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Conan Doyle
Conan Doyle is best known for his creation of Sherlock Holmes, but he was much more than a facile populist writer, a symbol of the triumphalism of Edwardian England. He was also an ambitious man of letters, a searcher for political and theological truth, and a leader and shaper of opinion.
- GenresBiography
213 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1993
About the author
Michael Coren
40 books32 followersMichael Coren is an English-Canadian columnist, author, public speaker, radio host and television talk show host. He has been the host of the television series The Michael Coren Show for six years. He has also been a long-time radio personality, particularly on CFRB radio.
He has writen more than ten books, including biographies of H. G. Wells, Arthur Conan Doyle, and C. S. Lewis. His latest book, Why Catholics are Right, will be published in 2011.
He has writen more than ten books, including biographies of H. G. Wells, Arthur Conan Doyle, and C. S. Lewis. His latest book, Why Catholics are Right, will be published in 2011.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 16, 2018
This does everything a biography should do – it describes the life and work of its subject. Clearly and accessibly written, well-researched, balanced and fair. But, as another Goodreads reviewer puts it, it’s no more than serviceable. It’s a curiously flat account of a very interesting man and I never felt that I was really getting to know Conan Doyle in any meaningful way. For me personally, there was also too much detail about the Sherlock Holmes stories (as well as too many spoilers). If I want to know the plots, then I can read them for myself. And I also found the lengthy expositions about Conan Doyle’s spiritualist activities rather tedious. All in all, adequate but uninspiring.
January 11, 2013
A pleasant and short book on the famous writer. It is nice that the author focuses on other aspects of Conan Doyle’s life besides the Sherlock Holmes detective.
Conan Doyle had a prodigious output – several works of fiction and letters to various newspapers. His obsession with spiritualism included much travel and speaking engagements. But it is in Holmes’ that one finds the best of Arthur Conan Doyle – after all, who doesn’t like a good detective story or murder mystery? The Sherlock Holmes stories definitely occupy a memorable place in this genre. The stories are wonderful, concise and as Conan Doyle himself pointed out they are well-wrapped and self-contained. You may read one, or one hundred, and appreciate the mystery!
Also in this biography the decency of the man comes out. He worked hard, cared for his family and did not let fame get to his head – so unfortunately there are no hedonistic descriptions of opulent wealth or multiple affairs with young women in this biography.
Conan Doyle had a prodigious output – several works of fiction and letters to various newspapers. His obsession with spiritualism included much travel and speaking engagements. But it is in Holmes’ that one finds the best of Arthur Conan Doyle – after all, who doesn’t like a good detective story or murder mystery? The Sherlock Holmes stories definitely occupy a memorable place in this genre. The stories are wonderful, concise and as Conan Doyle himself pointed out they are well-wrapped and self-contained. You may read one, or one hundred, and appreciate the mystery!
Also in this biography the decency of the man comes out. He worked hard, cared for his family and did not let fame get to his head – so unfortunately there are no hedonistic descriptions of opulent wealth or multiple affairs with young women in this biography.
September 17, 2026
Picked this one up from my local whoodunit specialized indie bookstore alongside H.R.F. Keating's Sherlock Holmes: The Man and His Word
Which proved the perfect pairing. The biography of a man who found himself bound to and also tormented by his famed creation, a figure which slipped effortlessly between the persisting enigmas of fact and ficiton. These books represent not just complimentary interests, but seem necessary to gaining the fullest picture of what was a singular persona.
Part of my motivation into digging deeper into Doyle's life and career was having recently returned from a trip to England (which of course included a stop at the famed Baker strreet residence). Like all of the other literary voices which I visited, Doyle's life can only be truly understood when seen in conneciton to the whole. His writing, as was true for all of them, was a product of the robust dialogue these voices retained with one another. And it is the discourse he had with the great literary minds that surrounded him that remains his most fascinating characteristic, especially as it intersects with the shared interest of their time in that clash between the old and the new, convictions that sought to critique what was seen as the failed promises of modernsim against the backdrop of the world war.
