CONAN DOYLE

          Many years ago a young doctor began to write stories about a man who was a detective. Readers liked his stories because they were very interesting and the doctor decided to become a writer. The doctor was Conan Doyle and he wrote about Sher­lock Holmes.

          Conan Doyle wrote his first story about Sherlock Holmes in 1887. In this story the detective meets his friend Dr. Watson. Holmes and Watson lived at 221В Baker Street in London.

         Many discussions take place about where 221В was. There is no house there now. But a large company has its office near the place. This company answers twenty or so letters which still come every week to Sherlock Holmes, 221В Baker Street. Most come from the United States and many people ask if Mr. Holmes can help them with some problem.

         The company answers saying that, «Mr. Sherlock Holmes is no longer working as a detective».

       There is a pub in London called Sherlock Holmes. One of the rooms in the pub is Sherlock Holmes’ room. It has many things the room in Conan Doyle’s stories had — Holmes’ hat, some letters written to Sherlock Holmes, chairs and tables like those described in the stories. Besides, there are some pictures of Holmes and Conan Doyle, of actors who played Holmes and Watson in films, on television and radio.

        In 1961 lovers of Sherlock Holmes formed the Sherlock Holmes Society. They meet three or four times a year to talk about Sherlock Holmes. The members of the Society know the stories about Sherlock Holmes very well, and they discuss these stories at their meetings.

QUESTIONS:

1. Why did readers like Conan Doyle’s stories?

2. When did Conan Doyle first write about Sherlock Holmes?

3. What did lovers of Sherlock Holmes form?

4. What do the lovers of Sherlock Holmes do at their mee­tings?

VOCABULARY:

discussions — обсуждения

to take place — происходить