Arthur Conan Doyle: The Creator of Sherlock Holmes
He was a doctor for ten years, supplementing his income by writing. His Holmes is from his teacher, Dr. Joseph Bell, of the medical school. A concise introduction to life, family, and works.
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Arthur Conan Doyle
Many people know Conan Doyle for Sherlock Holmes, but this well-known author's life included much more than that character. Originally a doctor with over ten years of medical experience, Conan Doyle faced financial struggles and supplemented his income through writing. His writing interests were not limited to detective stories; at one point, he even wrote Holmes's death into the story to end the series. However, for financial or marketing reasons, he had to bring Holmes back to continue the detective career.
Conan Doyle's life was diverse and interesting. He was a doctor and also published academic papers. He served as a military doctor during the Boer War in South Africa. His knighthood was awarded not for his popular novels but for a short work, The War in South Africa: Its Cause and Conduct, which supports the war, and for his remarkable firsthand experience in the conflict. He was not only active in politics but also a well-known spiritualist of his time. His broad range of interests both generated excitement and provided material, perfectly fitting his writing.
Arthur Conan Doyle was born on May 22, 1859, in Edinburgh, Scotland. He grew up in a large family with ten siblings, but his childhood was not always easy. His father, Charles Doyle, struggled with alcoholism and mental health issues, which put a strain on the family. Despite these difficulties, Arthur’s mother, Mary Doyle, was a strong and supportive figure who encouraged his love of storytelling. Later, Doyle attended a Jesuit school, where he received a strict education.
From 1876 to 1881, Doyle studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh Medical School. He initially decided to become a doctor. After earning his medical degree, he worked as a doctor, first on a ship and then in private practice. He served as a volunteer physician during the Second Boer War in 1900. Two years later, he was knighted for his support of British policy in the South African War.
In 19th-century England, doctors earned little money, and Doyle's clinic was rarely busy, barely making enough to support himself. As a result, he took up a second career: writing. It should be noted that his teacher, Dr. Joseph Bell, a physician at the University Hospital of Edinburgh, had a significant influence on his detective stories. Dr. Bell was tall and thin, with dark skin, sharp gray eyes, and a hooked nose. He could identify a person's profession and hobbies just by a few glances.
On one occasion, he told Doyle, "That patient is wearing corduroy trousers with a worn-out right knee; he's a shoemaker, and a left-handed one at that; only a left-handed shoemaker's trousers would have such worn-out trousers in that spot." This proved to be correct. This reasoning led Doyle to take many notes on Professor Bell's judgments of people, creating a clear image for his later development of the famous literary character, Sherlock Holmes.
At 29, Doyle published his first detective novel, A Study in Scarlet, introducing Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson to readers for the first time. Afterward, he received numerous manuscript requests. In 1891, at age 34, Doyle quit practicing medicine to focus on writing, officially becoming a professional author. Between 1891 and 1894, Doyle wrote 24 short stories. Holmes' popularity skyrocketed, making him a household name among British audiences.
By the end of 1894, Doyle no longer worried about money. To free up time for writing on other topics, he decided to have Holmes die in a struggle, falling into a swift current. Holmes' death generated strong dissatisfaction among readers, leading to threats and insults directed at Doyle. The public's refusal to accept their hero's death was nothing short of a literary miracle.
Doyle was both surprised and thrilled. He recognized the tremendous influence of art and that a large readership embraced Holmes. Doyle decided to bring Holmes back. In 1901, he wrote The Hound of the Baskervilles, which focuses on Holmes' early years and was also a significant success. From that point on, Holmes was the main character in Doyle's detective stories, and he remained so for the rest of his life. These stories also earned the highest royalties in Britain.
Doyle has many other writings. Between 1888 and 1906, he wrote seven historical novels, which he and many critics consider his best work, including The White Company and its prequel, Sir Nigel, set in the Middle Ages. Later in his career, he wrote five stories featuring the irascible scientist Professor Challenger, including his best-known work after the Holmes series, The Lost World. However, these works aren't as popular as the Holmes stories.
