Holmes and Moriarty fighting over the Reichenbach Falls. Art by Sidney Paget.

The Adventure of the Final Problem is a short story by Arthur Conan Doyle, featuring his detective character Sherlock Holmes. It was first published in Strand Magazine in December 1893. It appears in book form as part of the collection The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. Conan Doyle later ranked 'The Adventure of the Final Problem' fourth on his personal list of the twelve best Holmes stories. Authorship redirects here. ... Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle, DL (22 May 1859–7 July 1930) was a Scottish born author most noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, which are generally considered a major innovation in the field of crime fiction, and the adventures of Professor Challenger. ... Year 1893 (MDCCCXCIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes is a collection of Sherlock Holmes stories, originally published in 1894, by Arthur Conan Doyle. ... Year 1891 (MDCCCXCI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... For other uses of the term, see Villain (disambiguation). ... Professor Moriarty, illustration by Sidney Paget which accompanied the original publication of The Final Problem. Professor James Moriarty is a fictional character who is the best known antagonist (and archenemy) of the detective Sherlock Holmes. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle, DL (22 May 1859–7 July 1930) was a Scottish born author most noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, which are generally considered a major innovation in the field of crime fiction, and the adventures of Professor Challenger. ... A portrait of Sherlock Holmes by Sidney Paget from the Strand Magazine, 1891 Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, who first appeared in publication in 1887. ... The Strand Magazine was a monthly fiction magazine founded by George Newnes. ... Year 1893 (MDCCCXCIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes is a collection of Sherlock Holmes stories, originally published in 1894, by Arthur Conan Doyle. ...

Synopsis

This story, set in 1891, introduces Holmes' greatest opponent, the criminal mastermind Professor Moriarty. Year 1891 (MDCCCXCI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Professor Moriarty, illustration by Sidney Paget which accompanied the original publication of The Final Problem. Professor James Moriarty is a fictional character who is the best known antagonist (and archenemy) of the detective Sherlock Holmes. ...

Holmes arrives at Dr. Watson's one evening in a somewhat agitated state and with barked knuckles. He has apparently escaped three murder attempts that day after a visit from Professor Moriarty, who warned him to withdraw from his pursuit of justice against him to avoid any regrettable outcome. Dr. John H. Watson is a fictional character, the sidekick of Sherlock Holmes, the fictional 19th century detective created by Arthur Conan Doyle. ... Professor Moriarty, illustration by Sidney Paget which accompanied the original publication of The Final Problem. Professor James Moriarty is a fictional character who is the best known antagonist (and archenemy) of the detective Sherlock Holmes. ...

Holmes has been tracking Moriarty and his agents for months and is on the brink of snaring them all and delivering them to the dock. Moriarty is the nexus of a highly organised and amazingly secret criminal force and Holmes will consider it the crowning achievement of his career if only he can defeat Moriarty. Moriarty of course is out to thwart Holmes' plans and is well capable of doing so, for he is as Holmes admits the great detective's intellectual equal.

Holmes asks Watson to come to the continent with him, giving him unusual instructions designed to hide his tracks to Victoria Station. Holmes is not quite sure where they will go; this seems rather odd to Watson. Holmes then leaves Watson's by climbing over the back wall in the garden, certain that he has been followed to his friend's. Victoria station may refer to: London Victoria station Manchester Victoria station Victoria tube station Victoria Station, a restaurant chain which uses real train boxcars as dining rooms. ...

The next day Watson follows Holmes' instructions to the letter and finds himself waiting in the reserved first class coach for his friend, but only an elderly Italian priest is there. The cleric soon makes it apparent that he is Holmes in disguise. This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

As the train pulls out of Victoria Holmes spots Moriarty on the platform, apparently trying to get someone to stop the train. Holmes is forced to take action as Moriarty has obviously tracked Watson, despite extraordinary precautions. He and Watson alight at Canterbury, changing their route plan. As they are waiting for another train to Newhaven a special one coach train roars through Canterbury as Holmes suspected it would. It contains Moriarty who has hired the train in an effort to overtake Holmes. Holmes and Watson are forced to hide behind luggage. Canterbury is a cathedral city in east Kent in South East England and is the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Primate of All England, head of the Church of England and of the worldwide Anglican Communion. ...

Holmes receives a message that most of Moriarty's gang have been arrested in England and Holmes recommends Watson return there now that Holmes will likely be a very dangerous companion. Watson however decides to stay with his friend. Moriarty himself has slipped out of the grasp of the English police and is obviously with them on the continent. Motto (French) God and my right Anthem No official anthem - the United Kingdom anthem God Save the Queen is commonly used England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto)1 Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Monarch Queen Elizabeth II...

Holmes' and Watson's journey take them to Switzerland where they stay at Meiringen. From there they fatefully decide to take a walk which will include a visit to Reichenbach Falls, a local natural wonder. Once there they find it is everything that has been said about it and more. Statue of Holmes outside the English Church Street sign outside Holmes museum Meiringen (, 595 m; population 4,740 as of 2004) is a town in the Bernese Oberland of Switzerland. ... The Reichenbach Falls (Reichenbachfall) in Meiringen, Switzerland, have a total drop of 250 m (656 ft). ...

A boy appears and hands Watson a note, saying there is a sick Englishwoman back at the hotel who wants an English doctor. Holmes realises at once it is a hoax although he does not say so. Watson goes to see about the patient, leaving Holmes alone.

