conan doyle biography

A comprehensive chronology of the life of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The first section contains a detailed chronology of the major and minor events in the life of Sir Arthur and his family from 1794 to 1930. This is followed by a section on events from 1930 to 1993, the residences of Conan Doyle and his family, where are they buried, locations of plaques and statues, a list of biographies and semi-biographical works, a bibliography, a selective list of miscellaneous writings, works consulted and about the chronologist. Finally, there are a number of well-reproduced photographs of ACD his family at various times of his life, some have not appeared in print before. This publication proves that there is more to Arthur Conan Doyle than just Sherlock Holmes.

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Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) is best known for his Sherlock Holmes stories and novels, yet he considered them only a small part of his literary output. He expected to be remembered for his historical fiction, especially The White Company. He also wrote science fiction novels, short stories, and horror tales. He was knighted for a pamphlet he wrote justifying England’s actions during the Boer War, in which he served as a physician in a field hospital. After one of his sons was killed during World War I, he turned to spiritualism for comfort. He became a prominent spiritualist, lecturing and writing frequently on the subject. This book–the first biography of Arthur Conan Doyle written for young adults–provides a lively account of the writer’s fascinating life. Pascal considers the overlaps between the fictional Holmes and Watson and their creator, and draws a memorable picture of late Victorian society. Sidebars containing excerpts from Doyle’s writings, and numerous photographs and illustrations invigorate the captivating narrative.

Oxford Portraits is a new series of biographies for young adults. Written by prominent writers and historians, each of these titles is designed to supplement the core texts of the middle and high school curriculum with intriguing, thoroughly informative and insightful accounts of the lives and work of the notable men and women who helped shape history. Each book is illustrated with numerous graphics, photographs, and documents. A unique feature is the inclusion of sidebars containing primary source material, mostly excerpts from the subject’s writings. A chronology, further reading list, and index rounds out every volume.

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A valued icon of British manhood, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has been the subject of numerous biographies, all of which have drawn heavily on his own autobiography, “Memories & Adventures”, a collection of stories and anecdotes themed on the subject of masculinity and its representation. In this work, Diana Barsham discusses Doyle’s career in the context of that 19th-century biographical tradition which Dr Watson so successfully appropriated. She explores Doyle’s determination to become a great name in the culture of his day and the strains on his identity arising from this project. A Scotsman with an alcoholic, Irish, fairy-painting father, Doyle offered himself and his writings as a model of British manhood during the greatest crisis of British history. This study offers a revision of the Doyle myth. It presents his career as a series of dialogic contestations with writers like Thomas Hardy and Winston Churchill to define the masculine presence in British culture. It also demonstrates how, in his spiritualist campaign, Doyle took on the figure of St Paul in an attempt to create a new religious culture for a socialist age.

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At the end of the 19th century, perhaps every man wanted to be Arthur Conan Doyle. He had written historical novels, short stories of horror and the supernatural; and displayed huge energy and talent in a variety of fields. He was a fine cricketer (he once took the wicket of the great WC Grace); played football, rugby and golf. He practiced as a doctor; campaigned for underdogs, introduced skis to Switzerland; and knew both Harry Houdini and Oscar Wilde. He was an adventurer, a controversialist, war reporter and knight of the realm. But most famously of all, he had created Sherlock Holmes, the world’s most famous detective – based on his former medical professor, Joseph Bell. All in all, Doyle was a Boy’s Own dream. Yet for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, all such achievements paled into significance when set against his commitment to spiritualism. Although interested in the subject for many years, he publicly converted to the cause around time of the First World War – much to many people’s amazement: ‘Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has many striking characteristics,’ wrote Ruth Brandon. ‘He is gigantically tall and strong. He is a gifted story teller. He is a man of strong opinions and considerable political influence. But perhaps the most extraordinary thing about him is the combination of all the attributes of worldly success with an almost child-like literalness and credulity of mind, manifested particularly in relation to spiritualism.’ ‘Conversations with Conan Doyle’ is an imagined conversation with this remarkable figure. But while the conversation is imagined, Doyle’s words are not; they are all authentically his. ‘For many, Conan Doyle’s commitment to spiritualism is an embarrassing aberration,’ says Simon Parke. ‘They want him to go back and just be the creator of Sherlock Holmes. But people don’t fit into boxes, and Doyle certainly doesn’t! So I want people to meet the man, hear him speak – and then make up their own minds. He’s often passionate; but never dull.’

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The rich life of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) is featured here: his work as a doctor, his novels and journalistic writings, his support of Spiritualism and his defence of fairies. This is a unique set for the 150th anniversary of his birth. After his early years in medicine, the writing talents of Arthur Conan Doyle took over. “Sherlock Holmes” and “Professor Challenger” were among his successes. David Timson, an actor and director who has read the complete “Sherlock Holmes” collection for Naxos AudioBooks, has compiled this commemorative collection showing the range of Conan Doyle’s life and work. It includes the 2CD biography by Hesketh Pearson, “The Speckled Band”, an excerpt from “The Lost World” and his defence of the “Cottingley Fairies”.
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