Birthday of Arthur Conan Doyle

The future writer grew up in a poor but educated family. His father was an artist and architect, but suffered from addiction to alcohol and could not provide for his family.  His mother was a terrific storyteller and knew a lot of stories and tales, the boy inherited her narrator’s talent.

Arthur showed his literary inclinations being a kid. Later, while studying at the college, he gathered crowds of students willing to listen to his stories. As a student at Edinburgh University he published several works.

In 1885 after graduating as a doctor, Conan Doyle decided to devote himself to literary work, and in five years he became a very famous writer. Publishers were ready to pay immodest fees for his brilliant detective stories.

Doyle participated in the Boer War and was knighted. He also took part in the hostilities of the World War I. Throughout the second half of the 1920s, the author travelled much, he visited all continents without interrupting active journalistic work.

Besides the famous stories of Sherlock Holmes, the outstanding novelist left a great literary heritage. He is the author of several historical novels, a series of science fiction, drama, poetry, philosophy and other works.

Doyle was married twice. From both marriages he had five children. Arthur Conan Doyle died on July 7, 1930 in Crowborough after a long illness. He was buried near his garden shed. At the request of the widow a tombstone was engraved with a knight's motto Steel true. Blade straight.