Conan Doyle : the man who created Sherlock Holmes / Andrew Lycett.

Originally published: London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2007.

Two Irish Families -- Early years in Edinburgh 1859-1868 -- Stonyhurst and Feldkirch 1868-1876 -- Edinburgh university 1876-1881 -- On the road-Ireland, West Africa and Plymouth 1881-1882 -- Bush Villas, Portsmouth 1882-1883 -- Marriage and A study in scarlet 1884-1886 -- Discovery of spiritualism 1887-1888 -- Birth of a daughter 1889-1890 -- Vienna and London 1891-1892 -- Tennison Road, South Norwood 1892 -- Swiss interlude 1893-1894 -- America, Egypt and Undershaw 1894-1897 -- Jean Leckie 1897 -- Boer War and aftermath 1899-1901 -- The hound of Baskervilles to Louise's death 1901-1906 -- Edalji, second marriage and Windlesham 1907-1908 -- Pre-war: from Cornwall to Canada 1909-1914 -- First World War 1914-1918 -- Spiritualist mission 1919-1924 -- Bignell Wood and death 1925-1930.

Ground-breaking biography of the creator of fiction's best loved detective

Though Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's name is recognised the world over, for decades he was overshadowed by his creation, Sherlock Holmes - one of literature's most enduring characters.

Conan Doyle was a man of many contradictions. Romantic, energetic, idealistic and upstanding, he could also be selfish and foolhardy. Lycett assembles the many threads of Conan Doyle's life, including the lasting impact of his domineering mother and his alcoholic father; his affair with a younger woman while his wife lay dying; and his fanatical pursuit of scientific data to prove and explain various supernatural phenomena.

Lycett combines access to new material with assiduous research and penetrating insight to offer the most comprehensive, lucid and sympathetic portrait yet of Conan Doyle's personal journey from student to doctor, from world-famous author to ardent spiritualist.