British author sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote various types of books, from historical novels to adventure stories, but his Sherlock Holmes mysteries brought him fame. The Sherlock Holmes stories have been translated into more than fifty languages and have been produced in plays, films, radio and television series, musical comedies, ballet, cartoons, comics, and advertisements.
Arthur Conan Doyle was born in Edinburgh. Doyle's mother, Mary, was interested in literature, and encouraged her son to explore the world of books. She was a very good storyteller. In his autobiography Conan Doyle wrote: "The stories my mother told me when I was a child stand out more than the actual facts of my life."
Doyle attended boarding school and the University of Edinburgh. Doyle received his medical degree in 1885. After graduating, Doyle practiced medicine as an oculist until 1891, when he became a professional writer.
Doyle's first novel about Holmes, a Study in scarlet, was published in 1887. The story was written in three weeks in 1886. She introduced the detective, Sherlock Holmes, and Dr. Watson, the narrator. Holmes ' abilities border on the fantastic: he is famous for his logical reasoning, his ability to accept almost any disguise, and his skills to solve complex cases.
Watson plays two roles in Holmes ' life. First, he practically helps with the running of his cases; he is the detective's right-hand man. Second, he is the chronicler of Holmes. Most of the Holmes stories are written from Watson's point of view as summaries of the detective's most interesting cases.
As early as the end of 1891, Doyle planned to stop writing about Holmes and end the series. But the public demanded Holmes's return. Doyle's readers expressed disappointment by wearing mourning ribbons, and the magazine that published the series lost 20,000 subscribers. Doyle again revived the famous character in "the Empty house" (1903). The character of Holmes inspired many later writers to continue his adventures.
