The Solitary Cyclist | A Sherlock Holmes story by Arthur Conan Doyle | A Bitesized Audiobook
Ойын-сауық
One of the best-known Sherlock Holmes stories, in which Miss Violet Smith, a young teacher of music, is disturbed by a stranger who follows her on a bicycle as she cycles along a lonely stretch of road on her way to the railway station... The story begins at 00:01:30
Narrated/performed by Simon Stanhope, aka Bitesized Audio. If you enjoy this content and would like to help me keep creating, there are a few ways you can support me (and get access to exclusive content):
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Timestamps:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:30 The Solitary Cyclist
00:51:14 Credits, thanks and further listening
The music used at the beginning and end of the story is an extract from 'Duet for Two Violins' by Luigi Boccherini, Op 5 N2 Larghetto.
If you enjoyed this recording, you may like to listen to some of my previous Sherlock Holmes readings:
The Cardboard Box: • The Cardboard Box | Ar...
The Bruce-Partington Plans: • The Bruce-Partington P...
The Blue Carbuncle: • The Blue Carbuncle | A...
The Problem of Thor Bridge:
About the author: Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle (1859-1930) was a Scottish doctor and author, celebrated for his world-famous creation Sherlock Holmes, the consulting detective who set the standard for crime fiction into the 20th century and beyond. In addition to his Holmes stories, Conan Doyle is also remembered for his fantasy and science fiction novels and stories, including 'The Parasite' and 'The Lost World' series of novels, his historical fiction, and for numerous short stories contributed to magazines over a 40 year period. He was knighted by King Edward VII in the 1902 Coronation Honours.
From his debut in Beeton's Christmas Annual in 1887, in 'A Study in Scarlet', Sherlock Holmes established himself as the first, the best and the most famous of all private consulting detectives. His serialised adventures in The Strand Magazine, starting with 'A Scandal in Bohemia' in 1891, developed the character into a literary sensation and in the 20th century he was to become the most portrayed character in screen history. The enormous impact of the character of Dr Watson should also be noted: the narrator/companion figure became a staple of detective fiction in future generations. Significant and influential portrayals of the duo have included: Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce; Peter Cushing and Nigel Stock; Jeremy Brett and David Burke (later Edward Hardwicke); and most recently the contemporary take on the characters by Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman.
'The Solitary Cyclist' was the 33rd Sherlock Holmes story (of 60) written by Arthur Conan Doyle. It first appeared in London in December 1903 in The Strand Magazine (in the issue dated January 1904), with illustrations by Sidney Paget, and in Collier's magazine in the United States (26 December 1903 issue), with illustrations by Frederic Dorr Steele. It was subsequently printed in book form as part of the short story collection 'The Return of Sherlock Holmes', published in 1905.
Like 'The Hound of the Baskervilles', which appeared two years earlier, 'The Solitary Cyclist' is notable for a sequence where Holmes deputes Watson to travel into the country to do some investigations in his stead. Unlike in 'The Hound', though, Holmes is not impressed with Watson's efforts, telling him "You really have done remarkably badly", before stepping in to take charge of the case himself. Legend has it that this was at the insistence of the editor of The Strand Magazine, Herbert Greenhough Smith, who rejected Doyle's original draft of the story because Holmes didn't feature enough in the case.
Textual note: If you're following along with the book, you may notice minor differences between the text read here and your edition. Most of the Sherlock Holmes stories have multiple versions of the text available, with mostly minor differences, usually reflecting changes made between the magazine printing and book publication, as well as differences between British and US editions.
Recording © Bitesized Audio 2024
Пікірлер: 108
Story begins at 00:01:30. One of the best-known Sherlock Holmes stories, in which Miss Violet Smith, a young teacher of music, is disturbed by a stranger who follows her on a bicycle as she cycles along a lonely stretch of road on her way to the railway station... See the video description for some more background information on the text and the story. The music used at the beginning and end of this video is an extract from 'Duet for Two Violins' by Luigi Boccherini, Op 5 N2 Larghetto. If you enjoyed this recording, you may like to listen to some of my previous Sherlock Holmes readings: The Cardboard Box: kzread.info/dash/bejne/pKyCsZadfcyce9Y.html The Bruce-Partington Plans: kzread.info/dash/bejne/p5unltOMiavQips.html The Problem of Thor Bridge: kzread.info/dash/bejne/qZyJzZqTiZPVqZc.html The Blue Carbuncle: kzread.info/dash/bejne/m5dl0baIfr3eaJM.html Or for a selection of other Victorian and Edwardian detective stories, you may enjoy my "Rivals of Sherlock Holmes" playlist: kzread.info/head/PLi95qAoufCZL5tiXECltwXUI2QDDFrDHD
What could be better than an account by one of the world's greatest storytellers read by such a wonderful narrator? Thank you, Simon Stanhope.😊
Thank you, Simon, for keeping me company on a beautiful sunny day. Sometimes I forget that there is only one actor speaking all the different accents and parts that you play. Nobody does it better.❤
@BitesizedAudio
Ай бұрын
Thank you kindly
@nickybaker1338
Ай бұрын
100% agree 😊
Finally got to hear it today. I fell asleep half way through last night. Great listen. I hate waking up with earbuds in my ears.