Doyle's book begins with this very critique, an educated man (and doctor) whom found his life overturned by the reality of spiritual experience. This became his life's passion, eventually marrying the more generalized form of spiritualism that shaped his outlook with Catholicism. For Doyle, in a world where science had become the new God, his interest in science and facts could not make sense apart from his beliefs. These two things were not at odds, in fact the only truly rational course he could imagine, something that comes to light in his creation of Holmes, was coming to see these two things (the facts and the beliefs) as necessary parts of a whole.
This is the topic that charged the literary minds of this era. For example, you find the weighted dialogue between his friend and sparring partner in HG Wells, someone who's skepticism mirrored someone like Virginia Wollf, This becomes a fascinating window in Well's own restlessnes and and struggles with belief, specifically relating to a specific shared experience with Doyle that marked both resistance and reservation regarding how to make sense of things in light of the evidence.
Most compelling though is the witness of a man who's life was deeply committed to sense and facts and objective analysis. As the author argues, one can choose to dismiss his witness to the reality of the spiritual world out of hand, but there's no real easy rational for how a man so aware of the difference between truth and fiction, especially one who gave his life to the formulation of a persona who's life work rested on seeking this very thing, would have been so persuaded to take his experiences as seriously as he did outside of having good reason to do so. And indeed, the accounts that we have, which the author points out we are lucky enough to have unique access to given the ways in which he preserved the details his life in that era, seem to bear this out in their veracity.
The other interesting dynamic that parellels both the character of Holmes and the person of Doyle, was a lifelong experience of restlessness, which at times burdened him, while at others illuminated his sense of reality. He was constantly seeking, sometimes defeated, but incessantly wondering, all aspects instilled in him by his parents decision not to take the financial reward that came with the church's soliciting of young potential. They wanted to give Doyle the space to figure things out for himself, something Doyle says he was always grateful for. And that marked a life that the subcript labels a paradox. As it points out, a catholic who rejected religion, an atheist who embraces spiritualism, a family man who also invested himself in his affection for another woman, the father of Holmes who also wnated to see him dead.
All of that breathes layers into this enigma, making him both familiar and abstract, embodied and tanscendent. As one detail that I found intriguing, he formed a habit of creating his narratives and then handing them over to others to do what they want. Thus he would encounter them afresh when they finally saw the light of day, with a mix of fascination and disdain. Especially where the publics fascination with Holme's grew.
Fitting that Holme's biography would be told through the lens of Watson. As though it needed that secondary voice in order to distinguish him from his father. Perhaps this is true for all of us in some way when it comes to our own lives, our own creations.
Which proved the perfect pairing. The biography of a man who found himself bound to and also tormented by his famed creation, a figure which slipped effortlessly between the persisting enigmas of fact and ficiton. These books represent not just complimentary interests, but seem necessary to gaining the fullest picture of what was a singular persona.
Part of my motivation into digging deeper into Doyle's life and career was having recently returned from a trip to England (which of course included a stop at the famed Baker strreet residence). Like all of the other literary voices which I visited, Doyle's life can only be truly understood when seen in conneciton to the whole. His writing, as was true for all of them, was a product of the robust dialogue these voices retained with one another. And it is the discourse he had with the great literary minds that surrounded him that remains his most fascinating characteristic, especially as it intersects with the shared interest of their time in that clash between the old and the new, convictions that sought to critique what was seen as the failed promises of modernsim against the backdrop of the world war.
Doyle's book begins with this very critique, an educated man (and doctor) whom found his life overturned by the reality of spiritual experience. This became his life's passion, eventually marrying the more generalized form of spiritualism that shaped his outlook with Catholicism. For Doyle, in a world where science had become the new God, his interest in science and facts could not make sense apart from his beliefs. These two things were not at odds, in fact the only truly rational course he could imagine, something that comes to light in his creation of Holmes, was coming to see these two things (the facts and the beliefs) as necessary parts of a whole.
This is the topic that charged the literary minds of this era. For example, you find the weighted dialogue between his friend and sparring partner in HG Wells, someone who's skepticism mirrored someone like Virginia Wollf, This becomes a fascinating window in Well's own restlessnes and and struggles with belief, specifically relating to a specific shared experience with Doyle that marked both resistance and reservation regarding how to make sense of things in light of the evidence.
