Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle was born on May 22, 1859, in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Doyles were a prosperous Irish-Catholic family, who had a prominent position in the world of Art. Charles Altamont Doyle, Arthur's father, a chronic alcoholic, was the only member of his family, who apart from fathering a brilliant son, never accomplished anything of note. At the age of twenty-two, Charles had married Mary Foley, a vivacious and very well educated young woman of seventeen.

Arthur Conan Doyle is best remembered today as thecreator Of the world's most famous detective, SherlockHolmes. But he was much more than that. Apart from beinga popular and prolific author - his literary output includedhistorical novels, science fiction and histories of the Boer Warand the First World War - his passion for a wide range ofsubjects make him a colourful and intriguing character in hisown right.

Author's Preface

Early Recollections

Under the Jesuits

Recollections of a Student

Whaling in the Arctic Ocean

The Voyage to West Africa

My First Experiences in Practice

My Start at Southsea

My First Literary Success

Pulling up the Anchor

The Great Break

Sidelights on Sherlock Holmes

Norwood and Switzerland

Egypt in 1896

On the Edge of a Storm

An Interlude of Peace

The Start for South Africa

Days with the Army

Final Experiences in South Africa

An Appeal to the WorM's Opinion

My Political Adventures

Post- War Campaigns

The Years between the Wars

Some Notable People

Some Recollections of Sport

To the Rocky Mountains in 1914

The Eve of War

A Remembrance of the Dark Years

Experiences on the British Front

Experiences on the Italian Front

Experiences on the French Front

Breaking the Hindenburg Line

The Psychic Quest