Life Of Arthur Conan Doyle Essay Example For Students

Life Of Arthur Conan Doyle Essay Life of Sir Arthur Conan DoyleSir Arthur Conan Doyle, a British physician who later devoted his life to writing,has become one of the most popular and widespread authors and creators of all time. Doyles early childhood years to his later years in life have allowed him to observe manysophisticated yet adventurous paths, in which have inspired him greatly to become aninfluence on spiritualistic views as an author and crusader. His interests andachievements in medicine, politics, and spiritualism have allowed him to create theiridescent master detective of fiction, Sherlock Holmes. His creation of Sherlock Holmesin his mystery novels has brought him fame amongst many people, even so SherlockHolmes may be one of the most popular and recognized characters of English Literature. On May 22nd, 1859, Arthur Conan Doyle was born at Picardy Place, inEdinburgh, Scotland. His father, Charles, was an architect-clerk at the GovernmentOffice of Works in Edinburgh where he married Mary Foley in1855. Arthur had threesisters and one brother, with quite a large family occasionally times got hard as moneygrew scarce, fortunately his father sold paintings on the side to earn extra money (Jaffe3). When Arthur Doyle was seven years old he was sent to school and for two yearshe was toughened by the schoolmaster and his punishments of lacerations (Pearson 2). The schoolmaster wasnt the only thing that toughened him, he was also used to getting inquarrels with other children and became quite a fighter, especially if he saw a bullypicking on someone smaller and weaker (Pearson 3). Along with his ruggedcharacteristics, young Arthur loved to read. He found himself caught up in books ofaction and adventure, his favorite one being Scalp Hunters by Mayne Reid which he readnumerous times. Arthur was also somewhat interested in poetry and he showed it bylearning Macaulays Lay of Horatius by heart. At the age of nine, Arthur went to Hodderthe preparatory school for Stonyhurst College, which also was located in Edinburgh(Jaffe 8). On a journey to Preston, in Lancashire, he started to feel lonely andexperienced homesickness. When he arrived at Preston, he joined a group of other kidsand was driven the remaining twelve miles with a Jesuit, a follower of Jesus in RomanCatholicism. He stayed at Hodder for two years, where he was partially happy, then theFranco-German War had arisen and gave him something to dream about during hislessons. He would find himself daydreaming about fascinating adventures to escape hisregular days of studies which constantly bored him (Pearson 4). He then went on to Stonyhurst College, where he found himself suffering inclasses of Latin, Greek, and Algebra. Near the end of his life Arthur wrote I can saywith truth that my Latin and Greek have been little use to me in life, and that mymathematics have been no use at all.(Carr 10) Doyle may not have enjoyed Latin orAlgebra, on the other hand he seemed to pick up reading and writing skills automatically . The Jesuits who were guarding and keeping Doyle and the boys in order believed thatdry knowledge could only be absorbed with dry food, so the nourishment they receivedwas quite unappetizing (Jaffe 16). The discipline they received was pretty brutal,because if the demands for religion were unsatisfied, and if the young mens behavior wasnot well, the Jesuits applied a more encouraging correction. Doyle remembers thispunishment quite well, through his own experience, he describes it as the instrument ofcorrection, it was a piece of India-rubber of the shape and size of a thick boot sole.Oneblow of this instrument, delivered with intent, would cause the palm of the hand to swellup and change color. Arthur had wondered if any other boys had endured more of thebrutal punishment than he. Doyle wrote I went out of my way to do really mischievousand outrageous things simply to show that my spirit was unbroken. (Pearson 5) Duringhis stay at the college, Doyle wrote much verse that he though t was nothing but thisshowed to everyone else that he had a literary gift. He was also encouraged to tell storiesto the other boys sitting in a circle, his favorite stories talking about murders andmysteries, and he was able to captivate his audiences with his ability. Upon his last year,he edited the College magazine, and amazed everyone by taking honors in the LondonMatric before he left Stonyhurst at the age of sixteen (Carr 13). We will write a custom essay on Life Of Arthur Conan Doyle specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page One Of This Centurys Icons In Photography Henri-Cartier Bresson, Thou EssaySir Arthur Conan Doyle literary works have been fully influenced throughout hisentire life. From his early childhood of adventure and wonder, to his schooling atStonyhurst and Edinburgh, to all the people he has met, including the most important Dr. Bell who was later made into Sherlock Holmes in his writing. His unique ability tocreate a living character and also a living author as Dr. John H. Watson from which viewthe mysteries are told will leave him a permanent mark in English Literature. Works ConsultedCarr, John Dickson. The Life of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. New York: Harper ; Brothers, 1949. Costello, Peter. The Real World of Sherlock Holmes. New York: Carroll ; Graf Publishers Inc., 1991. Harrison, Michael. In the Footsteps of Sherlock Holmes. New York: Drake Publishers,1972. Higham, Charles. The Aventures of Conan Doyle. New York, Norton Publishers, 1976. Jaffe, Jacqueline A. Arthur Conan Doyle. Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1987. Keating, H.R.F. Sherlock Holmes/The Man and His World. New York: Charles Scribners Sons, 1979. Pearson, Hesketh. Conan Doyle/His Life and Art. New York: Taplinger Publishing Co.,1977. Rosenberg, Samuel. Naked is the Best Disguise:The Death and Ressurection of Sherlock Holmes. London: Arlington Books, 1975. Wood, James Playsted. The Man who Hated Sherlock Holmes; A Life of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. New York: Pantheon Books, 1965. Category: English