Throughout his life, one of the most debated topics has been his involvement in spiritualism. In 1887, Doyle began a series of investigations into the possibilities of the paranormal. Doyle became deeply interested in communicating with the dead. He attended seances, wrote books about spiritualism, and even believed in the existence of fairies. It strained his friendships with individuals who argued that spiritualism was rife with fraud, including Harry Houdini, the famous magician. Despite their mutual respect, their differing views ultimately ended their friendship.
In 1885, Conan Doyle married his first wife, Louisa Hawkins. They had two children, Mary and Kingsley. Sadly, Louisa died in 1906 after a long illness. A year later, he married Jean Leckie, with whom he had three more children: Denis, Adrian, and Jean. Throughout his life, Conan Doyle was a dedicated family man who balanced his writing career with his personal responsibilities. On July 7, 1930, he died of a heart attack at age 71.
Arthur Conan Doyle’s life and works continue to engage readers of all ages. From the exciting adventures of Sherlock Holmes to his explorations of history and science, Conan Doyle’s stories have made a lasting mark on literature. His life, marked by intriguing anecdotes and controversies, demonstrates that he was a man of curiosity, creativity, and conviction. By studying Conan Doyle, we can better understand the enduring appeal of his stories and the complex world of the man who created them.
He skillfully builds suspense to engage the reader, while also focusing on overall structure, strong plot coherence, and thorough reasoning. His short stories are highly visual, with clear conflicts, dramatic plots, and captivating storytelling, making the reader feel as if they are watching a movie.
Conan Doyle's life was diverse and interesting. He was a doctor and also published academic papers. He served as a military doctor during the Boer War in South Africa. His knighthood was awarded not for his popular novels but for a short work, The War in South Africa: Its Cause and Conduct, which supports the war, and for his remarkable firsthand experience in the conflict. He was not only active in politics but also a well-known spiritualist of his time. His broad range of interests both generated excitement and provided material, perfectly fitting his writing.
Arthur Conan Doyle was born on May 22, 1859, in Edinburgh, Scotland. He grew up in a large family with ten siblings, but his childhood was not always easy. His father, Charles Doyle, struggled with alcoholism and mental health issues, which put a strain on the family. Despite these difficulties, Arthur’s mother, Mary Doyle, was a strong and supportive figure who encouraged his love of storytelling. Later, Doyle attended a Jesuit school, where he received a strict education.
From 1876 to 1881, Doyle studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh Medical School. He initially decided to become a doctor. After earning his medical degree, he worked as a doctor, first on a ship and then in private practice. He served as a volunteer physician during the Second Boer War in 1900. Two years later, he was knighted for his support of British policy in the South African War.
In 19th-century England, doctors earned little money, and Doyle's clinic was rarely busy, barely making enough to support himself. As a result, he took up a second career: writing. It should be noted that his teacher, Dr. Joseph Bell, a physician at the University Hospital of Edinburgh, had a significant influence on his detective stories. Dr. Bell was tall and thin, with dark skin, sharp gray eyes, and a hooked nose. He could identify a person's profession and hobbies just by a few glances.
On one occasion, he told Doyle, "That patient is wearing corduroy trousers with a worn-out right knee; he's a shoemaker, and a left-handed one at that; only a left-handed shoemaker's trousers would have such worn-out trousers in that spot." This proved to be correct. This reasoning led Doyle to take many notes on Professor Bell's judgments of people, creating a clear image for his later development of the famous literary character, Sherlock Holmes.
At 29, Doyle published his first detective novel, A Study in Scarlet, introducing Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson to readers for the first time. Afterward, he received numerous manuscript requests. In 1891, at age 34, Doyle quit practicing medicine to focus on writing, officially becoming a professional author. Between 1891 and 1894, Doyle wrote 24 short stories. Holmes' popularity skyrocketed, making him a household name among British audiences.
By the end of 1894, Doyle no longer worried about money. To free up time for writing on other topics, he decided to have Holmes die in a struggle, falling into a swift current. Holmes' death generated strong dissatisfaction among readers, leading to threats and insults directed at Doyle. The public's refusal to accept their hero's death was nothing short of a literary miracle.
