ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE (1859-1930)
Although best known as the creator of Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle's work includes science fiction, historical romance and books on warfare and spiritualism. Born in Edinburgh, he qualified as a doctor and practised in Southsea before turning to writing as a means of supplementing his income. The first Sherlock Homes novel appeared in 1887 and the fictional detective soon brought fame and fortune - though Doyle always maintained his historical romances held more worth. His personal interests were far ranging: he was a strong advocate of a tunnel between England and France, of inflatable life jackets and, in one unfortunate incident, of a (faked) photograph of fairies. But it was for a paper justifying Britain's involvement in the Boer War - where he had served as a physician - that he received his knighthood. Influenced by
Edgar Allan Poe, Doyle's work often demonstrates a similar contrasting of the rational and the imaginative.
A young clerk lands what appears to be an ideal job - but soon begins to suspect he may be part of an elaborate trick.
- Length: 21 pages
- Age Rating: PG
- Genre: Crime
The first case Holmes ever solved - while at university, he helps out a friend who's father is dying of nervousness following a visit from an ex-shipmate who seems to hold some power over him.
- Length: 21 pages
- Age Rating: PG
- Genre: Crime
A university friend asks Holmes to help explain the disappearance of a butler shortly after he had been discovered taking an interest in a strange family ritual.
- Length: 21 pages
- Age Rating: PG
- Genre: Crime
A trip to the country, supposedly for a rest, lead Holmes into a mystery involving an apparently random burglary and the murder of a coachman.
- Length: 22 pages
- Age Rating: PG
- Genre: Crime
Holmes investigates the murder of a popular and apparently happily married Colonel.
- Length: 19 pages
- Age Rating: PG
- Genre: Crime
A reputable doctor comes to Holmes for advice when a mysterious benefactor, resident at his clinic, becomes paranoid about the security of the clinic building.
- Length: 22 pages
- Age Rating: PG
- Genre: Crime
An interpreter seeks Holmes' advice after being abducted and forced to translate a conversation with a bound and gagged man. A story that also involves Sherlock's even more observant brother, Mycroft Holmes.
- Length: 21 pages
- Age Rating: PG
- Genre: Crime
Holmes comes to the aid of a civil servant who has fallen on hard times following the theft of an important treaty placed in his care.
- Length: 39 pages
- Age Rating: PG
- Genre: Crime
Holmes reveals the existence of a single organiser behind half the crime in London - an evil genius named Professor Moriarty - and soon finds himself in mortal danger.
- Length: 19 pages
- Age Rating: PG
- Genre: Crime
Holmes comes to the aid of the King of Bohemia, a case which brings him into contact with the adventuress Irene Adler.
- Length: 25 pages
- Age Rating: PG
- Genre: Crime
When Mr. Charles McCarthy is shot in a wood near Boscombe Pool, all (circumstantial) evidence appears to point at his son. But Holmes has doubts.
- Length: 25 pages
- Age Rating: PG
- Genre: Crime
Holmes investigates a case that begins when a young man finds his uncle terrified by five orange pips he receives in the mail.
- Length: 20 pages
- Age Rating: PG
- Genre: Crime
Holmes goes in search of a missing man, last seen, by his wife, looking agitated in the second floor window above a seedy opium den.
- Length: 26 pages
- Age Rating: PG
- Genre: Crime
A woman dies at night in a locked room, crying out in pain: 'It was the band! The speckled band!'. Holmes investigates.
- Length: 28 pages
- Age Rating: PG
- Genre: Crime
A man arrives at Dr Watson's house with a severed thumb - an injury which apparently occurred in the most unusual circumstances.
- Length: 23 pages
- Age Rating: PG
- Genre: Crime