Sherlock Holmes and Modern Detectives: Radio Feature with the Kurtz Detective Agency Bonn I

Patrick Kurtz, owner of the Kurtz Detective Agency Bonn, appeared on the radio magazine “Mephisto 97.6 – Faustschlag” to discuss Sherlock Holmes and modern detectives:

Sherlock Holmes remains as popular as ever

Introduction: “Sherlock Holmes: Throughout his adventures, older listeners have likely enjoyed following him, particularly through the Guy Ritchie films. Even the trendier youth know this figure thanks to a rather successful BBC series. Arthur Conan Doyle is the intellectual father of the detective, who, despite many minor characters and stories, has endured in cultural awareness up to the present day. Doyle passed away 85 years ago — it’s hard to imagine. Towards the end of his life, he stood somewhat in the shadow of his own creation,” reports Christine Warnecke on the life of the Scottish author.

The “death” and “resurrection” of the iconic private detective

“He felt somewhat overshadowed and decided to kill Holmes off for a while. Doyle remained emotionally rather detached about Holmes’ death,” summarises Maria Fleischhack, English Studies lecturer at Leipzig University, regarding the fate of the world’s most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes. Granted, he is a fictional character, but a very popular one — even in early 20th century England, as sales figures of magazines demonstrate.

 

Maria Fleischhack continues: “When he killed Sherlock Holmes in The Final Problem, several thousand subscribers cancelled their subscriptions, causing a huge loss for the magazine. The numbers collapsed and then, of course, returned in large numbers with Holmes’ ‘resurrection.’ In fact, even more people then subscribed, so the initial loss balanced out.” In The Empty House, Doyle resurrects the detective because the readers demanded it. The character of Holmes continues to resonate to this day.

The Kurtz Detective Agency Bonn was also inspired by Holmes

Patrick Kurtz: “I am Patrick Kurtz, working as a detective in Bonn. Sherlock Holmes is, in a broad sense, connected to my career path because I devoured the novels and short stories from the age of 13 or 14, developing an affinity for detective work and for Sherlock Holmes in general. That naturally led me to this profession, and I have remained a fan of Sherlock Holmes — that’s clear.”

 

Unlike Patrick Kurtz, who studied literature, Doyle was primarily a scientist. He studied medicine and served as a doctor in the British Army. He wrote a book about the Boer War from 1899 to 1902 in South Africa, for which he was knighted. From a colonial perspective, it describes the British campaign against the African republics. After the war, he worked as an eye doctor. Lacking patients for his practice, he increasingly turned to writing stories, explains Maria Fleischhack:

 

“Doyle created Sherlock Holmes for fun, without a major plan. He wanted to immortalise his professor Bell in Edinburgh, from whom he had learned, and so drew on various literary models, such as Edgar Allan Poe’s Dupin. That’s how Sherlock Holmes came to be. Then a second novel was commissioned, which was better received. Subsequently, The Strand Magazine, newly founded at the time, asked him to write popular stories. That’s how Sherlock Holmes was serialised.” The stories have been adapted into films and reprinted numerous times. The character of the intelligent, yet unconventional and occasionally drug-using Sherlock Holmes remains largely consistent.

Detective Holmes could only be as brilliant as his creator

Maria Fleischhack: “Arthur Conan Doyle essentially immortalised himself in the role of the assistant, Dr Watson. Watson is described much like Doyle: military service, a handsome moustache, a fondness for women. Holmes is extremely intelligent, but it takes an equally intelligent mind to write such stories. Doyle’s mind and spirit are therefore embedded in Sherlock Holmes. Watson, on the other hand, is biographically represented, having also served in the military, travelled the world, and been a patriot. You can see his love of Scotland clearly — for instance, Lauriston Gardens in Edinburgh appear in the stories. Parts of his childhood were also transplanted to London.”

Part 2 of the Arthur Conan Doyle feature

The second part of this feature on Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes can be found on the Kurtz Detective Agency Bonn website. It should be noted that older generations likely enjoyed classic productions like the 1980s Jeremy Brett series and the Basil Rathbone films more than the Guy Ritchie movies.

Kurtz Detective Agency Bonn

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