Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes


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Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes. Learn about the man and some of his famous stories.

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Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes

  1. 1. Arthur Conan Doyle & Sherlock Holmes
  2. 2. About the Author Arthur Conan Doyle was born 22nd May 1859 and died on 7th July 1930. He was a Scottish physician and writer who is most noted for his fictional stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes.
  3. 3. About the Author  His father was poor and was an alcoholic. Family life was difficult.  Conan Doyle studied medicine in Edinburgh and met Dr Joseph Bell.  Dr Bell made deductions about the history of his patients based on his powers of observation. Arthur learned from this…
  4. 4. Short stories Doyle was not a Doctor for long and turned to writing instead. Soon afterwards, short Sherlock Holmes stories were published in magazines.
  5. 5. Writing… The Sherlock Holmes stories are often considered milestones in the field of crime fiction. Arthur Conan Doyle is also known for his fictional adventures about Professor Challenger and for popularising the mystery of the Mary Celeste.
  6. 6. Writing… Arthur Conan Doyle was a prolific writer whose other works include fantasy and science fiction stories, plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction, and historical novels.
  7. 7. Sherlock Holmes…  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.
  8. 8. Interesting facts…  Conan Doyle himself was an advocate of justice.  He investigated two closed cases, resulting in the accused being exonerated.  He was a believer in spiritualism – that the dead can be contacted.
  9. 9. Setting the scene for Sherlock holmes  Beliefs - Science started to challenge long held beliefs.  The Origin of the Species - in 1859, Charles Darwin suggested that the physical world could be explained by science.  Technological changes – between 1867 and 1887, the typewriter, telephone, light bulb and many other inventions were created.
  10. 10. Victorian London  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.
  11. 11. Victorian London  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.
  12. 12. Popularity  The popularity of Sherlock Holmes may arise from the desire to bring make London a safer place…  Or maybe – because the stories have constantly found an audience…
  13. 13. The end