Most compelling though is the witness of a man who's life was deeply committed to sense and facts and objective analysis. As the author argues, one can choose to dismiss his witness to the reality of the spiritual world out of hand, but there's no real easy rational for how a man so aware of the difference between truth and fiction, especially one who gave his life to the formulation of a persona who's life work rested on seeking this very thing, would have been so persuaded to take his experiences as seriously as he did outside of having good reason to do so. And indeed, the accounts that we have, which the author points out we are lucky enough to have unique access to given the ways in which he preserved the details his life in that era, seem to bear this out in their veracity.
The other interesting dynamic that parellels both the character of Holmes and the person of Doyle, was a lifelong experience of restlessness, which at times burdened him, while at others illuminated his sense of reality. He was constantly seeking, sometimes defeated, but incessantly wondering, all aspects instilled in him by his parents decision not to take the financial reward that came with the church's soliciting of young potential. They wanted to give Doyle the space to figure things out for himself, something Doyle says he was always grateful for. And that marked a life that the subcript labels a paradox. As it points out, a catholic who rejected religion, an atheist who embraces spiritualism, a family man who also invested himself in his affection for another woman, the father of Holmes who also wnated to see him dead.
All of that breathes layers into this enigma, making him both familiar and abstract, embodied and tanscendent. As one detail that I found intriguing, he formed a habit of creating his narratives and then handing them over to others to do what they want. Thus he would encounter them afresh when they finally saw the light of day, with a mix of fascination and disdain. Especially where the publics fascination with Holme's grew.
Fitting that Holme's biography would be told through the lens of Watson. As though it needed that secondary voice in order to distinguish him from his father. Perhaps this is true for all of us in some way when it comes to our own lives, our own creations.
December 13, 2017
There were one or two interesting moments in this book..... which for me were less than enough. I didn't feel l was given any insights into the man's true mental state yet most of what is normally covered in biographies was present. I guess it all depends on what material is available and l was not so intetested in his stories, more his curious delusion, which while covered, was not done with much true energy. More on his friendship with Houdini would've been interesting.
December 31, 2024
I thought this started rather slowly and I thought it might be boring but as I went along I found I was learning some very interesting things about Conan Doyle. By the end I felt I had learned a lot of useful information. I was a Holmes afficionado but knew next to nothing of his spiritualism. It's amazing to see him arm in arm with Houdini.
October 17, 2015
After recently reading The Witch of Lime Street: Séance, Seduction, and Houdini in the Spirit World, I wanted to read a little more about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This biography seemed to fit the bill--it wasn’t too long and author Michael Coren said in his introduction that his book was a “biographical study”, not “an orthodox literary biography”. That suited me, since I was most interested in reading about Sir Arthur’s personal life and his interest in spiritualism. This book did indeed have quite a bit about those two topics, but also had quite a bit about Sir Arthur’s mystery books and other writings that were not about spiritualism. That was okay, though, but I did skim most of the parts about Sherlock Holmes.
Mr. Coren also mentioned in the book’s introduction a short video of Sir Arthur made in 1929, where he spends about five minutes talking about Sherlock Holmes and about five minutes discussing spiritualism. You can easily find this video online and watch it. It’s an interesting film, and quite funny when he discusses Sherlock Holmes; because he tells about letters he gets addressed to the great detective, by readers who obviously don’t know they are writing to a fictional character. Many are from women asking Mr. Holmes if he needs a housekeeper.
Back to the book, however . . . Mr. Coren does a good job describing Arthur Conan Doyle’s childhood in Scotland; education, including in a Jesuit school; trips to many countries; family life, both as a child and as an adult; writings, both fiction and nonfiction; speeches on about everything; involvement in political and social issues; interest in all types of sports; years as a doctor, including during the Boar War; intense interest in spiritualism; and final years before his death in the summer of 1930, at the age of 71. There was less in the book about spiritualism than I wanted, but maybe that was for the best. Sir Arthur was such an intelligent and accomplished man, and it seemed so odd he seemed so gullible about certain aspects of spiritualism, such as mediumship and “psychic pictures”, like the fairy ones.
