Like Moriarty, the Sherlockian Holmepage sits in the centre of the Web. This page is maintained by Chris Redmond, author of A Sherlock Holmes Handbook and other Sherlockian books, through the facilities of the University of Waterloo and Mygale.
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Canadian Holmes: The First 25 Years is a fat anthology of
Sherlockian writing edited by Chris Redmond, who was editor of
the Bootmakers' magazine, Canadian Holmes, for most of that
quarter-century. Published by Calabash Press, it's available
postpaid for $54.75 Canadian, $42.70 US (surface mail) or $44
US (air mail) -- enquire abouts prices for overseas
shipping. Calabash Press (e-mail
ashtree@mail.netshop.net)
accepts Visa and MasterCard for mail orders.
![[Portrait of ACD]](http://watserv1.uwaterloo.ca/~credmond/gifs/acd.jpg)
Born 22 May 1859 in Edinburgh, capital of Scotland. Medical degree
from the
University of Edinburgh; practised as a doctor briefly. First
short story published
1879 (not about Sherlock Holmes); first novel, 1887, A Study
in Scarlet, appeared in Beeton's Christmas Annual.
Author of more than 50 books, including historical novels (most famous The White Company), science fiction (The Lost Worl d and other novels of Professor Challenger), domestic comedy, seafaring adventure, the supernatural, poetry, military history, many other subjects.
In 1893, "killed" Sherlock Holmes by reporting his apparent death in "The Final Problem", last story of The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. He wanted to devote time and attention to his "more serious" writings. Holmes was briefly brought back in The Hound of the Baskervilles, 1901, then revived in "The Empty House", 1903, and subsequent tales.
Knighted ("Sir Arthur") 1902 for his work in war propaganda (particularly the pamphlet The War in South Africa: Its Cause and Conduct) -- and, some said, because of the publication of The Hound of the Baskervilles.
Life-long interest in psychic matters led him to acknowledge Spiritualism as his faith; spent the years from 1918 to his death (7 July 1930) preaching Spiritualism around the world and writing books and pamphlets in support of it (The New Revelation, 1918). Principal beliefs included the survival of personality after death and the possibility of communication (through mediums) between this world and the next. He was badly taken in by the Cottingley fairy hoax of 1920 (see Ghosts on Film, Smithsonian -- the subject of the new movie "Fairy Tale").
Constant writer of letters to the editor and crusader for social reforms. Of special interest: criminal justice (he took a personal role in the George Edalji and Oscar Slater cases), military strategy (though he never served in the armed forces), public health, sports (cricket, boxing, Olympics), divorce law reform, Belgian exploitation of the Congo. Twice ran unsuccessfully for Parliament.
Standard biography: John Dickson Carr, The Life of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 1947. Recent and comprehensive: Martin Booth, The Doctor, the Detective & Arthur Conan Doyle, a Biography of Arthur Conan Doyle, 1997.
The Arthur Conan Doyle Society web site includes a chronology of ACD's life as well as extensive other information.
Copyright: Expired in Canada since 1980. Expired 1980 in the United Kingdom, but under European Law some copyrights may be in effect once again until 2000. In the United States, copyrights are expiring gradually on the 75th anniversary of first publication. (Sherlock Holmes remaining in copyright: now only The Case Book.)
Dozens of "scion societies" across the United States, and kindred societies in other countries. List of addresses maintained by Peter E. Blau, 3900 Tunlaw Road NW, Washington, DC 20007, e-mail pblau@capaccess.org.
Leading publication: The Baker Street Journal, quarterly, annual subscription $18.95 in the United States, $21.50 elsewhere, from The Baker Street Journal, PO Box 465, Hanover, Pennsylvania 17331.
![[Artwork by Nis Jessen]](gifs/jessen.jpg)
