ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
English author (1859-1930)
Biography:
Arthur Conan Doyle is the father of one of the most famous characters in English literature: Sherlock Holmes. A part from writing, he worked as doctor and later he joint the British Army.
He was born in Edimburgh. His family was catholic, of Norwegian origin, and thus he was sent to study to Jesuit schools. He began studying medecin but at the same time, he wrote short stories and articles. His Study in Scarlet first appeared in 1887, being a great success, and this was the birth of Sherlock Holmes. The adventures of this particular detective were subsequently published in Strand Magazine in 1891.
In November 1891 he wrote to his mother: "I think of slaying Holmes... and winding him up for good and all. He takes my mind from better things" and thus he writes about the "fatal" struggle between Sherlock Holmes and Professor Moriarty. The Final Problem, the adventure which was to bring the news of Holmes's death to all readers, appeared in The Strand in December 1893.
But due to reader's pressure, Arthus Conan Doyle was forced to turn Holme's death into a mere accident. Sherlock Holmes, then, was ready to solve more mysteries with his unconventional deductive methods. From 1903 to 1929, new stories like The Hound of the Braskeville's passioned the readers more and more.
But Arthur Conan Doyle wrote many other things a part from detective stories. His major historical novels such as The White Company, Sir Nigel, Micah Clarke, Uncle Bernac, The Refugees, and The Great Shadow are perhaps less well known today. Moreover, in 1915, he began writing his six-volume history of The British Campaign in France and Flanders, which was completed in 1920.
However, Arthur Conan Doyle will always be related to Sherlock Holmes. He died in Crowborough in 1930.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle on the Internet:
Read the adventures of Sherlock Holmes on-line