Personally, I think he was concentrating on the wrong metaphysical topic. I think he would have been far better off studying and thinking about reincarnation, instead of trying to talk to the dead. That could have both satisfied his need to believe in the existence of an afterlife, as well as his interest in history, including making sense of the oncoming war he so correctly feared was going to happen. Moreover, just looking at, listening to and reading about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle makes me think there was a man who had lived many times before. A man who had acquired much knowledge and experience during those lifetimes, which is why he was such an accomplished man in his lifetime as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
(Note: I received a free e-copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)
Mr. Coren also mentioned in the book’s introduction a short video of Sir Arthur made in 1929, where he spends about five minutes talking about Sherlock Holmes and about five minutes discussing spiritualism. You can easily find this video online and watch it. It’s an interesting film, and quite funny when he discusses Sherlock Holmes; because he tells about letters he gets addressed to the great detective, by readers who obviously don’t know they are writing to a fictional character. Many are from women asking Mr. Holmes if he needs a housekeeper.
Back to the book, however . . . Mr. Coren does a good job describing Arthur Conan Doyle’s childhood in Scotland; education, including in a Jesuit school; trips to many countries; family life, both as a child and as an adult; writings, both fiction and nonfiction; speeches on about everything; involvement in political and social issues; interest in all types of sports; years as a doctor, including during the Boar War; intense interest in spiritualism; and final years before his death in the summer of 1930, at the age of 71. There was less in the book about spiritualism than I wanted, but maybe that was for the best. Sir Arthur was such an intelligent and accomplished man, and it seemed so odd he seemed so gullible about certain aspects of spiritualism, such as mediumship and “psychic pictures”, like the fairy ones.
Personally, I think he was concentrating on the wrong metaphysical topic. I think he would have been far better off studying and thinking about reincarnation, instead of trying to talk to the dead. That could have both satisfied his need to believe in the existence of an afterlife, as well as his interest in history, including making sense of the oncoming war he so correctly feared was going to happen. Moreover, just looking at, listening to and reading about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle makes me think there was a man who had lived many times before. A man who had acquired much knowledge and experience during those lifetimes, which is why he was such an accomplished man in his lifetime as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
(Note: I received a free e-copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)
November 7, 2009
On December 24, 1974, my Uncle Dean gave me a copy of the Complete Sherlock Holmes; I have read the entire book cover to cover twice, many of the complete volumes contained withing several times, and many of the individual stories dozens of times. I'm not a "Sherlockian," but Conan Doyle is the author I have most consistently read for pleasure since the that fateful Christmas day. I found myself, after reading one of his tales over the lunch hour, wanting to know more about the author.
I'd already known a bit--I had spent some time in Portsmouth, where Doyle first started his medical practice and where he first created Holmes, and I'd picked up some detail from that part of his life. And when I've been in London, I've made the pilgrimage to Baker Street, Holmes' residents, more than once.
The book is serviceable; it jibes with what I know of the author's life, it does a good job of framing the man in the context of his age, and one gets a sense of who Doyle was, his relationship to other public figures, and his bravery in taking unpopular stands when he saw a wrong. It also delves into spiritualism, which was, according to Coren, the most important thing in Doyle's life, especially toward the end. If my son had died during war, I imagine I might have been desperate to make contact with him "on the other side." I fervently pray I never have to find out what I would do in such a circumstance.
I found out less about the works themselves than I would have liked, about the way Doyle wrote, influences on stories, and about the creative process. I'm very aware that this might be boring to many people, and that the lack of it might recommend this biography very highly to some.
As I said, if one is interested in Doyle's life, the book is worth reading. I certainly learned more about the man, and I want to read beyond the Holmes stories. But I find myself wanting to read another biography on the topic some time, one that delves more into the author's manner of writing.
I'd already known a bit--I had spent some time in Portsmouth, where Doyle first started his medical practice and where he first created Holmes, and I'd picked up some detail from that part of his life. And when I've been in London, I've made the pilgrimage to Baker Street, Holmes' residents, more than once.
