This was exactly what I was looking for, a comprehensive biography of Arthur Conan Doyle that put his writings in a larger personal context. Stashower's style is accessible and straightforward (though better documentation would've been preferable), and I appreciated the numerous quotes that allowed the individuals to speak for themselves. Stashower makes no apologies for Doyle, but he tries to remain balanced, even sympathetic, even in the most trying of circumstances (Doyle's crusade for Spiritualism and interlude with the Fairies, for example). The portrait that emerges is a fascinating one of a man who somehow managed to be an exemplar of his time while also at times either looking well beyond it or lagging far behind it. Conan Doyle's sense of chivalry, desire for a cause to champion, and love/hate relationship with his creation Sherlock Holmes receive in-depth treatment, as do the many luminaries with whom Conan Doyle had lasting relationships (from J.M. Barrie to George Bernard Shaw to Harry Houdini). An analysis of Conan Doyle's autobiographical and semi-autobiographical writings, including fiction, round out the biography. This book won the 1999 Edgar (Allan Poe) Award for Best Biographical Work, and it's easy to see why. It's not a perfect study, but I'm definitely glad I read it, and I know it will inform my future readings of Conan Doyle's works in a very helpful way.