The Doctor, the Detective and Arthur Conan Doyle

Review: This is, I think, the first major life of Conan Doyle since Pierre Nordon's (I except Owen Dudley Edwards's and Geoffrey Stavert's superb books, each of which covers just a part of the story).

Mr Booth's book isn't perfect: there are no notes to tell us the source of any particular statement, and there's quite a number of errors (Dame Jean's name is actually Jean Lena Annette, not Lena Jean Annette; her mother was Lady Conan Doyle, not Lady Jean). However, the author offers probably as much new material as anyone can until the family papers are made accessible, and he scrupulously distinguishes between fact and informed speculation. He's also careful to acknowledge the work of his predecessors where he makes use of it.

Mr Booth's writing is a touch academic but, thank heaven, readable, and he brings home to us again his subject's greatness and great humanity.

The Doctor, the Detective and Arthur Conan Doyle is a big, strong book (384 pages), and one that I recommend for all who love Sherlock Holmes and his creator.

Reviewed by: Roger Johnson, [District Messenger 172, 1997]