I found this a fascinating book of a fascinating man. I was amazed at the number and variety of things Doyle had a hand in- studied and practiced medicine, went on a whaling expedition, helped popularize skiing, championed justice for those the law falsely condemned, ran for politics (even sharing the floor with Winston Churchill at one meeting), was a war correspondent, tried to get enlisted in every war in his lifetime including WWI when he was 50 years old, started his own militia, was a playwright, wrote historical fiction and military history, was one of the first people in England to drive a car or to get a speeding ticket, had interesting friends from Houdini to Oscar Wilde. And, of course, most bizzare of all, his never-ending crusade to convince people that you could contact the dead and that fairies were real.

Just reading about his life teaches you so much of the history of the times because he was involved in whatever was going on. He also comes across as a very likable person. I certainly didn't agree with everything nor like everything about him, but found his story more fascinating, with more twists and turns, than any adventure of Sherlock Holmes, whom, by the way, he resented. He wanted to be known for high literature, not some cheap detective stories. At one point he killed Sherlock Holmes off saying it was "justifiable homicide" because if he hadn't killed Sherlock, Sherlock would have killed him! I listened to this book on tape and the narrator did a great job with the voices. I was sad when it was over though I did learn more about spiritualism than I ever cared to know and could have done with a bit less of that, but I thought it was handled well and it was crucial to really knowing this man, so I can't complain.