The book is serviceable; it jibes with what I know of the author's life, it does a good job of framing the man in the context of his age, and one gets a sense of who Doyle was, his relationship to other public figures, and his bravery in taking unpopular stands when he saw a wrong. It also delves into spiritualism, which was, according to Coren, the most important thing in Doyle's life, especially toward the end. If my son had died during war, I imagine I might have been desperate to make contact with him "on the other side." I fervently pray I never have to find out what I would do in such a circumstance.
I found out less about the works themselves than I would have liked, about the way Doyle wrote, influences on stories, and about the creative process. I'm very aware that this might be boring to many people, and that the lack of it might recommend this biography very highly to some.
As I said, if one is interested in Doyle's life, the book is worth reading. I certainly learned more about the man, and I want to read beyond the Holmes stories. But I find myself wanting to read another biography on the topic some time, one that delves more into the author's manner of writing.
February 16, 2017
An enjoyable read
I am a huge Sherlock Holmes fan, and I am also curious about books written about Doyle. I would rather have scored this book a 3.5 vs a 4 because nothing big jumped out at me. There are a few items that were new to me. The book was not a waste of my time, and yes I would recommend it to someone who is interested in the true man behind the myth. I would also suggest this bio is appropriate for young adults. On to more work about Holmes or his creator.
I am a huge Sherlock Holmes fan, and I am also curious about books written about Doyle. I would rather have scored this book a 3.5 vs a 4 because nothing big jumped out at me. There are a few items that were new to me. The book was not a waste of my time, and yes I would recommend it to someone who is interested in the true man behind the myth. I would also suggest this bio is appropriate for young adults. On to more work about Holmes or his creator.
October 15, 2015
The Life of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle by Michael Coren is a good introduction to the man behind Sherlock Holmes. It is a brief biography that is cogent, succinct, accessible, and complete.
The preface states this is not a literary biography, but he does an admirable job covering Doyle's literary achievements from conception to public response. We learn about the men who inspired his characters and how he came to write The Hound of the Baskervilles.
Doyle's life is more adventurous and passionate than one would have supposed. He was a vital man who enjoyed challenging sports. Bored with his medical studies he signed up on a whaling expedition to the Arctic before he'd completed his degree. He had trouble establishing his medical career and tried his hand at writing stories. He discovered a facility in story-telling that was salable. Coren notes Doyle's strengths and weaknesses as an author.
Doyle was a champion of causes. Although a conservative, some of his causes were remarkably forward thinking such as his work toward fair divorce laws for women. He himself never considered divorcing his own wife when he fell in love with another woman; Doyle gave his ailing wife constant and loyal support, marrying the woman he loved after her death. Raised Catholic he later rejected religion but became deeply interested in spiritualism.
It is interesting to learn that in his later life he himself was involved with solving several crime cases.
The biography is a nice introduction to the whole man.
I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a a fair and unbiased review.
The preface states this is not a literary biography, but he does an admirable job covering Doyle's literary achievements from conception to public response. We learn about the men who inspired his characters and how he came to write The Hound of the Baskervilles.
Doyle's life is more adventurous and passionate than one would have supposed. He was a vital man who enjoyed challenging sports. Bored with his medical studies he signed up on a whaling expedition to the Arctic before he'd completed his degree. He had trouble establishing his medical career and tried his hand at writing stories. He discovered a facility in story-telling that was salable. Coren notes Doyle's strengths and weaknesses as an author.
Doyle was a champion of causes. Although a conservative, some of his causes were remarkably forward thinking such as his work toward fair divorce laws for women. He himself never considered divorcing his own wife when he fell in love with another woman; Doyle gave his ailing wife constant and loyal support, marrying the woman he loved after her death. Raised Catholic he later rejected religion but became deeply interested in spiritualism.
It is interesting to learn that in his later life he himself was involved with solving several crime cases.
The biography is a nice introduction to the whole man.
I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a a fair and unbiased review.
November 1, 2016
Doyle
A very insightful, well written biography of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Full of details I had never heard of before. Really, an amazing good read!
A very insightful, well written biography of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Full of details I had never heard of before. Really, an amazing good read!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews