Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle (22 May 1859 – 7 July 1930) was a British writer and physician. He created the character Sherlock Holmes in 1887 for “A Study in Scarlet,” the first of four novels and fifty-six short stories about Holmes and Dr. Watson. The Sherlock Holmes stories are milestones in the field of crime fiction. However, Arthur Conan Doyle’s interests and activities extended far beyond his famous creation, Sherlock Holmes. He was a versatile and accomplished writer, physician, and public figure whose work continues to be studied and appreciated to this day.
Before becoming a full-time writer, Conan Doyle trained and practised as a physician. He studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh and worked as a ship’s surgeon on a whaling vessel in the Arctic before setting up his own medical practice in Southsea, England.
In addition to his detective fiction, Conan Doyle wrote historical novels and romances. One of his most famous works in this genre is “The White Company” (1891), set during the Hundred Years’ War.
Conan Doyle also wrote science fiction and speculative fiction. He is best known for his Professor Challenger series, which includes the novel “The Lost World” (1912), in which explorers discover a prehistoric world hidden in the Amazon rainforest.
Furthermore, Conan Doyle wrote extensively on a wide range of subjects, including history, politics, and spirituality. He was a prolific essayist and contributed articles to newspapers and magazines throughout his career.
Later in life, Conan Doyle became increasingly interested in spiritualism and the occult. He became a prominent advocate for spiritualism and participated in séances and other spiritualist activities. He authored several books on the subject and travelled widely to promote spiritualist beliefs. His interest in spiritualism stemmed from personal experiences and a deep curiosity about life after death and the existence of a spiritual realm. It was sparked in the late 19th century, but it intensified after the death of his son Kingsley during World War I.
Arthur Conan Doyle’s advocacy for spiritualism was met with scepticism and criticism from many quarters. Critics accused him of being gullible and naive, and some questioned his motives for promoting spiritualist beliefs. Despite the controversy surrounding his spiritualist activities, Conan Doyle remained steadfast in his convictions until his death.
Conan Doyle was also active in public life and involved in various social and political causes. He served as a volunteer medic during the Boer War and advocated for reform in the British legal system.