Arthur and Sherlock: Conan Doyle and the Creation of Sherlock
This is the fascinating story of how Arthur Conan Doyle developed one of the most beloved characters in English literature, Sherlock Holmes. Sims traces both Conan Doyle’s life as well as the development of the detective story, from ancient texts to Edgar Allan Poe, Wilkie Collins, and Charles Dickens. Sims also paints a vivid picture of the man upon whom the great detective is based, Doyle’s mentor, Dr. Joseph Bell. Dr. Bell was able to diagnose not only his patients’ illnesses, he could also tell where they were born, what they did for a living, how many children they had and where they had been that morning. He used deduction, the very same logic Doyle adapted to make Sherlock Holmes the world’s greatest detective.
Written like a novel, this nonfiction book, set in the late Victorian age, captures every nuance Conan Doyle must have had, from his medical studies to his dabbling in writing and spiritualism to his love life. Utterly fascinating in his attention to detail, Sims does him credit. This is a must-read for any fan of Sherlock Holmes.
