"Gifted" means more than just "smart." He was the first literary protagonist to have clearly defined personality traits associated today with a spectrum that ra

"Gifted" means more than just "smart." He was the first literary protagonist to have clearly defined personality traits associated today with a spectrum that ranges from "gifted" to "Asperger's" to "autism". He was capable of intense focus. He obsessively pursued deep knowledge of subjects that interested him. He paid little attention to social norms. He didn't give automatic respect to authority figures. Boredom and lack of challenge were serious problems for him. These are traits that have only been recognized as facets of a defined personality type in the past couple of generations. People of this type were invisible a century ago. Today they drive significant fractions of society and culture. Thus Sherlock Holmes attracts ever-increasing attention and interest. Because the type he represents is gaining influence and status in contemporary society.