Arthur Conan Doyle & Arthur Conan Doyle & Sherlock HolmesSherlock Holmes

About the AuthorAbout the Author

Arthur Conan Doyle was Arthur Conan Doyle was born 22nd May 1859 and born 22nd May 1859 and died on 7th July 1930. He died on 7th July 1930. He was a Scottish physician was a Scottish physician and writer who is most and writer who is most noted for his fictional noted for his fictional stories about the detective stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes.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 Edinburgh Conan Doyle studied medicine in Edinburgh and met and met Dr Joseph BellDr Joseph Bell..

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

About the AuthorAbout the Author

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

Short storiesShort stories

The Sherlock Holmes stories The Sherlock Holmes stories are often considered are often considered milestones in the field of milestones in the field of crime fiction. Arthur Conan crime fiction. Arthur Conan Doyle is also known for his Doyle is also known for his fictional adventures about fictional adventures about Professor Challenger and for Professor Challenger and for popularising the mystery of popularising the mystery of the Mary Celeste. the Mary Celeste.

Writing…Writing…

Arthur Conan Doyle was a Arthur Conan Doyle was a prolific writer whose other prolific writer whose other works include fantasy and works include fantasy and science fiction stories, science fiction stories, plays, romances, poetry, plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction, and historical non-fiction, and historical novels.novels.

Writing…Writing…

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

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

Sherlock Holmes…Sherlock Holmes…

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

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

He was a believer in He was a believer in spiritualism – that the spiritualism – that the dead can be contacted. dead can be contacted.

Interesting facts…Interesting facts…

Setting the scene for Setting the scene for Sherlock holmesSherlock holmes

Beliefs Beliefs - Science started to challenge long held - Science started to challenge long held beliefs.beliefs.

The Origin of the Species The Origin of the Species - in 1859, Charles - in 1859, Charles Darwin suggested that the physical world could Darwin suggested that the physical world could be explained by science.be explained by science.

Technological changes Technological changes – between 1867 and 1887, – between 1867 and 1887, the typewriter, telephone, light bulb and many the typewriter, telephone, light bulb and many other inventions were created. other inventions were created.

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

There was a lot of poverty and poor health. There was a lot of poverty and poor health.

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

Victorian LondonVictorian London

Crime was rife.Crime was rife.

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

The public did not feel The public did not feel protected.protected.

The Police did not The Police did not always do a good job.always do a good job.

Victorian LondonVictorian London

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

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

PopularityPopularity

The end

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