Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan (1859-1930), British physician, novelist, and detective-story writer, creator of the unforgettable master sleuth Sherlock Holmes.
Conan Doyle was born on May 22, 1859, in Edinburgh and educated at Stonyhurst College and the University of Edinburgh. From 1882 to 1890 he practiced medicine in Southsea, England.
A Study in Scarlet, the first of 60 stories featuring Sherlock Holmes, appeared in 1887. The characterization of Sherlock Holmes, his ability of ingenious deductive reasoning, was based on one of the author’s own university professors. Equally brilliant creations are those of Holmes’s foils: his friend Dr. Watson, the good-natured if bumbling narrator of the stories, and the master criminal Professor Moriarty. Conan Doyle was so immediately successful in his literary career that approximately five years later he abandoned his medical practice to devote his entire time to writing.
Some of the best known of the Holmes stories are The Sign of The Four (1890), The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1892), The Hound of the Baskervilles (1902), and His Last Bow (1917). They made Conan Doyle internationally famous and served to popularize the detective-story genre (Detective Story; Mystery Story) all worthy additions to the Classic Literature Library.
A Holmes cult arose and still flourishes, notably through clubs of devotees such as the Baker Street Irregulars. Conan Doyle’s literary versatility brought him almost equal fame for his historical romances such as Micah Clarke (1888), The White Company (1890), Rodney Stone (1896), and Sir Nigel (1906), and for his play A Story of Waterloo (1894).
Conan Doyle served in the Boer War as a physician, and on his return to England wrote The Great Boer War (1900) and The War in South Africa: Its Causes and Conduct (1902), justifying England’s participation. For these works he was knighted in 1902. During World War I he wrote History of the British Campaign in France and Flanders (6 volumes, 1916-20) as a tribute to British bravery. An advocate of spiritualism since the late 1880s, his lectures and writings on the subject increased markedly after the death of his eldest son in the war. His autobiography, Memories and Adventures, was published in 1924.
Conan Doyle died in Crowborough, Sussex, England, on July 7, 1930.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Works
The Mystery of Sasassa Valley 1879
J. Habakuk Jephson’s Statement 1883
The Mystery of Cloomber 1889
The Captain of the Polestar 1890
The Firm of Girdlestone 1890
The Doings of Raffles Haw 1891
Beyond The City 1892
Round the Red Lamp 1894
The Parasite 1894
The Stark Munro Letters 1895
Rodney Stone 1896
A Duet 1899
The Great Boer War 1900
Through the Magic Door 1907
The New Revelation 1918
The Vital Message 1919
Tales of Terror and Mystery 1923
A Visit to Three Fronts 1916
The Green Flag 1900
The Last Galley 1911
The Tragedy of The Korosko 1898
The History of Spiritualism Vol I 1926
The History of Spiritualism Vol II 1926
Historical Novels
Micah Clarke 1889
The White Company 1891
The Great Shadow and Other Napoleonic Tales 1892
The Refugees 1893
Uncle Bernac 1896
Sir Nigel 1906
Professor Challenger Books
The Lost World 1912
The Poison Belt 1913
The Land of Mist 1926
The Disintegration Machine 1927
When the World Screamed 1928
Sherlock Holmes Detective Stories
Sherlock Holmes Detective Stories
Sherlock Holmes A Study in Scarlet
Sherlock Holmes Story 1, Beeton’s Christmas Annual, December 1887
Sherlock Holmes A Study in Scarlet in the Beeton’s Christmas Annual, December 1887
Sherlock Holmes The Sign of The Four
Sherlock Holmes Story 2, Lippincott’s Magazine, February 1890
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
12 Sherlock Holmes stories first published in The Strand Magazine, June 1891 to July 1892
First UK book edition: George Newnes Ltd, London, 1892
First US edition: Harper & Brothers, New York, 1892
I. Sherlock Holmes A Scandal In Bohemia
Sherlock Holmes Story 03, Case 09, The Strand Magazine, July 1891
II. Sherlock Holmes The Red-Headed League
Sherlock Holmes Story 04, Case 13, The Strand Magazine, August 1891
III. Sherlock Holmes A Case Of Identity
Sherlock Holmes Story 05, Case 12, The Strand Magazine, September 1891
IV. Sherlock Holmes The Boscombe Valley Mystery
Sherlock Holmes Story 06, Case 22, The Strand Magazine, October 1891
V. Sherlock Holmes The Five Orange Pips
Sherlock Holmes Story 07, Case 11, The Strand Magazine, November 1891
VI. Sherlock Holmes The Man With The Twisted Lip
Sherlock Holmes Story 08, Case 10, The Strand Magazine, December 1891
VII. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure Of The Blue Carbuncle
Sherlock Holmes Story 09, Case 15, The Strand Magazine, January 1892
VIII. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure Of The Speckled Band
Sherlock Holmes Story 10, Case 4, The Strand Magazine, February 1892
IX. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure Of The Engineer’s Thumb
Sherlock Holmes Story 11, Case 26, The Strand Magazine, March 1892
X. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure Of The Noble Bachelor
Sherlock Holmes Story 12, Case 06, The Strand Magazine, April 1892
XI. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure Of The Beryl Coronet
Sherlock Holmes Story 13, Case 30, The Strand Magazine, May 1892
XII. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure Of The Copper Beeches
Sherlock Holmes Story 14, Case 21, The Strand Magazine, June 1892
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
12 Sherlock Holmes stories first published in The Strand Magazine, December 1892 to December 1893
First UK book edition: George Newnes Ltd, London, 1894
First US book edition: Harper & Brothers, New York, 1894
I. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of Silver Blaze
Sherlock Holmes Story 15, Case 29, The Strand Magazine, December 1892
II. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Cardboard Box
Sherlock Holmes Story 16, Case 25, The Strand Magazine, January 1893
This story is also in the US editions of His Last Bow.
III. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Yellow Face
Sherlock Holmes Story 17, Case 17, The Strand Magazine, February 1893
IV. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Stockbroker’s Clerk
Sherlock Holmes Story 18, Case 23, The Strand Magazine, March 1893
V. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the “Gloria Scott”
Sherlock Holmes Story 19, Case 1, The Strand Magazine, April 1893
VI. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual
Sherlock Holmes Story 20, Case 2, The Strand Magazine, May 1893
VII. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Reigate Squires
Sherlock Holmes Story 21, Case 8, The Strand Magazine, June 1893
VIII. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Crooked Man
Sherlock Holmes Story 22, Case 27, The Strand Magazine, July 1893
IX. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Resident Patient
Sherlock Holmes Story 23, Case 5, The Strand Magazine, August 1893
X. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter
Sherlock Holmes Story 24, Case 18, The Strand Magazine, September 1893
XI. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Naval Treaty
Sherlock Holmes Story 25, Case 24, The Strand Magazine, October-November 1893
XII. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Final Problem
Sherlock Holmes Story 26, Case 31, The Strand Magazine, December 1893
Sherlock Holmes – The Hound of the Baskervilles
Sherlock Holmes Story 27, The Strand Magazine, August 1901 to April 1902
The Return of Sherlock Holmes
13 Sherlock Holmes stories published in The Strand Magazine, October 1903 to December 1904
First UK edition: George Newnes Ltd, London, 1905
First US edition: McClure, Phillips & Co., New York, 1905
I. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Empty House
Sherlock Holmes Story 28, Case 32, Collier’s Weekly, September 26, 1903, The Strand Magazine, October 1903
II. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Norwood Builder
Sherlock Holmes Story 29, Case 37, The Strand Magazine, November 1903
III. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Dancing Men
Sherlock Holmes Story 30, Case 44, The Strand Magazine, December 1903
IV. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist
Sherlock Holmes Story 31, Case 35, Collier’s Weekly, December 26, 1903, The Strand Magazine, January 1904
V. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Priory School
Sherlock Holmes Story 32, Case 49, The Strand Magazine, February 1904
VI. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure Of Black Peter
Sherlock Holmes Story 33, Case 36, Collier’s Weekly, February 27, 1904, The Strand Magazine, March 1904
VII. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure Of Charles Augustus Milverton
Sherlock Holmes Story 34, Case 46, The Strand Magazine, April 1904
VIII. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Six Napoleons
Sherlock Holmes Story 35, Case 47, Collier’s Weekly, April 30, 1904, The Strand Magazine, May 1904
IX. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Three Students
Sherlock Holmes Story 36, Case 34, The Strand Magazine, June 1904
X. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez
Sherlock Holmes Story 37, Case 33, The Strand Magazine, July 1904
XI. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter
Sherlock Holmes Story 38, Case 41, The Strand Magazine, August 1904
XII. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Abbey Grange
Sherlock Holmes Story 39, Case 42, The Strand Magazine, September 1904
XIII. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Second Stain
Sherlock Holmes Story 40, Case 7, The Strand Magazine, December 1904
Sherlock Holmes – The Valley of Fear
Sherlock Holmes Story 47, The Strand Magazine (UK), September 1914 to May 1915, Associated Sunday Magazines (US), 20th September 1914 to 22nd November 1914
His Last Bow : Some Reminiscences of Sherlock Holmes
8 Sherlock Holmes stories published in The Strand Magazine, January 1893 to September 1917
First UK book edition: John Murray, London, 1917
First US book edition: George H. Doran Co., New York, 1917
I. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge
Sherlock Holmes Story 42, Case 28, Collier’s Weekly, August 15, 1908, The Strand Magazine, September-October 1908
II. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans
Sherlock Holmes Story 43, Case 38, The Strand Magazine, December 1908
III. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Devil’s Foot
Sherlock Holmes Story 44, Case 43, The Strand Magazine, December 1910
IV. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Red Circle
Sherlock Holmes Story 45, Case 54, The Strand Magazine, March-April 1911
V. Sherlock Holmes The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax
Sherlock Holmes Story 46, Case 52, The Strand Magazine, December 1911
VI. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Dying Detective
Sherlock Holmes Story 47, Case 14, Collier’s Weekly, November 22, 1913, The Strand Magazine, December 1913
VII. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Cardboard Box
Sherlock Holmes Story 16, Case 25, The Strand Magazine, January 1893
This story is in the UK editions of The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
VIII. Sherlock Holmes His Last Bow : The War Service of Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes Story 48, Case 60, The Strand Magazine, September 1917
The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes
8 Sherlock Holmes stories first published in The Strand Magazine, October 1921 to April 1927
First UK book edition: John Murray, London, 1927
First US edition: George H. Doran Co., New York, 1927
I. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone
Sherlock Holmes Story 49, Case 57, The Strand Magazine, October 1921
II. Sherlock Holmes The Problem of Thor Bridge
Sherlock Holmes Story 50, Case 48, The Strand Magazine, February-March 1922
III. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Creeping Man
Sherlock Holmes Story 51, Case 58, The Strand Magazine, March 1923
IV. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire
Sherlock Holmes Story 52, Case 40, The Strand Magazine, January 1924
V. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Three Garridebs
Sherlock Holmes Story 53, Case 51, Collier’s Weekly, October 25, 1924, The Strand Magazine, January 1925
VI. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Illustrious Client
Sherlock Holmes Story 54, Case 53, Collier’s Weekly, November 8, 1924, The Strand Magazine, February-March 1925
VII. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Three Gables
Sherlock Holmes Story 55, Case 56, Liberty, September 18, 1926, The Strand Magazine, October 1926
VIII. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier
Sherlock Holmes Story 56, Case 55, Liberty, October 16, 1926, The Strand Magazine, November 1926
IX. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Lion’s Mane
Sherlock Holmes Story 57, Case 59, Liberty, November 27, 1926, The Strand Magazine, December 1926
X. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Retired Colourman
Sherlock Holmes Story 58, Case 45, Liberty, December 18, 1926, The Strand Magazine, January 1927
XI. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger
Sherlock Holmes Story 59, Case 39, Liberty, January 22, 1927, The Strand Magazine, February 1927
XII. Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place
Sherlock Holmes Story 60, Case 50, Liberty, March 5, 1927, The Strand Magazine, April 1927
Brigadier Gerard Stories
The Exploits Of Brigadier Gerard
8 Brigadier Gerard stories first published in The Strand Magazine, December 1894 to December 1895
First book edition: George Newnes, London, 1896
I. How The Brigadier Came To The Castle Of Gloom
Brigadier Gerard Story IV. first published in The Strand Magazine July 1895
II. How The Brigadier Slew The Brothers Of Ajaccio
Brigadier Gerard Story III. first published in The Strand Magazine June 1895
III. How The Brigadier Held The King
Brigadier Gerard Story I. first published in The Strand Magazine April 1895
IV. How The King Held The Brigadier
Brigadier Gerard Story II. first published in The Strand Magazine May 1895
V. How The Brigadier Took The Field Against The Marshal Millefleurs
Brigadier Gerard Story V. first published in The Strand Magazine August 1895
VI. How The Brigadier Played For A Kingdom
Brigadier Gerard Story VII. first published in The Strand Magazine December 1895
VII. How The Brigadier Won His Medal
Brigadier Gerard Story, first published in The Strand Magazine December 1894
VIII. How The Brigadier Was Tempted By The Devil
Brigadier Gerard Story VI. first published in The Strand Magazine September 1895
The Adventures Of Brigadier Gerard
Ten Brigadier Gerard stories first published in The Strand Magazine