When he reaches the Englischer Hof the innkeeper has no idea about any sick Englishwoman. Realizing at last what has happened, Watson rushes back to Reichenbach Falls but finds no one there, although he does see two sets of footprints going out onto the muddy dead end path with none coming back. There is also a note from Holmes, explaining that he knew the report Watson was given to be a hoax and that he is about to fight Moriarty who has graciously given him enough time to pen this last letter. Watson sees that towards the end of the path there are signs that a violent struggle has taken place. It is all too clear Holmes and Moriarty have both died, falling to their deaths down the gorge whilst locked in mortal combat. Dr Watson returns to England with sorrow in his heart.

Themes and circumstances of writing

As is well known 'The Final Problem' was intended to be exactly what its name says. Conan Doyle meant to stop writing about his famous detective with this short story in which he would be killed off as he felt the Sherlock Holmes stories were distracting him from more worthwhile literary efforts and that killing Holmes off was the only way of getting his career back on track. 'I must save my mind for better things', he wrote to his mother at the time, 'even if it means I must bury my pocketbook with him'.

Conan Doyle sought to sweeten the pill by letting Holmes go in a blaze of glory, having rid the world of a criminal so powerful and dangerous that any further task would be trivial in comparison. (Holmes says as much in the story itself.)

But as is equally well known this device failed in its purpose and pressure from fans eventually persuaded Doyle to bring Holmes back. There were enough holes in eyewitness accounts to allow Conan Doyle to plausibly resurrect Holmes and during his three year 'death' only the few free surviving members of Moriarty's organisation and Holmes's brother Mycroft (who appears briefly in this story) know that Sherlock Holmes is still alive, actually having won the struggle at Reichenbach Falls and sending Moriarty to his doom but nearly meeting his own at Moriarty's henchmen's hands.

Other Media

In the 1985 television adaptation starring Jeremy Brett the story begins with the theft of the Mona Lisa, masterminded by Moriarty in order to sell prepared fakes to collectors. Holmes recovers the original painting just before Moriarty makes a sale to a 'Mr Morgan' (presumably JP Morgan). Holmes's interference with his plans convinces Moriarty that the detective must be eliminated. A biological adaptation is an anatomical structure, physiological process or behavioral trait of an organism that has evolved over a period of time by the process of natural selection such that it increases the expected long-term reproductive success of the organism. ... Peter Jeremy William Huggins (November 3, 1933 – September 12, 1995), better known as Jeremy Brett, was an English actor famous for his portrayal of the detective Sherlock Holmes in the British television series The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. ... Mona Lisa, or La Gioconda (La Joconde), is a 16th century oil painting on poplar wood by Leonardo Da Vinci. ... John Pierpont Morgan John Pierpont Morgan I (April 17, 1837 – March 31, 1913) was an American financier and banker, who at the turn of the century (1901), was one of the wealthiest men in America. ...

The story was adapted for radio by John Kier Cross; it was broadcast on April 17, 1955, and starred John Gielgud as Holmes, Ralph Richardson as Dr. Watson, and Orson Welles as Professor Moriarty. Sir Arthur John Gielgud, OM, CH (14 April 1904 – 21 May 2000), known as Sir John Gielgud, was an Emmy, Grammy, Tony and Academy Award-winning British theatre and film actor. ... Ralph Richardson Sir Ralph David Richardson (19 December 1902 – 10 October 1983) was an English actor, one of a group of theatrical knights of the mid-20th century who, though more closely associated with the stage, did their best to make the transition to film. ... This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ...

Memorials at Meiringen and the falls

Statue of Holmes outside the English Church, Meiringen

Inhabitants of Meiringen (4,740 of them, as of 2004) are still grateful to Doyle and Holmes for providing an enduring worldwide fame of their falls and considerably promoting tourism to the town. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (480x640, 60 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Meiringen User:RHaworth/gallery ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (480x640, 60 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Meiringen User:RHaworth/gallery ...

A museum dedicated to Holmes is housed in the basement of an English Church located in what has now been named Conan Doyle Place.

Street sign outside the Sherlock Holmes Museum

At the funicular station near the falls there is a memorial plate to 'the most famous detective in the world'. Image File history File links 029240_conan_doyle_place. ... Image File history File links 029240_conan_doyle_place. ... Angels Flight, Los Angeles, California with gantlet track configuration Duquesne Incline, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with full length parallel tracks The Gütschbahn in Lucerne, Switzerland – from an 1893 guidebook A funicular, also called funicular railway, inclined railway, inclined plane, or, in the United Kingdom, a cliff railway, is a system of...

The actual ledge from which Moriarty and Holmes supposedly fell is on the other side of the falls. It is accessible by climbing the path to the top of the falls, crossing the bridge, and following the trail down the hill. The ledge is marked by a plaque written in English, German, and French. The English inscription reads 'At this fearful place, Sherlock Holmes vanquished Professor Moriarty, on 4 May 1891.' Professor Moriarty, illustration by Sidney Paget which accompanied the original publication of The Final Problem. Professor James Moriarty is a fictional character who is the best known antagonist (and archenemy) of the detective Sherlock Holmes. ...

Similarity with 'The First Men in The Moon'

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The last parting of Watson and Holmes in this story bears considerable similarity to that between Bedford and Cavour, the protagonists of HG Wells's The First Men in the Moon published just a few years later. Like Holmes, Cavour parts with Bedford without expecting to see him again and when Bedford later returns to the scene he only finds a parting letter from his friend; and like Holmes, it later turns out Cavour did not die after all. While there is no concrete proof Wells read Doyle's story or was influenced by it, that seems a reasonable inference given both were prominent writers active in London at the same time. Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... H. G. Wells at the door of his house at Sandgate Herbert George Wells (September 21, 1866 - August 13, 1946) was an English writer best known for his science fiction novels such as The War of the Worlds and The Time Machine. ... The First Men in the Moon is a 1901 science fiction novel by the British author H. G. Wells. ...

Wikisource Links

• "The Final Problem" on Wikisource.