Tales for a Winter's Night: Academy Mysteries

By Arthur Conan Doyle

Book Overview

This work brings together eight Arthur Conan Doyle mystery classics. When first gathered into one volume in 1908, the book was entitled Round the Fire Stories, since the author recommended that they be read ideally "'round the fire upon a winter's night." According to Barzun & Taylor in A Catalogue of Crime, "As one reads 'The Man with the Watches, ' 'The Lost Special, ' 'The Jew's Breastplate, ' 'The Black Doctor' and the rest, one marvels again at Doyle's natural gift of storytelling and one relishes his ingrained habit of giving clues, even when they serve narrative and are not to be used for ratiocination. These stories are worth reading even around a radiator."

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0897333098
• ISBN13: 9780897333092
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: Academy Chicago Publishers
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.1" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

STRAND Magazine stories by Doyle

I love anything by Doyle. This book is no different.You have 7 great tales here; my favorites being , "The Sealed Room" and "The Man With The Watches". The very best mysteries were written in the mid to late 1800's and early 1900's. They were literally the most superlative mysteries of all time. I just wish Doyle had lives long enough to write many more mysteries.

He's more than just "Sherlock Holmes"

Although best known as the author of the "Sherlock Holmes" canon, Sir Arthur's best work can be found in his brilliant short stories. The tales in this book represent some his very best writing and feature taught, gripping stories of the mysterious, the bizarre, and the profound. Despite the fact that even the most recent of these stories is nearly 70 years old, they are so cleverly plotted and paced that they retain their ability to thrill even today. Readers who worry that the language will be too old fashioned or will require slow and careful reading should not worry: these tales are easily read, but not so easily forgotten. Try, for example, "Lot 212." This is a story about a mysterious young college student, his ancient mummy, and a series of strange crimes and attacks. Our hero confronts the villian in one of the most gripping confrontations you'll ever read in short fiction. Read these tales late at night, aloud if possible, to a willing second. You won't be disappointed!