Adaptations lead to Sherlock Holmes sales spike
6th February 2012
Sales of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes novels have doubled in recent weeks, with new adaptations by the BBC and Hollywood credited with instigating the rise.
The BBC's modern day retellings of some of Conan Doyle's most famous novels, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman as Holmes and Watson, respectively, have proven a huge hit with audiences.
The most recent three-part series drew in millions of viewers and significant critical acclaim, particularly the final episode, based on The Final Problem, which features the assumed deaths of Holmes and Moriarty.
Bookseller Melanie Harris commented: 'The BBC's stunning adaptation has succeeded in making Holmes relevant to a new generation of readers. Whilst the original books may lack references to blogging and cyberspace, the stories remain utterly compelling.'
Guy Ritchie's latest Sherlock Holmes Film, A Game of Shadows - itself loosely based on The Final Problem - has also been attributed to the rise in book sales.
Starring Robert Downey Jr in the title role and Jude Law as Watson, the film has taken over GBP 23 million at the UK box office since its Boxing Day release and further fuelled the public's thirst for the Victorian detective.