The Real World of Sherlock Holmes

by Peter Costello

This book details how Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the doctor, became a detective writer. It draws on his education by Dr. Joseph Bell in Edinburgh University on how to observe and reason on even the smallest details when considering physical evidence of a possible crime. Through real life events, crimes and celebrated murders, we learn that Doyle was more like Sherlock Holmes in his methods and observations, and that he was at times, very much a real private detective. This is a fascinating case book on crimes and causes, for Doyle was always looking to help those who needed help. The last fifteen years of his life were spent on investigation and vigorous support of the spiritualist movement, but this did not entirely take away his interest in the various fields of criminology. Some of the major crimes of the early 20th Century are also discussed, and Doyle's observations are interesting to read.