Arthur Conan Doyle

Arthur Conan Doyle was a British writer and physician who is best known for the creation of the detective Sherlock Holmes. The stories are regarded as a milestone in the development of crime fiction.

Early Life

Conan Doyle was born in 1859 in Edinburgh to a family of Irish descent. He was educated at a Jesuit school and studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh.

He worked as a doctor and served as a ship's surgeon. He practised in London and in the south of England.

He wrote stories in his spare time. His first Sherlock Holmes story, A Study in Scarlet, was published in 1887.

The Sherlock Holmes Stories

The stories were published in The Strand Magazine and were enormously popular. The character of Holmes and his companion Dr Watson became famous.

Conan Doyle wrote four novels and fifty-six short stories about Holmes. The Hound of the Baskervilles is one of the most famous of the stories.

He killed off Holmes in The Final Problem but was forced to bring him back by public demand. The character had become a cultural icon.

The Other Works

Conan Doyle wrote historical novels, including The White Company and Sir Nigel. He also wrote science fiction and adventure stories.

The Lost World introduced the character of Professor Challenger. The novel describes an expedition to a plateau inhabited by dinosaurs.

He wrote on spiritualism and on the paranormal. He was a believer in spiritualism and wrote several books on the subject.

The Public Life

Conan Doyle was involved in a number of public campaigns. He investigated the cases of George Edalji and Oscar Slater.

He was a supporter of the Boer War and wrote a history of the conflict. He was knighted in 1902 for his services.

He ran for Parliament twice but was not elected. He was a prolific writer of letters to the press.

The Later Life and Death

Conan Doyle's wife died in 1906, and he remarried in 1907. He had five children.

He died in 1930 at his home in Crowborough, Sussex. His last words were addressed to his wife.

The Sherlock Holmes stories have never been out of print. They have been adapted for film, television, and the stage.

Legacy

Conan Doyle is regarded as the father of the modern detective story. The character of Sherlock Holmes is one of the most famous in literature.

The stories have influenced the development of crime fiction and of forensic science. The address 221B Baker Street is a literary landmark.

He is remembered for his imagination and for his storytelling. His work continues to be read and to be adapted.

The Medical Career

Conan Doyle studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh. He worked as a doctor and served as a ship's surgeon.

He practised in London and in the south of England. The practice was not successful, and he wrote stories in his spare time.

He studied ophthalmology in Vienna and in Paris. He set up a practice in London and continued to write.

The Sherlock Holmes Stories

The stories were published in The Strand Magazine and were enormously popular. The character of Holmes and his companion Dr Watson became famous.

Conan Doyle wrote four novels and fifty-six short stories about Holmes. The Hound of the Baskervilles is one of the most famous of the stories.

He killed off Holmes in The Final Problem but was forced to bring him back by public demand. The character had become a cultural icon.

The Historical Novels

Conan Doyle wrote historical novels, including The White Company and Sir Nigel. He also wrote science fiction and adventure stories.

The Lost World introduced the character of Professor Challenger. The novel describes an expedition to a plateau inhabited by dinosaurs.

He wrote on the Napoleonic wars and on the history of the British army. He was interested in military history and in the conduct of war.

The Spiritualism

Conan Doyle wrote on spiritualism and on the paranormal. He was a believer in spiritualism and wrote several books on the subject.

He attended séances and investigated claims of psychic phenomena. He was a friend of the magician Harry Houdini, who opposed the spiritualist movement.

The disagreement with Houdini became a public controversy. Conan Doyle defended his beliefs and continued to promote spiritualism.

The Public Campaigns

Conan Doyle was involved in a number of public campaigns. He investigated the cases of George Edalji and Oscar Slater.

He secured the release of Edalji and the pardon of Slater. The cases contributed to the reform of the criminal justice system.

He was a supporter of the Boer War and wrote a history of the conflict. He was knighted in 1902 for his services.

The Legacy

Conan Doyle is regarded as the father of the modern detective story. The character of Sherlock Holmes is one of the most famous in literature.

The stories have influenced the development of crime fiction and of forensic science. The address 221B Baker Street is a literary landmark.

He is remembered for his imagination and for his storytelling. His work continues to be read and to be adapted.

See also

• Sherlock Holmes
• Detective fiction