Arthur & Sherlock

From the acclaimed author of The Adventures of Henry Thoreau and The Story of Charlotte's Web comes the new story of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the mind behind Sherlock Holmes and the creator of the modern detective novel

As a young medical student at the University of Edinburgh, Arthur Conan Doyle studied under the vigilant eye of Dr Joseph Bell. He observed as Dr Bell identified a patient's occupation, hometown and ailments both imagined and genuine from the smallest details of dress, gait and speech. Although Doyle was training to be a surgeon, he was meanwhile cultivating essential knowledge that would help him to develop and define the art of the detective novel.

From Doyle's early days surrounded by poverty and violence, to his escape to University and finally to his first days as a surgeon in his own practice, acclaimed author Michael Sims traces the circuitous yet inevitable development of Arthur Conan Doyle as the father of the modern mystery, whose most famous creation is still the most well-known and well-loved of the canon's many members. Through Sims's deft analysis of Doyle's childhood and adult life, the incomparable Sherlock Holmes emerges as a product of Doyle's varied lessons in the classroom and professional life. Building on the traditions of Edgar Allan Poe, Emile Gaboriau, and even Voltaire, Doyle's new detective is not just a skilful translator of clues, but a veritable superhero of the mind in the tradition of his most esteemed teacher, Dr Joseph Bell.

Sims's Arthur is just as vivid Doyle's own Sherlock Holmes in this enthralling biography of the man behind the most famous detective of all time.

“The gentle, loving book White deserves . There is so much to celebrate in Sims's book. His own descriptions of nature are evocative and subtle, and he probes at White's psyche without raking him over the coals . White fans will savour this, as will anyone wondering how an author is made, and how a book comes to life”

Fabulous ... With all the brilliance of Sherlock himself ... Sims is himself an ingenious investigator. Among his most intriguing explorations is his teasing out of not just Conan Doyle's personal history but the history of the detective story itself New York Times Stuffed with fascinating detail ... The book is a brimfull of Holmesian arcana and minutiae. It also works as a sketchy biography of the young Conan Doyle, and how he found his way in the world ... This short study is a stimulating contribution to our never-ending fascination with Sherlock Holmes himself, and, even more perhaps, his genial creator Sunday Times Sherlock himself could not be more dogged in uncovering Holmes's gestation in Doyle's mind than Sims ... Hugely readable ... Good on Sims (an anglophile American) for this celebration of what Holmes means to us The Times With this engaging exploration of how a beloved author found his signature character, Sims is likely to find many readers as well Scotland on Sunday A warm and affectionate look at how Arthur Conan Doyle introduced the Great Detective and the Good Doctor to the world! ... A carefully researched but thoroughly readable work that will surely appeal to the millions of Holmes's admirers as well as students of crime-writing Leslie S. Klinger, editor of The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes A different take on Doylean biography ... The perfect author ... He uses his material in ways that - though many of the facts may be familiar - the reader comes away with a new way of considering both the detective and his creator Baker Street Journal A fine book ... Even the most learned of Baker Street Irregulars will enjoy Sims' look at the making of Sherlock Holmes Kirkus A sprightly disquisition ... Sim's forensic technique helps illuminate important areas of his story, in particular Conan Doyle's medical career and the history of the detective story prior to Sherlock. Along the way he teases out fascinating snippets ... This intelligent, well-planned and nicely paced book succeeds in its goal of shaking up familiar material and watching it come down in interesting ways. It will earn its place on the bookshelves of discerning Sherlockians as well as general readers Literary Review Sims weaves the strands of Conan Doyle's personal and professional lives into an absorbing narrative Independent Gives a fascinating insight into Doyle's difficult early life when he was surrounded by poverty and violence Choice

Michael Sims's six acclaimed non-fiction books include The Adventures of Henry Thoreau, The Story of Charlotte's Web, and Adam's Navel, and he edits the Connoisseur's Collection anthology series, which includes Dracula's Guest, The Dead Witness, The Phantom Coach, and the forthcoming Frankenstein Dreams. His writing has appeared in New Statesman, New York Times, Washington Post, and many other periodicals. He appears often on NPR, BBC, and other networks. He lives in Pennsylvania.

michaelsimsbooks.com @MichaelSimsBook

As a young medical student at the University of Edinburgh, Arthur Conan Doyle studied under the vigilant eye of Dr Joseph Bell. He observed as Dr Bell identified a patient's occupation, hometown and ailments both imagined and genuine from the smallest details of dress, gait and speech. Although Doyle was training to be a surgeon, he was meanwhile cultivating essential knowledge that would help him to develop and define the art of the detective novel. . .From Doyle's early days surrounded by poverty and violence, to his escape to University and finally to his first days as a surgeon in his own practice, acclaimed author Michael Sims traces the circuitous yet inevitable development of Arthur Conan Doyle as the father of the modern mystery, whose most famous creation is still the most well-known and well-loved of the canon's many members. Through Sims's deft analysis of Doyle's childhood and adult life, the incomparable Sherlock Holmes emerges as a product of Doyle's varied lessons in the classroom and professional life. Building on the traditions of Edgar Allan Poe, Emile Gaboriau, and even Voltaire, Doyle's new detective is not just a skillful translator of clues, but a veritable superhero of the mind in the tradition of his most esteemed teacher, Dr Joseph Bell. . .Sims's Arthur is just as vivid Doyle's own Sherlock Holmes in this enthralling biography of the man behind the most famous detective of all time.

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