Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – Sherlock Holmes is Just the Beginning!
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born in Scotland on May 22, 1859. He died on July 7, 1930. What he did between those two dates was truly amazing. He was the author of the Sherlock Holmes stories. He also wrote other works of fiction, like The Lost World and The White Company.
Learn about the Life of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle believed in spiritualism, solved real mystery cases, was a medical doctor, helped bring skiing to Switzerland and so much more.
This site features articles about little- known aspects of Conan Doyle’s life, including his time as a ship’s surgeon, his tangled love life and his troubled father.
Featured Item – Charles Altamont Doyle – The Father of Arthur Conan Doyle
Charles Altamont Doyle, ‘Meditation, Self Portrait’ 1885-93
Charles Altamont Doyle, the father of Arthur Conan Doyle, was born around 1832. He was the last surviving child of John Doyle, an artist who moved in high society. John Doyle included people like the Prince of Wales and Queen Victoria in his list of acquaintances.
Conan Doyle wrote in his biography, “My father’s life was full of the tragedy of unfulfilled powers and of underdeveloped gifts. He had his weaknesses, as all of us have ours, but he also had some very remarkable and outstanding virtues.”
Sherlock Holmes
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created the character of Sherlock Holmes. Check out our impressive list of articles about Sherlock Holmes. Learn about the inspiration for the character of Holmes, a discussion on Moriarty, read about The Hound of the Baskervilles and more.
Featured Item – 221B Baker Street
Sherlock Holmes lived in London at 221B Baker Street from approximately 1881 to 1903.
During this time, the later part of the Victorian period, the British Empire was at its zenith. London was the center of all things.
The East End of London contained the neighborhoods where the poor and working class lived. The more affluent people lived in the West End. Neighborhoods in the West End included Mayfair, Kensington and Regent’s Park. Baker Street was also located in the West End.
Learn more about 221B Baker Street, one of the most famous addresses in all of literature.
Conan Doyle’s Other Work
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote more than the Sherlock Holmes stories. Much More! He was a prolific writer whose other works include science fiction, non-fiction and historical novels.
Featured Item – The Lost World
The Lost World, by Arthur Conan Doyle, chronicles the adventures of four men who travel to the jungles of South America. There they discover a plateau inhabited by dinosaurs and ape-men.
Professors from Conan Doyle’s days at the University of Edinburgh inspired the two professors in the novel.
Edward Malone and Lord John Roxton were based on Edmund Dene Morel and Roger Casement. Morel and Casement were the founders of the Congo Reform Association. They helped bring the plight of the people of the Belgian Congo to Conan Doyle’s attention.
Quotations by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Visit the quotations pages to find one of the largest collections of Conan Doyle quotations anywhere. You can view quotes by topic, title or browse the entire collection library.
Featured Item – Inspirational Quotes
“Our highest assurance of the goodness of Providence seems to me to rest in the flowers. All other things, our powers our desires, our food, are all really necessary for our existence in the first instance. But this rose is an extra. Its smell and its color are an embellishment of life, not a condition of it. It is only goodness which gives extras, and so I say again that we have much to hope from the flowers.” ~ The Naval Treaty by Arthur Conan Doyle
