Arthur Conan Doyle is best remembered today as the creator of the world's most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes. But he was much more than that. Apart from being a popular and prolific author - his literary output included historical novels, science fiction and histories of the Boer War and the First World War - his passion for a wide range of subjects make him a colourful and fascinating character in his own right. He was an early champion of the Channel Tunnel, he played cricket for the MCC, was a staunch advocate of Spiritualism, introduced cross country skiing to Switzerland and he was acquainted with many of the notable public figures of the late Victorian and Edwardian period. His fascinating account of his life is a wonderful record of a unique individual. This volume has the added bonus of a perceptive and illuminating introduction by David Stuart Davies who throws some light into the darker areas of Conan Doyle's life.
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Learn more. |
Book Description
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
First Sentence
I was born on May 22, 1859, at Picardy Place, Edinburgh, so named because in old days a colony of French Huguenots had settled there. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
I was born on May 22, 1859, at Picardy Place, Edinburgh, so named because in old days a colony of French Huguenots had settled there. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's autobiography gives a fascinating insight into his life and career and is worth reading for any student of his life.
However, like anyone writing about themselves, Doyle tends to avoid discussing those parts of his life about which he is uncomfortable. Consequently he does not devote much time to his Holmes works which he considered less worthy than other parts of his life. For the reader however, Holmes is undoubtedly of significant interest. The book also contains the odd inaccuracy. For example, in discussing his brief turn as an eye specialist, Doyle gives us the incorrect address for where his practice was located.
So, in short, this book is worth buying for Doyle's personal perspective on his life but if you want more detail on Holmes and other areas of his life you would do better to purchase one of the many excellent biographies.
However, like anyone writing about themselves, Doyle tends to avoid discussing those parts of his life about which he is uncomfortable. Consequently he does not devote much time to his Holmes works which he considered less worthy than other parts of his life. For the reader however, Holmes is undoubtedly of significant interest. The book also contains the odd inaccuracy. For example, in discussing his brief turn as an eye specialist, Doyle gives us the incorrect address for where his practice was located.
So, in short, this book is worth buying for Doyle's personal perspective on his life but if you want more detail on Holmes and other areas of his life you would do better to purchase one of the many excellent biographies.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars
You don't receive the book you ordered because of an Amazon cataloguing error
14 Jan 2013
By M. Wood
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've told Amazon about this several times now. But nothing seems to get done about it. When you order this book, you receive instead a complete and unabridged version of three books that are three collections of Sherlock Holmes stories. In effect, you receive a complete set of every sherlock holmes story that Doyle ever wrote. Which is a nice book. BUT it's not his autobiography!!!!! The two booksellers that I tried ordering this from both put the wrong sticker on the wrong book...... Like I say I HAVE informed Amazon of this cataloguing error but my feedback fell on completely deaf ears. So if you want to buy his autobiography, you're out of luck with Amazon...... And if you DO find a stockist, please let me know as I would dearly love to own a copy of the book pictured here!!!
I have now bought A Life in Letters, which I can recommend. I don't recommend this one though.
I have now bought A Life in Letters, which I can recommend. I don't recommend this one though.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Dracfrank
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I too have had the experience of ordering the Conan Doyle Autobiography and receiving instead a collection of Sherlock Holmes stories, all of which I already have.
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Biography > Novelists, Poets & Playwrights > Playwrights
- Books > Biography > Novelists, Poets & Playwrights > Poets
- Books > Biography > True Crime
- Books > Crime, Thrillers & Mystery > Mystery
- Books > Crime, Thrillers & Mystery > Thrillers
- Books > Poetry, Drama & Criticism > History & Criticism
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
