In February 1880, when Arthur Conan Doyle was only twenty years old, he embarked upon 'the first real outstanding adventure in my life,' seven months as a ship's surgeon on an Arctic whaler. The voyage took the young Conan Doyle into unknown regions and plunged him into dangerous and bloody work on the ice floes of the Arctic seas. His unforgettable adventure was echoed in a number of his early landmarks as a writer. A ghost story based on the experience, 'The Captain of the Pole-Star,' got him noticed in publishing circles as a promising young writer, and a magazine article called 'The Glamour of the Arctic' won him the respect of intrepid Arctic explorers. During the voyage, Conan Doyle kept a detailed diary. This incredible document, hidden from public view for more than a century, is written in his clear handwriting and is illustrated with many charming pen-and-ink sketches of scenes of life on board and of the sea-creatures and other sights he saw. It provides a vivid account of the coming of age of the young man who would go on to create Sherlock Holmes, and of a life at sea that no longer exists. This book will feature a facsimile of this remarkable diary, with a transcript, as well as several non-fiction and fiction pieces based on the experience, including the Sherlock Holmes story 'The Adventure of the Black Peter.' It will also include photographs of the ship, its captain, and young Conan Doyle on deck. The publication of this unknown diary will be welcomed by all fans of Arthur Conan Doyle.
--This text refers to an alternate
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edition.
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"We revere Arthur Conan Doyle as the creator of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, but he was far more than just the great storyteller of his age: There was a streak of the adventurer in Conan Doyle's make-up, reflected in his passion for boxing matches, outdoor sports, and war zones. While still a medical student, a very young Arthur shipped out for six months on an Arctic whaler, turning twenty-one just 600 miles from the North Pole. His diary of this 'dangerous work' makes irresistible reading, especially when annotated by two of the most knowledgeable Conan Doyle scholars alive. As a supplement, Jon Lellenberg and Daniel Stashower include four magnificent pieces of writing inspired by this youthful adventure: Conan Doyle's reflections on 'The Glamour of the Arctic' and 'Life on a Greenland Whaler, ' his most haunting ghost story, 'The Captain of the "Pole"s"tar", ' and one of the most dramatic of all Sherlock Holmes mysteries, 'The Adventure of Black Peter.' This is, in short, an important book for scholars, but also a tremendously exciting one for readers."--Michael Dirda, author of On Conan Doyle
--This text refers to an alternate
Hardcover
edition.
About the Author
Arthur Conan Doyle (1859 - 1930) was a British physician and writer, most noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes. He was a prolific writer whose other works include science fiction stories, historical novels, plays, romances, poetry, and non-fiction.
--This text refers to an alternate
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The most important of the many books recently sent me for review is certainly the long-awaited `"Dangerous Work": Diary of an Arctic Adventure' by Arthur Conan Doyle. The `adventure', of course, is Conan Doyle's six-month voyage as ship's surgeon on the Peterhead whaling ship Hope, and the contrast with 'The Narrative of John Smith', also edited by Jon Lellenberg & Daniel Stashower, could hardly be greater. `Dangerous Work' is a quite magnificent production, with the young medical student's journal reproduced page by page in full colour, the handwriting assured and clear throughout, and the drawings indicating that he might, had he dedicated himself to it, have made a name for himself as an illustrator, like his uncle and his grandfather. Following the facsimile is a transcript of the text, with annotations that genuinely enhance our appreciation of Conan Doyle's fascinating first-hand account of a dangerous, courageous and by then dying trade. This big beautiful volume concludes with four later works that were inspired by the author's experiences in the frozen ocean: two articles, `The Glamour of the Arctic' and `Life on a Greenland Whaler', an outstanding ghost story, `The Captain of the Pole Star', and a tale that needs no introduction, `The Adventure of Black Peter'. I really can't recommend `Dangerous Work' too highly.
By Gina
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Bought as a present and was told it was a very good read. Highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Arctic explorers.
By Jens Olesen
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I love the facsimile diary and the useful comments. Not to speak of the skilled writing by young A. Conan Doyle.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Unusual and delightfull
To have Doyle's own handwritten account, together with his pencil sketches, is far better than a transcription alone. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Jones the navigator
5.0 out of 5 stars
A brilliant early discovery...
An absolutely fabulous book. If you are in any way an Arthur Conan Doyle fan then I cannot recommend this book enough. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Catherine Benham
4.0 out of 5 stars
Family connection
My Grandma always told us that Arthur Conan Doyle sailed with her father, who was a whaler. Now we know that story is true and it was good to read of the conditions a great... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Anne James
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