Conversations with Arthur Conan Doyle

At the end of the 19th century perhaps every man wanted to be Arthur Conan Doyle. He had written historical novels short stories of horror and the supernatural; and displayed huge energy and talent in a variety of fields. He was a fine cricketer (he once took the wicket of the great WC Grace); played football rugby and golf. He practiced as a doctor; campaigned for underdogs introduced skis to Switzerland; and knew both Harry Houdini and Oscar Wilde. He was an adventurer a controversialist war reporter and knight of the realm. But most famously of all he had created Sherlock Holmes the worlds most famous detective based on his former medical professor Joseph Bell. All in all Doyle was a Boys Own dream.Yet for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle all such achievements paled into significance when set against his commitment to spiritualism. Although interested in the subject for many years he publicly converted to the cause around time of the First World War much to many peoples amazement: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has many striking characteristics wrote Ruth Brandon. He is gigantically tall and strong. He is a gifted story teller. He is a man of strong opinions and considerable political influence. But perhaps the most extraordinary thing about him is the combination of all the attributes of worldly success with an almost child-like literalness and credulity of mind manifested particularly in relation to spiritualism. Conversations with Conan Doyle is an imagined conversation with this remarkable figure. But while the conversation is imagined Doyles words are not; they are all authentically his. For many Conan Doyles commitment to spiritualism is an embarrassing aberration says Simon Parke. They want him to go back and just be the creator of Sherlock Holmes. But people dont fit into boxes and Doyle certainly doesnt! So I want people to meet the man hear him speak and then make up their own minds. Hes often passionate; but never dull.