May 22 will mark celebrated crime writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s 157 birth anniversary. Arathi M. begins her weekly column on books by introducing readers to some of his suspense-filled whodunits
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle gained universal fame by creating Sherlock Homes, a fictional character, who became more famous than the author. With his master penmanship, Doyle wrote about 56 short stories and four novels featuring Sherlock. This May 22, Doyle will turn 157. What better time to get to know more about him…
Doyle and his life
An ophthalmologist, a gifted athlete, a politician, a historian — the caps that Doyle donned were many. He was born into a Catholic family in 1859 in Scotland. During his years as a medical student at the University of Edinburgh, he published an article ‘Gelsemium as a Poison’, the findings of which were useful in murder investigations. He completed his education in ophthalmology from Vienna and later moved to London. He created his most famous character in 1887, which catapulted him to global recognition. Other than Sherlock, he also wrote novels such as The Mystery of Cloomber , Narrative of John Smith and short stories such as The Captain of the Pole-Star and J. Habakuk Jephson’s Statement , which were inspired by his time at sea. Doyle also penned seven historical novels which critics consider his best work. After this, he stood for Parliament as a Liberal Unionist in 1900 and 1906 but was not elected. In 1902, Doyle was knighted in appreciation and recognition of his literary works. The prolific writer passed away at the age of 71. His epitaph reads: Steel true/Blade straight/Arthur Conan Doyle/Knight/Patriot, Physician, and man of letter. Well, we are not disputing that!
Sherlock Holmes
There existed an era devoid of masterful detectives. There was no sleuth who could be counted on to solve ghastly cases using pure logic. It was at this time that Doyle introduced Sherlock Holmes, who went on to become a celebrated detective and a cultural phenomenon. He and his beloved friend and assistant Dr. Watson appeared for the first time in A Study in Scarlet . Sherlock was slightly eccentric, but we, as readers, are forgiving because once he flexed his intellectual muscle, the villains had no choice but to flee.
The impact of Sherlock on the human psyche is such that whenever someone says detective, we end up imagining a person with a deerstalker cap, a magnifying glass and trademark pipe.
After some short stories, Doyle was supposedly ‘fed up’ of Holmes and was thinking of killing him off. An idea his his mother (thank God!) opposed. Even then, Holmes did kill off Sherlock twice but had to bring him back following a public outcry.
Doyle and his life
An ophthalmologist, a gifted athlete, a politician, a historian — the caps that Doyle donned were many. He was born into a Catholic family in 1859 in Scotland. During his years as a medical student at the University of Edinburgh, he published an article ‘Gelsemium as a Poison’, the findings of which were useful in murder investigations. He completed his education in ophthalmology from Vienna and later moved to London. He created his most famous character in 1887, which catapulted him to global recognition. Other than Sherlock, he also wrote novels such as The Mystery of Cloomber , Narrative of John Smith and short stories such as The Captain of the Pole-Star and J. Habakuk Jephson’s Statement , which were inspired by his time at sea. Doyle also penned seven historical novels which critics consider his best work. After this, he stood for Parliament as a Liberal Unionist in 1900 and 1906 but was not elected. In 1902, Doyle was knighted in appreciation and recognition of his literary works. The prolific writer passed away at the age of 71. His epitaph reads: Steel true/Blade straight/Arthur Conan Doyle/Knight/Patriot, Physician, and man of letter. Well, we are not disputing that!
Sherlock Holmes
There existed an era devoid of masterful detectives. There was no sleuth who could be counted on to solve ghastly cases using pure logic. It was at this time that Doyle introduced Sherlock Holmes, who went on to become a celebrated detective and a cultural phenomenon. He and his beloved friend and assistant Dr. Watson appeared for the first time in A Study in Scarlet . Sherlock was slightly eccentric, but we, as readers, are forgiving because once he flexed his intellectual muscle, the villains had no choice but to flee.
The impact of Sherlock on the human psyche is such that whenever someone says detective, we end up imagining a person with a deerstalker cap, a magnifying glass and trademark pipe.
After some short stories, Doyle was supposedly ‘fed up’ of Holmes and was thinking of killing him off. An idea his his mother (thank God!) opposed. Even then, Holmes did kill off Sherlock twice but had to bring him back following a public outcry.
Resource : http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-in-school/through-the-magnifying-glass/article8562275.ece
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