Creating Sherlock Holmes: The Remarkable Story of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Creating Sherlock Holmes chronicles the life and times of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the legendary Sherlock Holmes—the famous writer and his brilliant creation.

Since Sherlock Holmes first appeared in the 1887 novel A Study in Scarlet, he has taken on a life of his own. But despite thousands of portrayals over the past one hundred years in books, on stage, in films and television, and even video game adaptations, what do we know about the great detective? Who was he and where did he come from?

Holmes remains an enigma—his original life contained in fifty-six short stories and four novels. His creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, was a celebrity figure during his own lifetime. Fans turned out in thousands around the world to catch a glimpse of the man who had invented one of the most memorable characters in popular culture.

Creating Sherlock Holmesoutlines for you the life Sir Arthur Conan Doyle lived, and how Holmes affected it. In the process, author Charlotte Montague reveals two great men whose lives are forever twisted together in history. One man is strikingly real and powerful, while the other is fictional, but destined to long outlive his creator.

The Oxford People series offers deep dives into the most influential people, subjects, and cultures from history. From horror-fiction legends like H. P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allen Poe, to historical heavyweights like Houdini and JFK, to the supernatural world of vampires, werewolves, and ghosts—Oxford People encompasses it all.

Other titles in this series include: Angels, Che, Edgar Allen Poe, Extreme Science, Gettysburg, Ghosts, Gunfighters, Houdini, HP Lovecraft, John F. Kennedy, Myths and Legends, Privates and Privateers, Roosevelt and Churchill, Royal Weddings, Skies of WWII, Tesla, Tesla vs. Edison, Vampires, Vikings, Werewolves, Women of Invention, Zombies.
 

Charlotte Montague is a writer who specializes in history. Her father was a naval officer, and as a child, she traveled the world with her family. After gaining an MA degree in History from Sussex University, she began writing on a variety of subjects including ethnic cultures, travel, and music. Since then, she has continued to write on costumes, flags, knots, body adornment, sea shanties, and many other topics. More recently, she developed an interest in the history of crime at sea, not only in Europe but further afield. Her current research has taken her to many parts of the globe, including Africa and the Far East, particularly the islands of the South Pacific. She travels for most of the year, but returns frequently to her home, a remote eighteenth-century cottage close to a famous smuggler's cove on the Cornish coast.