<P> It was worth a wound; it was worth many wounds; to know the depth of loyalty and love which lay behind that cold mask . The clear, hard eyes were dimmed for a moment, and the firm lips were shaking . For the one and only time I caught a glimpse of a great heart as well as of a great brain . All my years of humble but single - minded service culminated in that moment of revelation . </P> <P> Holmes clients vary from the most powerful monarchs and governments of Europe, to wealthy aristocrats and industrialists, to impoverished pawnbrokers and governesses . He is known only in select profession circles at the beginning of the first story, but is already collaborating with Scotland Yard . However, his continued work and the publication of Watson's stories raises Holmes' profile, and he rapidly becomes well known as a detective; so many clients ask for his help instead of (or in addition to) that of the police that, Watson writes, by 1895 Holmes has "an immense practice". Police outside London ask Holmes for assistance if he is nearby, even during a vacation . A Prime Minister and the King of Bohemia visit 221B Baker Street in person to request Holmes's assistance; the government of France awards him its Legion of Honour for solving a case; the "King of Scandinavia" (not a real - life position) is a client; and he aids the Vatican at least twice . The detective acts on behalf of the British government in matters of national security several times, and declines a knighthood "for services which may perhaps some day be described". </P> <P> The first set of Holmes stories was published between 1887 and 1893 . Wishing to devote more time to his historical novels, Conan Doyle killed off Holmes in a final battle with the criminal mastermind Professor James Moriarty in "The Final Problem" (published 1893, but set in 1891). Legend has it that Londoners were so distraught upon hearing the news of Holmes' death that they wore black armbands in mourning . However, there is no known contemporary source for this; the earliest known reference to such events comes from 1949 . </P> <P> After resisting public pressure for eight years, Conan Doyle wrote The Hound of the Baskervilles (serialised in 1901--02, with an implicit setting before Holmes's death). In 1903, Conan Doyle wrote "The Adventure of the Empty House", set in 1894; Holmes reappears, explaining to a stunned Watson that he had faked his death to fool his enemies . "The Adventure of the Empty House" marks the beginning of the second set of stories, which Conan Doyle wrote until 1927 . </P>

Sherlock holmes books written by sir arthur conan doyle