The Appeal of Sherlock Holmes

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The Appeal of Sherlock Holmes

The purpose of this assignment is to determine the appeal of Sherlock

Holmes, a fictional detective mastermind, first written by Sir Arthur

Conan Doyle in 1887.

Arthur Conan Doyle was in 1859 in Scotland, Edinburgh. Doyle's Irish

mother and English father sent him to be raised and educated at very

strict Jesuit schools Austria and Scotland.

It was not until the year 1876 that Arthur Conan Doyle arrived at

Edinburgh University with the passion of studying medicine in his

mind. It was during his stay at Edinburgh University that he met

Doctor Joseph Bell, one of the professors who taught him there. Doctor

Joseph Bell stunned and impressed his young students with his unique

ability to diagnose his patients' occupations and habits, as well as

their medical conditions through tell-tale signs and observations

which anybody else would dismiss as totally irrelevant. Anybody whom

has read any Sherlock Holmes book or short story would easily be able

to see a clear connection between the fictional Sherlock Holmes, and

the long-dead Doctor Joseph Bell. From this, we can certainly

speculate that Doctor Joseph Bell was a great source of inspiration to

Arthur Conan Doyle, as Doyle later patterned Holmes's methods of

deduction on those of Doctor Joseph Bell. We could also make a

reasonable guess that Arthur Conan Doyle greatly enjoyed his time at

Edinburgh University and his lessons with Doctor Joseph Bell in

particular.

In 1886, ten years after he was first taught in Edinburgh University,

Arthur Conan Doyle decided to create a thrilling detective novel. His

decision was sealed by the fact that all the prev...

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observational work. It is for his incredible skills of examination and

surveillance.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was not a brilliant writer, in his day or ours;

but he did create the most celebrated detective of all time. In fact,

Sherlock Holmes is so famous that even people who cannot read have

heard of him. The name of Sherlock Holmes has long since become a

modern synonym for detective. There is even a Sherlock Holmes Museum

in London! The fictional genius is so famous, that many who have not

read his works believe him to have been an actual living person.

Despite the fact that many have not read any of the four Holmes's

novels or any of the fifty-six short stories written by Sir Arthur

Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes is still the most famous detective of all

time, which is the final reason why he is so popular.

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