Did Sherlock Holmes solve every case?

Answer 1

No, they all originated in the imagination of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. However, occasionally Holmes gives reference to some famous cases that were solved in real life, such as the cases of Palmer and Pritchard.

Answer 2

It depends on your point of view. In 'The Five Orange Pips,' Holmes says, "I have been beaten four times - three times by men and once by a woman." In two cases: 'The Five Orange Pips' and 'The Adventure of the Dancing Men' his clients died. In 'A Scandal In Bohemia' he fails to recover the photograph requested by his client, but he is given assurances that the client's wishes will be honoured. At the end of 'The Yellow Face', Holmes says, "Watson, if it should ever strike you that I am getting a little over-confident in my powers, or giving less pains to a case than it deserves, kindly whisper `Norbury` in my ear, and I shall be infinitely obliged to you." In 'The Musgrave Ritual' speaking of his prior case notes he says, "They are not all successes, Watson." Having said all of that, it is true that in every recorded case he manages to discover the whole truth.

Answer 3

Well my friend, this is a very interesting subject. The honest answer is......

(A different answer)

Many of the places are as described but have different names and such. 221B Baker Street was a government building.

The techniques were based on reality, and have encouraged the people that developed the current CSI type forensics in use today.

Answer 4

Sherlock preferred interesting cases, ones where it wouldn't be so easy to solve.