Sherlock Holmes Case Series - World Literature Library

Author: Conan Doyle
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: The author, Conan Doyle (1859–1930), is hailed as the "Father of English Detective Fiction" and remains one of the world's best-selling detective novelists to this day. He studied at the University of Edinburgh Medical School in his youth, graduated and practiced medicine, and developed an interest in detective stories during his spare time, beginning to try his hand at writing. His first detective novel, A Study in Scarlet, after several twists and turns, was finally published, marking the beginning of his writing career. Two years later, he published The Sign of Four, which became a sensation. He then abandoned medicine for literature in 1891, becoming a full-time detective fiction writer. Thereafter, his creativity knew no bounds, and he wrote a series of brilliant detective stories, such as The Adventure of the Priory School, The Red-Headed League, and The Five Orange Pips. Within a few short years, Doyle's fame soared, and his financial situation greatly improved. Thus, in 1894, he decided to hang up his pen, allowing Holmes to die in a struggle while falling off a cliff in the novel The Final Problem. Unbeknownst to him, his readers were deeply dissatisfied with this ending, even to the point of anger. They had grown accustomed to regularly reading Holmes' detective stories and couldn't believe that such a brilliant detective would die in such a manner. The readers' protests moved Doyle deeply and inspired him. In response to their fervent wishes, he picked up his pen once again, conceived a new case, and brought Holmes back to life in The Hound of the Baskervilles, satisfying his readers. Subsequently, he wrote a series of works such as The Return of Sherlock Holmes, The Valley of Fear, The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, and His Last Bow. By 1929, all of his detective stories were compiled into The Complete Sherlock Holmes (volumes 1 and 2) and published in the UK. The following year, on July 7, Conan Doyle passed away at the age of 71.