The Great Outdoors: Nature’s Role in the World of Sherlock Holmes

Abstract

This paper explores the multifaceted role of nature in the Sherlock Holmes canon by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, arguing that the natural world functions as more than mere setting. It serves as a testing ground for Holmes’s rational method, a source of crucial forensic evidence, and a powerful Gothic element that highlights the contrast between the natural (the rational, real-world explanation) and the supernatural (the folklore or superstitious fear). Special attention is given to the contrast between the urban, analytical realm of 221B Baker Street and the wild, often sinister landscapes encountered in cases like The Hound of the Baskervilles. Ultimately, nature aids in both the creation of mystery and its ultimate demystification by the consulting detective.

DOI - https://doi.org/10.65525/SVUP.9788199392090.2025.14-17.