Conan Doyle

Charles Altamont Doyle and Mary Foley welcomed Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle into the world on May 22, 1859, at 11 Picardy Place in Edinburgh, Scotland. Arthur grew up in a household that struggled with his father's alcoholism; as a result, the family split up in 1864. Arthur lived in Liberton Bank House with his friend's aunt, Mary Burton, while attending Newington Academy.

In 1867, the family got back together and moved into filthy tenement apartments at 3 Sciennes Place. Despite his struggles, Arthur was supported by affluent uncles, who allowed him to enroll in Hodder Place, a Jesuit preparatory school, and then Stonyhurst College in Lancashire. His perspective on education has been shaped by his experiences at these schools.

Transitioning from a Medical Career to Writing

Arthur Conan Doyle commenced his medical studies at the University of Edinburgh Medical School in 1876. He obtained real-world experience during this time in places including Aston, Sheffield, and Ruyton-XI-Towns. He studied practical botany at the Edinburgh Royal Botanic Garden concurrently. In 1880, Doyle began his medical career as a ship's surgeon on the Greenland whaler Hope. But after a failed medical career and financial setback, he returned to literary fiction and continued to support vaccination laws.

Sherlock Holmes's Creation and Literary Career

Doyle achieved literary success with the development of Sherlock Holmes. "A Study in Scarlet," starring Holmes and Dr. Watson, was published in 1887 despite early difficulties. After creating a total of 56 short stories and four novels centered around the detective, Doyle's Sherlock Holmes swiftly became a cultural phenomenon. The deductive skills of the character were modeled after Doyle's former university lecturer, Joseph Bell. Doyle was one of the highest-paid writers of his era thanks to his writing, particularly the Holmes series, despite his sporadic disagreements with his most well-known invention.

A Variety of Literary Works

The literary works of Arthur Conan Doyle went well beyond the Sherlock Holmes stories. Between 1888 and 1906, he wrote seven historical novels, which are regarded by many as his best works. The historical books, such as "The White Company" and "Sir Nigel," its predecessor, demonstrated Doyle's talent for taking readers to various points in time. His venture into science fiction gave rise to Professor Challenger, who appears frequently in novels such as "The Lost World." Doyle's versatility is further demonstrated by the large number of plays, poetry, short stories, romances, and non-fiction works he authored.

Later Pieces and Heritage

In 1893, he attempted to wrap off the Holmes series with "The Final Problem," but due to popular demand, the series was revived in 1901 with "The Hound of the Baskervilles." Doyle kept writing after his time with Holmes, producing historical fiction like "The White Company" and novels like "The Lost World."

His influence on crime fiction and his contribution to other literary forms are both part of his legacy. Doyle's continuing effect is demonstrated by the continued success of his books, despite his periodic disagreements with publishers and ambivalence for Holmes. This makes him a literary giant whose influence extends well beyond his well-known detective invention.