"Until now I cannot recall any visual dramatisation of ‘A Study in Scarlet'. No film or stage version. We never managed it in the Granada television series, and it is extraordinary when you consider that it is the novel that introduced the world to ‘Sherlock Holmes'. Nis Jessen's splendidly researched and wonderfully illustrated book puts that right. A problem arises for anyone attempting a visual version of a book. When we read a novel we all imagine the characters and places in a uniquely personal way. The trick for the artist is to convince his audience that his vision of the story is not in conflict with those personal images. It is not easy, but Nis Jessen succeeds. The drawings of the characters and Victorian London convince totally, and the action and energy of the American scenes are wonderfully conveyed.There is a continuing fascination with Sherlock Holmes. Every generation manages to see him in the light of their own experiences. He and Dr Watson have spawned many detective partnerships, but none of them match the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle creation. Nis Jessen's book is a great addition to the legend."
