The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle

The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle is a short story by Arthur Conan Doyle featuring Sherlock Holmes. The story follows Holmes and his trusty sidekick, Dr. Watson, as they investigate the theft of a valuable gemstone, the blue carbuncle, and uncover a complex web of secrets and lies surrounding its ownership. Along the way, they encounter a cast of colorful characters, including a drunken Christmas partygoer who may hold the key to solving the mystery. Through his characteristic wit and insight, Holmes pieces together the events of the night the carbuncle was stolen and uncovers the truth behind its disappearance.

By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle · First published 1904 · Genre: Mystery, Detective Fiction, Crime · 9,541 words

First lines

I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the purpose of examination.

"You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you. "

What this Textopian page supports

The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle is listed on Textopian as a novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, dated 1904 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Novel
• Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• Date: 1904 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Mystery, Detective Fiction, Crime, Adventure, Short Story
• Length: 9,541 words
• Structure: 1 section, 215 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
• Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

• What should a reader notice first when entering The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle?
• How does this novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
• Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

• The Of The Blue Carbuncle by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• The Adventure Of The Golden Pince Nez by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• The Man With The Twisted Lip by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• The Of The Noble Bachelor by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• The Adventure Of The Three Gables by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• The Adventure Of The Abbey Grange by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Genres

• Mystery — The book involves Sherlock Holmes solving a case revolving around a lost precious stone, making it a classic mystery story.
• Detective Fiction — As a Sherlock Holmes story, it falls into the detective fiction genre. The plot revolves around Sherlock's investigation.
• Crime — The story is based on the crime of a stolen gemstone and its subsequent recovery.
• Adventure — The plot involves a series of events where the protagonist moves from place to place solving clues, making it an adventure story.

Tags

mystery · detective · Sherlock Holmes · Watson · crime · adventure · London · Victorian · short story · suspense · investigation · gemstone

More by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

• The Parish Magazine (1914)
• The Great Brown-Pericord Motor (1914)
• The Holocaust of Manor Place (1901)
• The Debatable Case of Mrs. Emsley (1901)
• The Love Affair of George Vincent Parker (1901)
• The Disintegration Machine (1927)
• The Bully of Brocas Court (1914)
• The Brown Hand (1914)
• All works by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle