "
"Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, talent recognizes genius at first sight"
"Watson claims that I am a theater director of real life"
"The mind of Sherlock Holmes, like a sharp razor, was dull in inaction and covered with rust"
"Great life experience and mystery always awaken a woman's interest and in the end love"
"There is no such combination of events for which the human mind could not find an explanation"
"No chain is stronger than its weakest link"
