The Adventure of the Final Problem

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Illustration by Sidney Paget
“The Adventure of the Final Problem”
Informations
Foreign names	See section
Parution	December, 1893 (The Strand Magazine) (McClure's)
Client(s)	None
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
Preceded by	“The Adventure of the Naval Treaty”

The Adventure of the Final Problem, originally known as "The Final Problem", is the twelfth and final short story from the twelve in the cycle collected as The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. It was first published in The Strand Magazine then under the title "The Adventure of the Final Problem" on December, 1893.

Storyline

Dr. John Watson recounts what he believes to be the final chapter in Sherlock Holmes’s brilliant career. Holmes visits Watson in a state of urgency, revealing that he has been engaged in a dangerous battle against a criminal mastermind, the Professor James Moriarty. Holmes explains that Moriarty is the leader of a vast and secret criminal network, controlling numerous crimes while keeping himself hidden from the law. However, Holmes has gathered enough evidence to bring Moriarty and his organization to justice.

Holmes warns Watson that Moriarty has already made several attempts on his life, including an incident where a cab nearly ran him down and another where a falling brick almost struck him. Now, with Moriarty aware of Holmes’s intentions, his life is in immediate danger. Holmes has arranged for Moriarty’s key associates to be arrested, but the professor himself has eluded capture. To avoid Moriarty’s reach, Holmes decides to leave England for a short time, inviting Watson to accompany him to the continent.

The two men travel across Europe, pursued by Moriarty at every step. They disguise themselves and change routes, but Holmes remains aware that the professor is never far behind. Finally, they reach Switzerland and arrive at the picturesque village of Meiringen, where they stay at a small hotel. A local guide suggests they visit the nearby Reichenbach Falls, a breathtaking but treacherous waterfall. Before they leave, Watson receives a message from the hotel, claiming that an Englishwoman has fallen ill and needs urgent medical attention. Holmes urges Watson to go, knowing he would never ignore a call for help.

When Watson returns, he discovers that the message was a ruse. Holmes is missing, and near the edge of the falls, Watson finds a note from his friend. In it, Holmes explains that Moriarty has come for their final confrontation. He expects a fight and acknowledges that he may not survive but assures Watson that his sacrifice will mean the end of Moriarty’s reign of terror.

Near the precipice, Watson finds clear evidence of a struggle: footprints leading to the edge and signs of a violent encounter. But there is no sign of Holmes or Moriarty. Realizing the awful truth, Watson concludes that both men must have fallen into the raging waters below, locked in a deadly struggle. Devastated, he returns to England, mourning the loss of his closest friend and the greatest detective the world has ever known. Holmes’s apparent death at the Reichenbach Falls leaves Watson, and the world, in deep sorrow.

Characters

• Sherlock Holmes
• Dr. Watson
• Professor Moriarty
• Mycroft Holmes

Real figures cited

• Napoleon

Illustrations

To be added

Foreign names

French Le dernier problème Spanish El problema final Catalan El problema final German Das letzte Problem Italian L'ultima avventura or Il problema finale

Japanese 最後の事件 Chinese 最后一案 { Arabic المشكلة الأخيرة -

Trivia

• "The Adventure of the Final Problem" is one of the Sherlock Holmes stories which do not contain a investigation as such, among “The Adventure of the Dying Detective”, “The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone”, “The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton” or “The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger”.