About the Author

Hannes Binder was born in Zürich, Switzerland. He studied at the School of Arts and Crafts in Zürich, and later worked as a graphic designer and illustrator in Milan and Hamburg. He has created fifty works for children and adults, using a special scratchboard technique. Among his many awards, he has won the Swiss Prize for Children's and Youth Literature. He lives in Zürich and Tessin.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born in 1859 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He studied medicine and later worked as a doctor in the Arctic and in West Africa. In 1887, he published the first Sherlock Holmes story. Altogether he wrote fifty-six short stories and four novels about Holmes and his faithful companion, Dr. Watson. Toward the end of his life, he became more and more interested in spiritualism, which was popular at the time. Conan Doyle died in 1930 in Sussex, England.

David Henry Wilson, born in London, is a playwright, novelist, children's book author, and translator. His plays have been produced in many well-known theaters in Great Britain as well as abroad, and his children's books--especially the Jeremy James series--have been translated into many languages. His novel The Coachman Rat received critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic. For many years he lectured at the universities of Bristol (England) and Konstanz (Germany), where he founded the university theater. His translations from French and German cover many subjects, ranging from literary theory, art, travel, and general culture to children's novels and picture books.

Reviews

"it is Binder's illustrations that bring this retelling to life. Using dark blue ink and a scratchboard technique similar to woodcut and linocut printing, Binder is able to create a stunning array of contours and textures. He combines intricate representations of the murky streets of Victorian London and the cascading waterfalls of the Swiss mountains with more abstract depictions of Holmes and Moriarty's titanic clash. As Holmes admires Moriarty's colossal intellect, we see a giant brain sitting on top of a London skyline. On the next page, Moriarty's disembodied face floats above an illustration of Holmes's rooms. And as Watson tries to keep Moriarty off his trail on his way to Victoria Station, Binder's illustration combines a London Street scene meshed with a grid-like street map and a huge watchful eye looming above. The illustrations are further enhanced by the design of the book. Apart from the title on the front cover, the whole book is produced in the same dark blue colour, establishing a sombre tone. As Watson reaches the top of the Reichenbach Falls and surveys the depths into which he believes his friend has plunged, Binder switches to minimal white text on dark blue verso pages opposite full-bleed drawings of the swirling vortex below to mirror the vertiginous feelings experienced by Watson in this moment. This is the only Sherlock Holmes story Binder has illustrated, and in some ways, it might seem an odd choice: it is more of an adventure than a mystery with less of Holmes's trademark deductive skill on show and a fair bit of exposition needed. But I can see the appeal for Binder - his style is well suited to the different settings and the subdued mood of this story. And it is a good story to pique children's curiosity about Sherlock Holmes - a note at the end reveals that Conan Doyle resurrected his hero ten years later, and this book might serve as a springboard to explore Holmes's adventures both before and after this story." -- "Stephen Dilley, English at an international school in Oxford, Just Imagine blog"

"There are vertiginous angles and darkly sinister details, such as a huge eye in the ceiling of Victoria Station and a surreal full page view into a screaming human mouth. I can't emphasize enough how the art - both part- and full-bleed pages and graphic panels - sets the tone of the story."--Stephanie Tournas "Youth Services Book Review, starred review"

"Text and art combine to create a menacing atmosphere leading up to the mysterious events at the Reichenbach Falls, where evidence leads Watson to conclude that Holmes and his nemesis, Professor Moriarty, have plunged to their deaths. A respectful adaptation of the classic story, illustrated with skill and finesse."--Carolyn Phelan "Booklist, starred review"