@stewartlancaster6155
Ай бұрын
my buds generally fall out at night and at some point our new kitten bats them around the house. Morning routine is put kettle on, conduct ear bud search !
When we lived on the west coast, there was Holmes fan group called The Solitary Cyclists. ❤
@stewartlancaster6155
10 күн бұрын
west coast of where ?
Oh superb! One of my absolute favourite Holmes mysteries, thank you so much Simon! Gathering the cats on the duvet in readiness right now 😺
@ViccyJ
Ай бұрын
Mine too and I’m doing the same 😻
@Frenchblue8
Ай бұрын
So that's why the kitten sleeps along my collarbone~better to hear Simon /Greg/Ian through my earbuds as we are both drifting off!
@binkie4940
Ай бұрын
@@ViccyJ👌🐾🐾🐾
@binkie4940
Ай бұрын
@@Frenchblue8😹 it all makes sense now, doesn't it! 🐾🐾🐾
@BitesizedAudio
Ай бұрын
@binkie4940 It's probably my personal favourite Holmes story too, certainly in my top 5 anyway
Oooh another dose of fabulousness! Thank you Mr Stanhope.
@BitesizedAudio
Ай бұрын
You're most welcome!
🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗 Many thanks Simon for a new story and another evening sorted.
Fine work with Carruthers throughout, and Holmes wry laugh and “Too late!” were 🌟Simon.
@BitesizedAudio
Ай бұрын
Much appreciated, thank you
I watched the Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes version in February and am enjoying your narration today. Thank you so much. You do Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories much credit.
@BitesizedAudio
Ай бұрын
Thank you, Rachel, very kind of you to say. Yes, the Jeremy Brett series was wonderful and this story was (I think anyway) one of the very best episodes
@GertrudeTruman-FlintSpirit
28 күн бұрын
Yes, I adore the Holmes stories and thanks for bringing them to fresh life
A spot of culture to brighten my day.
Perfect for the Saturday evening. So glad to be a member btw, :)
@BitesizedAudio
Ай бұрын
Lovely to have your support, thanks Max
Excellent. t's always a pleasure to see you've produced another one.
What wonderful acting! I could see the smirk on Holmes’ face as he described how he won the fight with the villain. Great accents, too! Thank you, Simon 👏👏👏👏👏
@BitesizedAudio
Ай бұрын
Thank you Vicki, very kind of you to say so
Excellent performance Simon, as always, accents spot on too, you have such a talent for this which I have appreciated from the first time I heard your narration on KZread . I'm such a Sherlock Holmes fan, have read everything ever written and never tire of listening to his adventures when read by a professional! Thank you!
@BitesizedAudio
Ай бұрын
Thank you, Kay, so glad to know you enjoyed it
The perfect end to a Saturday night 🕵️♂️
Another Sherlock Holmes adventure done justice ⚜️.
Another great narration Mr. Stanhope. Thank you, love Sherlock Holmes.
Hello! At last, the antidote to the Tour de France.
@BitesizedAudio
Ай бұрын
Ah yes, an altogether more sedate bicycle race, this one...
Can it be mere coincidence, cher Simon, that you keep selecting my very favourite Holmes' stories? I feel I must humbly put it down to great minds. ❤
@BitesizedAudio
Ай бұрын
A co-incidence indeed! I think if forced to choose, I'd pick this one as my very favourite Holmes short story. But I'm gradually working my way through all my personal favourites... 'Red-Headed League' and 'Six Napoleons' amongst others are ones I'd like to do at some point in the future
@jacquelinebell6201
Ай бұрын
@@BitesizedAudioThe Red Headed League is one of my favourites, too. Be great to hear it. I love hearing it by different narrators.
