History Extra podcast Sherlock Holmes: the real history that inspired the detective stories
Dec 27, 2023
Guest Andrew Lycett, a biographer of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, discusses the origins of Sherlock Holmes, including the influence of Conan Doyle's education and mentor, Dr. Joseph Bell. The podcast also explores Conan Doyle's transition from medicine to writing and the historical context of his work.
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Early Writing Breakthroughs
- Arthur Conan Doyle wrote A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of Four while balancing medical work and writing aspirations.
- He attended a Langham Hotel dinner with Oscar Wilde and later sold The Sign of Four to a magazine that raised his profile.
Strand's Serial Formula
- Strand magazine serialised separate Sherlock Holmes stories monthly rather than as cliffhanger instalments.
- Conan Doyle used Dr. John Watson as narrator to present Holmes's adventures to a middle-class commuting readership.
Quit Medicine For Writing
- Conan Doyle quit medicine by mid-1891 after Strand's success and pursued writing full-time.
- He still aimed to be a historical novelist and produced works like The White Company alongside Holmes stories.