Doyle was both surprised and thrilled. He recognized the tremendous influence of art and that a large readership embraced Holmes. Doyle decided to bring Holmes back. In 1901, he wrote The Hound of the Baskervilles, which focuses on Holmes' early years and was also a significant success. From that point on, Holmes was the main character in Doyle's detective stories, and he remained so for the rest of his life. These stories also earned the highest royalties in Britain.
Doyle has many other writings. Between 1888 and 1906, he wrote seven historical novels, which he and many critics consider his best work, including The White Company and its prequel, Sir Nigel, set in the Middle Ages. Later in his career, he wrote five stories featuring the irascible scientist Professor Challenger, including his best-known work after the Holmes series, The Lost World. However, these works aren't as popular as the Holmes stories.
Throughout his life, one of the most debated topics has been his involvement in spiritualism. In 1887, Doyle began a series of investigations into the possibilities of the paranormal. Doyle became deeply interested in communicating with the dead. He attended seances, wrote books about spiritualism, and even believed in the existence of fairies. It strained his friendships with individuals who argued that spiritualism was rife with fraud, including Harry Houdini, the famous magician. Despite their mutual respect, their differing views ultimately ended their friendship.
In 1885, Conan Doyle married his first wife, Louisa Hawkins. They had two children, Mary and Kingsley. Sadly, Louisa died in 1906 after a long illness. A year later, he married Jean Leckie, with whom he had three more children: Denis, Adrian, and Jean. Throughout his life, Conan Doyle was a dedicated family man who balanced his writing career with his personal responsibilities. On July 7, 1930, he died of a heart attack at age 71.
Arthur Conan Doyle’s life and works continue to engage readers of all ages. From the exciting adventures of Sherlock Holmes to his explorations of history and science, Conan Doyle’s stories have made a lasting mark on literature. His life, marked by intriguing anecdotes and controversies, demonstrates that he was a man of curiosity, creativity, and conviction. By studying Conan Doyle, we can better understand the enduring appeal of his stories and the complex world of the man who created them.
Legacy and Contribution
Conan Doyle wrote novels, plays, poetry, and non-fiction. He was a man of many interests, and his writing reflected his curiosity about history, science, and the human mind. His writing style can be summarized by two traits: scientific rigor and professionalism.He skillfully builds suspense to engage the reader, while also focusing on overall structure, strong plot coherence, and thorough reasoning. His short stories are highly visual, with clear conflicts, dramatic plots, and captivating storytelling, making the reader feel as if they are watching a movie.
| Year | Book | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 1887 | A Study in Scarlet | This detective novel introduced the world to Sherlock Holmes and his companion, Dr. John Watson. Watson is drawn into a baffling murder case that allows Holmes to showcase his unique method of deductive reasoning and brilliant mind. |
| 1890 | The Sign of Four | The second Holmes novel involves a missing father, a secret pact, and a treasure hunt, leading Holmes and Watson into a complex case of greed, betrayal, and dark secrets from India. |
| 1891 | The White Company | A popular historical novel set in the 14th century, it follows a young Saxon squire's adventures in England and France as he joins a mercenary company to seek fame and fortune during the Hundred Years' War. |
| 1892 | The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes | This is the first collection of short stories featuring the detective, originally published in The Strand Magazine. It cemented Holmes's immense popularity with the public through stories like A Scandal in Bohemia. |
| 1896 | The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard | This collection of humorous military short stories follows the misadventures of the vain but brave Étienne Gérard, a dashing and highly exaggerated officer in Napoleon Bonaparte's Hussars. |
| 1902 | The Hound of the Baskervilles | Widely considered one of his greatest works, this novel follows Holmes and Watson as they investigate a supposed supernatural curse and a massive, phantom-like hound that haunts the wealthy Baskerville family on the desolate Dartmoor moors. |
| 1912 | The Lost World | This adventure novel introduced the eccentric Professor Challenger, who leads an expedition to a plateau in the Amazon basin where prehistoric creatures, including dinosaurs and ape-men, are still alive and thriving. |
| 1915 | The Valley of Fear | The final Holmes novel involves a cipher message that hints at a murder plot. Holmes suspects his archenemy, Professor Moriarty, is behind the grim events, which link a Sussex manor to a dark history in America. |