@nickybaker1338
Ай бұрын
Sounds like covert collabroration tp me 😁
Your channel has brought so many hours of pleasure, especially through the wintry months when I first found Bitesized. Thank you for all the incredible hard work that goes in to bringing these stories to us.
It is no easy task to know which you should select to lay before the public - but you always know Simon!🙏🏽🚲
Thank you, Simon! This was exactly what needed today. Your Holmes is unmatched anywhere❤
@BitesizedAudio
Ай бұрын
Thank you so much for your very kind comment
Great performance. Thanks for sharing Simon.👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Thanks again Simon ❤ You do such a fine job of narration!
Goody! Rainy afternoon with nothing to do. Gathering snacks and my dog ,heading to bedroom to listen one of your wonderful performances. Thank you.
@Frenchblue8
Ай бұрын
Oh dear! But what better a great excuse to retire, than a rainy afternoon! It's a beautiful spring early evening here, simply glorious, so I'm saving it for sleepy time, the petite kitten trailing behind!
@BitesizedAudio
Ай бұрын
Sounds very cosy!
Thanks, Simon. I needed that.
I love this story! Thank you, Simon.😊
Simon, you made some hours of tiring housework late on Friday night bearable. I can’t say the housework was enjoyable but listening certainly was! From Melbourne Australia, thank you.
@BitesizedAudio
12 күн бұрын
Glad to help!
Great to see a new story - thank you 😊
Another great reading by the master of narration. Thank you
@GertrudeTruman-FlintSpirit
28 күн бұрын
Here here!
@user-jd4hm1fo6g
28 күн бұрын
@GertrudeTruman-FlintSpirit I wasn't sure which spelling to use, so I decided to use hear, as in listen
@GertrudeTruman-FlintSpirit
28 күн бұрын
@@user-jd4hm1fo6g ha! has my question finally been answered as to which spelling to use?! thank you, but glad the meaning was conveyed nonetheless...;-)
Perfect timing, Simon. I got off early today and was trying to figure out what to do before dinner. This fits the bill. Thanks!❤
@BitesizedAudio
Ай бұрын
Glad to help!
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 Wonderful!!!! This story is the very first that I saw with Jeremy Brett as Holmes. Tears!!!!!!! I had such crush on him. Thank you so much for sharing your talents!!!!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
@kayi9236
Ай бұрын
Me too, he was Holmes for me and I had a massive crush on him too!
@BitesizedAudio
Ай бұрын
Glad to know you enjoyed it, Cindy. Yes indeed, this was actually the very first episode filmed in that series (although it wasn't broadcast first... I believe it was the fourth to reach the screen), and it was filmed very close to where I grew up in Cheshire, so I know that landscape well. I was 11 when the series was first broadcast, and I loved it from the start. It's hard to imagine those early episodes ever being better done
@cindyrhodes
Ай бұрын
@BitesizedAudio oh how wonderful to live there! I truly enjoy escaping the drama here in the USA by listening to your narrations! Thank you so much! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 And, if you were 11, then I am a decade older than you lol
Wonderful, and one of my favourites! Thank you Simon 😊
🇬🇧 Ooh another excellent narration of this Sherlock Holmes story id hitherto not heard before! I thought id heard them all but It was such a pleasant surprise to learn that i had not. I did admire your South African accent! Very well executed & sounded truely authentic. I think its a difficult accent to get right & ive heard some absolute murdering of it. Its abit like the vernacular from my part of the country, which is Northumberland Im referring of course to the Geordie dialect, a very difficult twang to get right. Ive heard both Norwegians & Germans who can recite Geordie phrases to perfection ! Not so difficult as the dialect had the tones & inflections of the past invaders to our shores in the Vikings & the Saxons. I once heard a historian say our dialect is over 600 yrs old & spoken by folk from Yorkshire upto the borders of Scotland & its still quite unchanged. Although i dont sound as if i hail from the Newcastle area i can slip into the Geordie tongue very easily, should i be required. My accent is well spoken Northumbrian or Hoity Toity as Some might say! 😆 The best rendition of our strange dialect by a non Geordie, was a comedian from the 1970s & 80s, a Mr Freddie "Parrot Face" Davies. His accent was spot on! Then he confessed his wife was from Newcastle ! Anyway, a tad off topic, i thought your Africaans was really good. Is there no accent you cant do? How about Geordie? Lol. Thank You as always, a pleasure to hear you narrate another tale. Hears hoping you're as fit as a fiddle & fine & dandy Peace & Good Cheer to All 🇬🇧👧
@BitesizedAudio
Ай бұрын
Thank you so much, I really appreciate that feedback. Funny that you should mention the Geordie accent... I've had one particular story on my "to-do" list for a very long time which really requires a Geordie accent for a couple of the characters. It's a tricky one to get right, and easy to get horribly wrong... I need to work on it before I tackle that particular tale!
