Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

LifeBorn May 22, 1859

Scottish physician and writer

Most well known for Sherlock Holmes

Study medicine at University of Edinburgh where he started to write short stories.

Originally his practice was not successful.

While waiting on patients he began to write again.

Life Continued Struggled to get published

Modeled Sherlock Holmes after his professor Joseph Bell“It is most certainly to you that I owe Sherlock Holmes... Round the center of deduction and inference and observation which I have heard you inculcate I have tried to build up a man."

Death of Doyle and Holmes

In 1893 Doyle decided to kill off Holmes to allow him to focus more on his career.

Doyle had Holmes plunge to his death down the Reichenbach Falls in the story "The Final Problem.” He was accompanied by another character.

The public made such an outcry that Holmes was brought back in 1901.

Doyle died July 7, 1930.

Interesting FactsPlayed detective in two closed cases regarding the injustice of two men. His efforts exonerated these men.

Helped create the Court of Criminal Appeals.

Member of the Ghost Club (which still exists).

Published a book about fairies (1917).

Friends with Harry Houdini.

May have been involved with a scientific hoax that lasted 40 years.

Sherlock Holmes

BackgroundFirst appeared in 1887

Featured in four novels and fifty six short stories.

Covers the period of time from 1880-1914

Typically narrated by Dr. John H. Watson.

London 1880s

London 1880sIndustrial Revolution

Heavy pollution

Children laborers

Education was mandatory up to age ten.

Jack the Ripper

Six Rules of a Good Detective

Story1. The crime must be significant2. The detective must be memorable. 3. The criminal must be a worthy opponent. 4. The clues must be made available to the

reader. 5. The suspect must appear early in the

story.6. The solution must be reasonable and

possible.