Arthur Conan Doyle is one of the most iconic and influential authors in literary history. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1859, Doyle’s early life was marked by hardship and loss. His father, an alcoholic, struggled to provide for the family, and his early schooling was disrupted due to financial difficulties. Despite these challenges, Doyle’s passion for storytelling and adventure would lead him to become one of the most celebrated authors of the Victorian era.
Doyle’s love for writing and storytelling began at a young age. He wrote his first story, “The Haunted Grange of Goresthorpe” at the age of six, and by his teenage years, he was already submitting his work to magazines and literary competitions. After completing his medical studies at the University of Edinburgh, Doyle set up a medical practice in Southsea, England. However, his passion for writing soon took over, and he began to write in his spare time.
In 1886, Doyle’s first novel, A Study in Scarlet, was published in Beeton’s Christmas Annual. This would mark the beginning of his most famous literary creation, the iconic detective Sherlock Holmes. The novel was a great success and would go on to be adapted into plays, films, and television series, solidifying Holmes as one of the most enduring and beloved characters in literature.
Doyle would go on to write four novels and 56 short stories featuring the famous detective, much to the delight of his readers. However, Doyle himself grew tired of the character and sought to move on to other writing ventures. In 1891, he wrote his first historical novel, Micah Clarke, and went on to write several more in the years to come. But despite his attempts to distance himself from Sherlock Holmes, the demand for more stories featuring the famous detective was insatiable.
In 1902, Doyle published The Hound of the Baskervilles, which would become one of his most famous works. This was followed by The Return of Sherlock Holmes, a collection of 13 short stories featuring the detective’s return after his supposed death in “The Final Problem”. Even after killing off Holmes in “The Adventure of the Final Problem”, Doyle would go on to write more stories featuring the character, much to the delight of his fans.
The success of the Sherlock Holmes stories overshadowed Doyle’s other works, leading him to declare that “I am much annoyed by the way Sherlock Holmes seems to take up my time and interfere with my plans for other stories.” However, Doyle’s legacy as a writer extends far beyond just the Sherlock Holmes stories. He was a prolific writer, penning historical novels, science fiction, and non-fiction works.
Doyle also had a passion for adventure and exploration, which influenced many of his writings. In 1912, he joined a lecture tour to Australia, New Zealand, and the United States, and later wrote about his experiences in The Wanderings of a Spiritualist. He also famously took part in an arctic expedition in 1912 to search for the missing explorer John Franklin. His experiences during this expedition would inspire him to write one of his most well-known works, The Lost World, a novel about a group of explorers who discover a remote plateau filled with prehistoric creatures.
In addition to his writing, Doyle was also a strong advocate for social justice and used his platform to bring attention to important causes. He actively campaigned against injustices such as the wrongful conviction of prisoners and the oppression of indigenous peoples.
Arthur Conan Doyle’s legacy is one that spans literature, social justice, and adventure. His contributions to the world of literature through his iconic character Sherlock Holmes will forever be remembered and celebrated. But beyond that, Doyle was a multifaceted individual whose passion for storytelling and justice continue to inspire and captivate readers to this day.