@itallia666
Ай бұрын
@@BitesizedAudio Might i suggest you watch a few episodes of one of my favourite Series called The Likely Lads from TV in the 80s. There are many episodes to chose from & available on utube. It follows the hilarious exploits & adventures of two Geordie chappies called Bob & Terry, Their accents are great to get your tongue round. Terry is played by James Bolam, a well know actor who was also in When The Boat Comes In. A marvellous early 20thc drama set on Tyneside ( James was also Peters Pocket Grandad, for children on TV) There were alot a great Northern actors in that drama series When The Boat Comes In. Well worth a watch But i loved the Likely Lads as it was genuinely funny & written by Ian LaFrenais, also a Geordie Lad. It getting the sound right, the sing songy tones, its very expressive & can be raw or soft & lilty. I know many have said its very difficult to master it but listening to the two programme suggestions above will give you a good master board to copy. So, gaan canny, divvint try tee hard, else y'ill gaan reet ower The knot & soond like y'iv gorra ganzy stuff'd doon yer mooth. Good Luck Peace & Cheers 🇬🇧👧
Excellent presentation as always!
Loved this! Thanks.
Brilliant reading as usual Simon 👍😎👌
I like the music score *"The Duet for Two Violins"* Thank You *Simon* excellent as always from music to thumbnail image & your fine narration
Wonderful! Thank you Simon. 😊
Wonderful!! Thank you Simon 😍🤩😊
Always so nice to see a new upload! And a wonderful coincidence as well, an order of a fancy black tea just came in and I’m settling in for a long overnight shift Looking forward to have this story help me pass the time
@BitesizedAudio
Ай бұрын
Very glad to help
Oh SO superb Simon!. Thank You
Thank you!!
Big thank you! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻❤️
A lovely classic ❤
Thank you 😊
What? Ive never heard this one😮 thank you Simon 😊
@BitesizedAudio
Ай бұрын
Glad to introduce you to it, it's always been one of my personal favourites amongst the Holmes short stories
groovy!
Thanks!
@BitesizedAudio
Ай бұрын
Thank you so much for your support!
I wonder if Simon has any idea of the extraordinary enjoyment so many of us get from his voice in these dangerous and strident times.
I've just pressed 'play' and am very much looking forward to some aural bliss 😍🥰
Thank you so much for this. A wonderful story, wonderfully read. Would it be possible for you to read The Problem of Thor Bridge at some point?
@BitesizedAudio
Ай бұрын
Thanks Jim. I've already done it! I think sometimes notifications don't get through to everyone. You can find it here: kzread.info/dash/bejne/qZyJzZqTiZPVqZc.html
@JimClelland
Ай бұрын
@@BitesizedAudio Sorry, Simon. I didn't see it first time around. I'll look forward to this. Much appreciated.
👏👏👏👏👏👏👍👍👍👍👍👍!!!!!!
Warlock Holmes, the pastiche series, has a particularly good treatment of this fine story. A few good laughs, with Warlock, the naif, his cynical Watson, and those dreadful penny farthing cycles.
@maxgc6413
Ай бұрын
Warlock?? 🤣🤣. Ok bot. It’s Sherlock!
@miarencrowsdaughter6434
Ай бұрын
@@maxgc6413 They're actually referring to a series by G.S. Denning, in which the 'celebrated detective' is actually an idiot, much like the Ace Attorney character 'Herlock Sholmes'. Far too new for Simon to attempt, and looks like it adds a fantasy element (Lestrade is a vampire, for one thing, which I suppose is a nod to the Ravenloft character.)
@BitesizedAudio
Ай бұрын
I must confess I'm not familiar with that series... I shall have to look it up
❤😊
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Simon I love your work I have just been listening to neuralsurfer channel I am afraid you’re voice is being ripped off AI Sommerset Maugham I have been enjoying your supposed narration sorry Si my number one narrator Micky F. N London 😎☯️🙏
Holmes and Simon you should have been Dr Watson! Another one over the goal line!!
@BitesizedAudio
Ай бұрын
Thank you!
I am so sorry Simon I have been so busy lately and I just saw this!! Have a great weekend! M 💜🪷💜
@BitesizedAudio
Ай бұрын
No need to apologise Maria, glad you found it anyway! Thanks and hope you had a lovely weekend