Summary

Teller of Tales

the Life of Arthur Conan Doyle
More than 100 years have passed since the creation of Sherlock Holmes, perhaps the most famous fictional character of all time. but while the legendary detective lives on in the popular imagination, the man who created him is often overlooked and misunderstood. This ... biography examines the extraordinary life and strange contrasts of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the struggling provincial doctor who became the most popular storyteller of his age. From his youthful exploits aboard a whaling ship to his often stormy friendships with such figures as Harry Houdini and George Bernard Shaw, Sir Arthur lived a life as gripping as one of his own adventure stories. Exhaustively researched and elegantly written, 'Teller of Tales' sets aside many myths and misconceptions to present a vivid portrait of the man behind the legend of Baker Street, with a particular emphasis on the 'Psychic Crusade' that dominated Sir Arthur's final years. This biography is complimented by about a dozen black and white photographs, a bibliography, and an index - but it lacks endnotes.