First book edition: George Newnes, London, 1896
I. How Brigadier Gerard Lost His Ear
Brigadier Gerard Story X. first published in The Strand Magazine August 1902
II. How the Brigadier Captured Saragossa
Brigadier Gerard Story XVI. first published in The Strand Magazine April 1903
III. How the Brigadier Slew the Fox
Brigadier Gerard Story IX. first published in The Strand Magazine January 1900
IV. How the Brigadier Saved the Army
Brigadier Gerard Story XI. first published in The Strand Magazine November 1902
V. How the Brigadier Triumphed in England
Brigadier Gerard Story XV. first published in The Strand Magazine March 1903
VI. How the Brigadier Rode to Minsk
Brigadier Gerard Story XII. first published in The Strand Magazine December 1902
VII. How the Brigadier Bore Himself at Waterloo: I. The Story Of The Forest Inn
Brigadier Gerard Story XIII. first published in The Strand Magazine January 1903
VIII. How the Brigadier Bore Himself at Waterloo: II. The Story Of The Nine Prussian Horsemen
Brigadier Gerard Story XIV. first published in The Strand Magazine February 1903
IX. The Last Adventure of the Brigadier
Brigadier Gerard Story XVII. first published in The Strand Magazine May 1903
X. The Marriage Of The Brigadier
Brigadier Gerard Story XVIII. first published in The Strand Magazine September 1910
Arthur Conan Doyle Poetry
Songs of Action Poems (1898)
The Song of the Bow Poem
Cremona Poem
The Storming Party Poem
The Frontier Line Poem
Corporal Dick’s Promotion Poem
A Forgotten Tale Poem
Pennarby Mine Poem
A Rover Chanty Poem
A Ballad of the Ranks Poem
A Lay of the Links Poem
The Dying Whip Poem
Master Poem
H.M.S. ‘Foudroyant’ Poem
The Farnshire Cup Poem
The Groom’s Story Poem
With the Chiddingfolds Poem
A Hunting Morning Poem
The Old Gray Fox Poem
‘Ware Holes! Poem
The Home-Coming of the Eurydice Poem
The Inner Room Poem
The Irish Colonel Poem
The Blind Archer Poem
A Parable Poem
A Tragedy Poem
The Passing Poem
The Franklin’s Maid Poem
The Old Huntsman Poem
Songs of the Road Poems (1911)
I. — Songs of the Road Narrative Verses And Songs
A Hymn Of Empire Poem
Sir Nigel’s Song Poem
The Arab Steed Poem
A Post-Impressionist Poem
Empire Builders Poem
The Groom’s Encore Poem
The Bay Horse Poem
The Outcasts Poem
The End Poem
1902-1909 Poem
The Wanderer Poem
Bendy’s Sermon Poem
II. — Songs of the Road Philosophic Verses
Compensation Poem
The Banner Of Progress Poem
Hope Poem
Religio Medici Poem
Man’s Limitation Poem
Mind And Matter Poem
Darkness Poem
III — Songs of the Road Miscellaneous Verses
A Woman’s Love Poem
By The North Sea Poem
December’s Snow Poem
Shakespeare’s Expostulation Poem
The Empire Poem
A Voyage Poem
The Orphanage Poem
Sexagenarius Loquitur Poem
Night Voices Poem
The Message Poem
The Echo Poem
Advice To A Young Author Poem
A Lilt Of The Road Poem
The Guards Came Through and Other Poems (1919)
Victrix Poem
Those Others Poem
The Guards Came Through Poem
Haig Is Moving Poem
The Guns In Sussex Poem
Ypres Poem
Grousing Poem
The Volunteer Poem
The Night Patrol Poem
The Bugles Of Canada Poem
The Wreck On Loch Mcgarry Poem
The Bigot Poem
The Athabasca Trail Poem
Ragtime! Poem
Christmas In Trouble Poem
To Carlo Poem
To Ronald Ross Poem
Little Billy Poem
Take Heart Poem
Retrospect Poem
Comrades Poem
Lindisfaire Poem
Holy Grail A Parable Poem
Fate Poem
A Reminiscence Of Cricket Poem
Arthur Conan Doyle Short Stories
That Veteran (1882)
Gentlemanly Joe (1883)
The Winning Shot (1883)
An Exciting Christmas Eve or, My Lecture on Dynamite (1883)
The Heiress of Glenmahowley (1884)
The Tragedians (1884)
The Lonely Hampshire Cottage (1885)
The Fate of the Evangeline (1885)
Touch and Go: A Midshipman’s Story (1886)
Uncle Jeremy’s Household (1887)
The Stone of Boxman’s Drift (1887)
A Pastoral Horror (1890)
Our Midnight Visitor (1891)
The Voice of Science (1891)
The Colonel’s Choice (1891)
A Sordid Affair (1891)
A Regimental Scandal (1892)
The Recollections of Captain Wilkie (1895)
The Confession (1898)
The Retirement of Signor Lambert (1898)
A True Story of the Tragedy of Flowery Land (1899)
An Impression of the Regency (1900)
The Centurion (1922)
The Death Voyage (1929)
The End of Devil Hawker (1930)
The Last Resource (1930)
True Crime
The Holocaust Of Manor Place (1901)
The Case of Oscar Slater (1912)
The Bravoes of Market Drayton (1889)
The Debatable Case of Mrs. Emsley (1901)
The Love Affair of George Vincent Parker (1901)
The Case of Mr. George Edalji (1907)
