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No Better Place
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Earlier books
An Entirely New Country
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The Norwood Author
There must be more biographical studies of Arthur Conan Doyle than of any other popular writer of his time - and by `popular' I mean that people read his work because they want to, not because they have to. Besides fifteen or more biographies there are books devoted to his spiritualist mission, to his campaigns against injustice, and to specific periods of his life. His upbringing in Edinburgh, his years in Southsea, his connection with Devon have all merited volumes of more or less depth. Now, from the industrious Alistair Duncan, comes The Norwood Author: Arthur Conan Doyle & the Norwood Years (1891-1894). Conan Doyle's time in South Norwood has been largely neglected by the major biographers, even though it was then that he became truly famous, thanks to The Strand Magazine and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. He travelled extensively during those three years, but, as Mr Duncan has discovered, he did throw himself into local affairs as well, quickly becoming active in the Upper Norwood Literary & Scientific Society and Norwood Cricket Club. He also, no less significantly, joined the Society for Psychical Research. Alistair Duncan is one of a distinguished little group whose work takes us just a little closer towards a complete portrait of the man who created Sherlock Holmes. He writes well, too. I'm delighted to recommend his book.
Roger Johnson (Sherlock Holmes Society of London)
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Roger Johnson (Sherlock Holmes Society of London)
Close to Holmes
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Eliminate the Impossible
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