The Sign of the Four
The Sign of the Four is an 1890 detective novel written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This is the second full-length novel featuring the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes and his trusted companion Dr. John Watson. Doyle’s detective stories, which include four novels and 56 short stories, have become classics of the mystery genre, with The Sign of the Four being one of the more thrilling cases in Holmes’ early career.
The story begins with Mary Morstan, a young woman seeking Holmes’ help in solving the mystery of her father’s disappearance ten years earlier. Each year since his disappearance, she has received a valuable pearl from an anonymous sender. Now, a letter arrives, inviting her to meet with someone who claims to have important information about her father’s fate. Holmes and Watson accompany her to the meeting, which leads them into a web of intrigue involving a hidden treasure, betrayal, and murder.
As Holmes unravels the mystery, the novel explores themes of greed, justice, and colonialism. The treasure at the heart of the story, originally found in India, brings into focus the darker sides of wealth and the lengths to which people will go to claim it.
Holmes’ keen powers of deduction are on full display in The Sign of the Four, showcasing the brilliant methods that have captivated readers for generations. The novel also delves deeper into Holmes’ character, touching on his use of drugs to stimulate his mind between cases, and providing readers with a more personal look at his friendship with Watson. This story is particularly significant as it introduces Mary Morstan, who eventually becomes Watson’s wife.
