Through the Magic Door

by Arthur Conan Doyle

Overview

Best known now for his Sherlock Holmes stories, Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930) was also an astute and entertaining critic. In this collection of essays first published in 1907, he takes the reader on a tour of his own bookshelf and explores an eccentric range of topics, from the unreasonable opinions of Samuel Johnson to the deficiencies of Ivanhoe and the fascination of Treasure Island. While the importance of deep, intellectual reading is emphasised throughout, across an impressive scope of scientific and literary subjects, Conan Doyle is also firm in his belief that popular fiction is vital and that creativity should not be restricted by strict fact. Including sixteen illustrations, twelve essays and a full index, this book presents reading as a form of unlimited escape, a stance still at the heart of literary debate today, and will interest students of literary theory and the general reader alike.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781108044059
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	03/08/2012
Series:	Cambridge Library Collection - Literary Studies
Pages:	316
Product dimensions:	5.51(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.71(d)

About the Author

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (22 May 1859- 7 July 1930) was both a writer and physician; and is best known for his fictional works about detective Sherlock Homes. Sir Doyle was born in Edinburgh, Scotland from English and Irish descent. During his lifetime he married twice and fathered five children. He pursued an independent medical practice, an opthomology practice, ran for political office and personally investigated 2 cases that resulted in the exoneration of the accused. In his 50's, Sir Doyle explored spiritualism and the concepts of eternal life and the true essence of life. During this time he wrote several works: The Land of Mist, The Coming of the Fairies and The History of Spiritualism.

Date of Birth:

May 22, 1859

Date of Death:

July 7, 1930

Place of Birth:

Edinburgh, Scotland

Place of Death:

Crowborough, Sussex, England

Education:

Edinburgh University, B.M., 1881; M.D., 1885

Table of Contents

Through the magic door; Index.