The Doctor and the Detective

Book excerpt: A biography attempts to separate the life of the Edinburgh doctor from his fictional consulting detective from London. This entertaining, smart biography of Arthur Conan Doyle presents a modern-day interpretation of the man who, contrary to his best efforts, will always be known as the creator of the great detective, Sherlock Holmes. Doyle was, however, much more, as Booth shows us in this intriguing study of a man who thrived on the times in which he lived. While Holmes fans will be captivated by the various tidbits that offer insight into their hero’s creation; others will be fascinated by this living embodiment of the Victorian masculine ideal. Praise for The Doctor and the Detective “If we wish to find our way to the essential man, we need look no further than this work.” —P.D. James, bestselling author of A Certain Justice “An attractive and well-written introduction to Conan Doyle’s body of work.” —Library Journal “Readers who think of Conan Doyle only as the man who created Sherlock Holmes will be surprised, and perhaps even shocked, by this comprehensive and fascinating biography.” —Booklist