Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Who was the man behind the most beloved detective of all times, Sherlock Holmes? What kind of person was he and what other subjects did he write about?
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
A man of many talents, Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle is considered an innovator in the world of crime fiction. Surely no detective in history has ever been more popular or well known than the brilliant and invincible Sherlock Holmes. Doyle was a prolific and versatile writer whose other works include science fiction stories, historical novels, plays, romance, poetry and non-fiction.
After the Boer War in South Africa at the turn of the twentieth century, Doyle wrote a pamphlet, which justified Britain's role in the war. As a result, he was knighted and appointed as Deputy-Lieutenant of Surrey in 1902. He also wrote a book on the subject in 1900 ("The Great Boer War").
In his later years, Doyle became embroiled in the concept of Spiritualism and he wrote a novel on the subject entitled "The Land of Mist". At this time, he became friends with American magician, Harry Houdini, who was a prominent opponent of the Spiritualist Movement. Doyle praised psychic phenomena and spiritual manifestations in his book, "The History of Spiritualism" (1926).
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a man of intense loyalties and a fervent advocate of justice. He personally investigated two closed court cases, which led to the release of two wrongfully imprisoned men.
Read about the life and times of this fascinating and brilliant literary genius.
