Arthur Conan Doyle 22nd May 1859 - 7th July

1930

•Scottish physician and writer

•Noted for his fictional stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes.

His father was poor and was an alcoholic.His father was poor and was an alcoholic.

Family life was difficult.Family life was difficult.

Conan Doyle studied medicine in Conan Doyle studied medicine in Edinburgh and met Edinburgh and met Dr Joseph BellDr Joseph Bell..

Dr Bell made deductions about the history Dr Bell made deductions about the history of his patients based on his powers of of his patients based on his powers of observation. Arthur learned from this…observation. Arthur learned from this…

Doyle was not a Doctor for long and turned to writing instead. Soon afterwards, short Sherlock Holmes stories were published in magazines.

He tried to kill the Sherlock Holmes character in 1893, but there was outrage from his many fans.

Conan Doyle gave in, writing The Hound of the Baskervilles in 1902, set before his fatal encounter.

Conan Doyle Conan Doyle himself was an himself was an advocate of justice.advocate of justice.

He investigated two He investigated two closed cases, closed cases, resulting in the resulting in the accused being accused being exonerated. exonerated.

Crime, prostitution, drug abuse and murder were commonplace Victorian London.

There was a lot of poverty and poor health.

Smog from the factories created a dark and foul smelling atmosphere.

Crime was rife. This was the time of

Jack the Ripper, a notorious serial killer whose identity was never discovered.

The public did not feel protected.

The Police did not always do a good job.

The popularity of The popularity of Sherlock Holmes may Sherlock Holmes may arise from the desire arise from the desire to make London a to make London a safer place…safer place…

Or maybe – because Or maybe – because the stories have the stories have constantly found an constantly found an audience…audience…