All The Adventure of the Red-Headed League

The Adventure of the Red-Headed League

The Adventure of the Red-Headed League (dated to October 1890 but with events starting a few months before) is one of 12 Sherlock Holmes short stories in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. It was first published in The Strand Magazine in August 1891.Sir Arthur named it as his second favourite short story of those he had written before 1922. Holmes and Watson are visited by a stockbroker Jabez Wilson who possesses “fiery red hair” and a struggling pawnbroking business. He has been earning money by copying out pages of The Encyclopaedia Britannica in terms with the bequest of an American who founded a league for red-headed men. The League has suddenly been dissolved and Jabez Wilson asks Holmes to investigate. Needless to say more weighty matters are afoot.