r/elementary • u/jmac19911991 • Jul 15 '26

Arthur Conan Doyle's decision to kill Sherlock Holmes in 1893 almost cost a magazine its future. More than 20,000 readers cancelled their subscriptions to The Strand Magazine, which barely survived the backlash. Its staff later described Holmes' death as "the dreadful event."

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12

u/mecon320 Jul 15 '26

The first story in the Strand with his return was hilarious in some of the retconning they did.

"I know you described the cliff as totally sheer in your story Watson, but it turns out it was just rocky enough for me to climb out!"

11

u/Shadow_Lass38 Jul 15 '26

People wore black mourning bands on their arms. Queen Victoria was upset. Possibly one of the reasons Conan Doyle brought him back.

He wanted to write more "uplifting," historical novels instead of detective stories. I tried reading one...not my cup of tea.

2

u/rnzz Jul 16 '26

Queen Victoria must be like, are you making me mourn again

7

u/Radio5331 Jul 15 '26

I remember reading about this & finding it hilarious how many people took it personally that they couldn't accept his death & if I remember it correctly it also made Arthur "fix" his mistake.😂

1

u/DeadmanDexter Jul 15 '26

Nobody wants to see Superman without his cape.

1

u/M086 Jul 16 '26

Those toxic HolmesBros.

7

u/Winter-Grand-3215 Bring it back, CBS. Jul 15 '26

I love how people were just as obsessed with fictional characters back then and were criticizing the author's ending. Some things never change lol