In the spring of 1905, members of an exclusive club of crime enthusiasts known as Our Society were taken on a guided excursion through Whitechapel, one of London’s most notorious districts, by Dr. Frederick Gordon Brown, the chief police surgeon for the City of London. But this was no ordinary sightseeing tour. The focus of the outing was Jack the Ripper’s reputed murder sites, and among the guests that day was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of the world’s greatest detective, Sherlock Holmes.
Here, now, in The Strange Case of Dr. Doyleby first-time son/father writing team Daniel Friedman, MD, and Eugene Friedman, MD, you are cordially invited to join a recreation of that tour. This expedition, however, will differ from the original in one very important way: It will be led by celebrated author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself. As you stroll beside Doyle and his other guests, you will travel to the location of each of the five canonical Ripper murders. Thanks to your guide’s observations and opinions, all of which are based on actual historical accounts, you will learn as much about the district of Whitechapel as you will the terrible Ripper killings that occurred there.
After each stop on the tour, you will also become acquainted with the life of Arthur Conan Doyle, from his earliest days in Edinburgh to his first taste of success as a writer. You will observe Arthur’s hardships at home, his experiences at boarding school, his adventures at sea, his university education, and his days as a working medical doctor. You will be granted a picture of the man as few have ever seen him. As you alternate between biography and tour, you will become a Holmes-like detective, unearthing facts, discovering details, and piecing together information about both Jack the Ripper and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. If you maintain a sharp mind and a keen eye, at the end of your journey, you may just uncover a truth you never expected to find.
Daniel L. Friedman, MD, received his BA from Stony Brook University, andhis medical degree from St. George’s School of Medicine. He is currently apracticing pediatrician in Floral Park, New York, and is also an active memberof the Cohen Children’s Medical Center, where he sits on the voluntary staffadvisory committee. Dr. Friedman’s prize-winning articles on Doyle and Holmeshave appeared in numerous national and international journals. He and Dr.Eugene Friedman are also the authors of the book, The Strange Case of Doctor Doyle. Dr. Friedman resides in LongIsland, New York with his wife, Elena, and their three children.
Eugene Friedman, MD, received his BA from New York University, and hismedical degree from New York Medical College. He was Chief Resident inPediatrics at New York Medical College and later served as Assistant Chief ofPediatrics at Martin Army Hospital at Fort Benning, Georgia. Dr. Friedman hasbeen in private practice with his son, Daniel, for over twenty years.. He hasheld multiple leadership positions in organized medicine and has devotedhimself to the education of future physicians. He and his wife, Sheryl, live inLong Island, New York and have five children and fifteen grandchildren.
