The Man with the Twisted Lip

The Man with the Twisted Lip is a short story by Arthur Conan Doyle that follows the adventures of Sherlock Holmes and his trusty sidekick, Dr. John Watson. The story begins with Watson returning from a long absence, during which he has been living on the streets of London after being abandoned by his wife. Holmes, who is aware of Watson's situation, takes him in and helps him find a place to stay. Watson then recounts an interesting case that he recently encountered while living on the streets. A man named Enoch Dearborn had been found unconscious in a doorway, with a twisted lip and no memory of how he got there. Watson, being a doctor, examines Dearborn and determines that he is suffering from alcohol poisoning. Holmes becomes interested in the case and begins to investigate. He discovers that Dearborn was once a successful businessman but had lost everything due to his excessive drinking. Holmes tracks down Dearborn's wife, who reveals that her husband had been seen arguing with a man named McFarlane just before he disappeared. Holmes and Watson then go in search of McFarlane, who they discover is a notorious criminal known as "The Spider." They track him down to a seedy tavern on the outskirts of London, where they engage in a fierce battle with McFarlane and his henchmen. In the end, Holmes and Watson are victorious, and Dearborn is reunited with his wife. The story concludes with Watson reflecting on the strange and unexpected turns that life can take, and how even the most seemingly insignificant events can have far-reaching consequences.

By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle · First published 1891 · Genre: Mystery, Detective Fiction, Crime · 10,955 words

First lines

Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D. D., Principal of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pinpoint pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble man.

What this Textopian page supports

The Man with the Twisted Lip is listed on Textopian as a novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, dated 1891 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: 1891 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Mystery, Detective Fiction, Crime, Short Story, Adventure
• Length: 10,955 words
• Structure: 1 section, 235 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Man with the Twisted Lip 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 Man with the Twisted Lip?
• 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 Adventure Of The Golden Pince Nez by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• A Case Of Identity by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• The Of The Noble Bachelor by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• The Of The Blue Carbuncle by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• The Adventure Of Wisteria Lodge by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• The Reigate Puzzle by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Genres

• Mystery — The book involves the exploration of strange occurrences, missing persons and elements of suspense typical of the mystery genre.
• Detective Fiction — The main protagonist is Sherlock Holmes, who is a well-known detective character and the book includes some elements of crime investigation, deduction, and resolution, which are typical features of detective fiction.
• Crime — The book's plot revolves around criminal activities which Sherlock Holmes is trying to solve.
• Short Story — The book is relatively brief and focused, with a small set of characters and a single, succinct narrative, which is characteristic of short stories.

Tags

mystery · detective · Sherlock Holmes · crime · investigation · London · Victorian · suspense · drama · character study · social commentary · deception

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