A free talk at The Hive will explore the fascinating thinking behind the creation of the most famous fictional detective of all time.
Dr Sharon Young, Course Leader for MA English at the University of Worcester will deliver the talk, titled In Search of a Hero: Sherlock Holmes and a Study in Scarlet, at 1700-1800 on 25 February.
“A Study in Scarlet is Sherlock Holmes’ first appearance,” said Dr Young. “It’s also the moment he meets Watson and is one of the best-known stories. It’s a really important stepping stone in the development of the detective story, linking earlier American detective fiction, particularly Edgar Allan Poe, to the golden age of English crime writing.”
She added: “Holmes isn’t a traditionally heroic figure. He isn’t the hyper-masculine hero which you can find in a lot of fiction, and neither is Watson. But together, they form something of a complete hero; as a partnership they’re incredibly effective.”
The talk is part of a series of events from the University of Worcester’s English, Media and Culture department, where expert speakers explore different aspects of reading and writing.
Dr Young said the talk is for anyone with an interest in the way writers create heroes and the way they come across in their texts.
“It’ll be for people who enjoy literature or crime fiction, or people who are curious about how masculinity and heroism are constructed in the story,” she said. “Almost everyone will be familiar this story if they’ve ever watched a Sherlock Holmes adaptation, whether it’s Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, Robert Downey Jr, or older versions with Basil Rathbone and Jeremy Brett.”
To book your tickets, follow this link to The Hive’s website.
For information on courses at University of Worcester visit www.worcester.ac.uk or for application enquiries telephone 01905 855111 or email [email protected]