The Original Illustrated Sherlock Holmes
Arthur Conan Doyle was born in Edinburgh in 1859. After a rigorous Jesuit education he trained to become a doctor at Edinburgh University. Eventually he set up in medical practice in Southsea, and during the quiet spells between patients he turned his hand to writing.  Although Sherlock Holmes was Doyle's greatest creation, he was more proud of his historical novels such as Micah Clarke and Sir Nigel. Towards the end of his life he devoted much of his time to his belief in spiritualism, using his writings as a means of providing funds to enable him to carry out activities in this field.  He died in 1930.