The Children of Well-known Men: Dr. Conan Doyle

From The Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia

The Children of Well-known Men: Dr. Conan Doyle is an article published in The Sketch on 26 april 1899.

The article presents Mary Louise Conan Doyle and Arthur Alleyne Kingsley Conan Doyle, the first two children of Arthur Conan Doyle.


The Children of Well-known Men: Dr. Conan Doyle

The Sketch (26 april 1899, p. 26)


Dr. Conan Doyle lives in a beautiful house on Hindhead. I wish he would not allow himself to be called "Dr.," although he is an M.D. of Edinburgh. Perhaps he is destined some day for knighthood, and that will settle the question of "Mr." and "Dr." He was educated at Stonyhurst and Edinburgh University, and he practised his profession at Southsea for eight years, between 1882 and 1890. Then he became one of the most successful authors of the day. I well remember the delight with which I read "Micah Clarke," and the equal delight with which I devoured "The White Company." As for "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes," they have made Mr. Doyle a world-wide reputation. Since Dickens, indeed, there has been no single character which has become so much a part of national life and national conversation. One never hears of a police mystery without sighing for a Sherlock Holmes to fathom it, and, indeed, Mr. Doyle's stories are so fascinating that one hopes even yet that the great detective may be brought back to life. Meanwhile, Mr. Doyle has produced many books, "Rodney Stone" and "A Tragedy of the Korosko" being two of the best. He has ventured into verse with his "Songs of Action," and he has been a successful playwright — witness his "Waterloo," in which Sir Henry Irving electrified us all. His most important drama, "Halves," was produced at Aberdeen the other day, and will doubtless soon find its way to London. His latest book, published by Mr. Grant Richards, is called "A Duet." It is outside his usual vein, and just now we are many of us engaged in calling each other names over it. The Doctor, it is understood, will persist in thinking more highly of it than many of his critics. Literary success has not in the least spoiled Conan Doyle ; he is one of the best of comrades — an enthusiastic golfer, cricketer, and cyclist. He never forgets that he is an Irishman, that he hails from the land of unattainable ideals, of fine feelings, of poetical imaginings, although his training has been very English and very Scotch. He is the nephew of the famous Richard Doyle, of Punch. Needless to add that he is the father of two charming children. One doubts not but that Mr. Doyle will write popular books for many a year to come, and that his children will always be as proud of him as his countrymen are — the Anglo-Celtic race, he prefers to call them.