The Sign of the Four

As a dense yellow fog swirls through London, Sherlock Holmes sits in a cocaine-induced haze at 221B Baker Street. His mood is only lifted by a visit from a beautiful but distressed young woman, whose father vanished ten years before. The ensuing investigation involves a wronged woman, stolen Indian treasure, a helpful dog, and a love affair.

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'I crave for mental exaltation. That is why I have chosen my own particular profession, or rather created it, for I am the only one in the world.'

Mary Morstan receives a large pearl through the post once a year without any clue as to the sender. When her intriguing correspondent requests a meeting, Holmes and Watson take on the case. Together the trio race through London to uncover the secrets of the Sholto family, who hold the key to uncovering the whereabouts of Mary's father and the existence of a treasure stemming from a crime committed years ago in India.

The Sign of the Four has been a crucial part of the Sherlock Holmes canon since its first publication in 1890. It explores theft, betrayal, and murder in the larger context of the British Empire at a time of national upheaval, and the novel's flashbacks to India during the 'Mutiny' and its aftermath call into question the consequences of that imperial venture. Caroline Reitz's new introduction and notes draws attention to some often-overlooked context of the story, such as its original publication in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine, its representation of imperial violence, and changing gender roles.

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