SKU: 19527617304

Man Who Created Sherlock Holmes: The Life and Times of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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Man Who Created Sherlock Holmes: The Life and Times of Sir Arthur Conan DoyleThough Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's name is recognized the world over, for decades the man himself has been overshadowed by his better understood creation, Sherlock Holmes, who has become one of literature's most enduring characters. Based on thousands of previously unavailable documents, Andrew Lycett, author of the critically acclaimed biography Dylan Thomas, offers the first definitive biography of the baffling Conan Doyle, finally making sense of a

Though Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's name is recognized the world over, for decades the man himself has been overshadowed by his better understood creation, Sherlock Holmes, who has become one of literature's most enduring characters. Based on thousands of previously unavailable documents, Andrew Lycett, author of the critically acclaimed biography Dylan Thomas, offers the first definitive biography of the baffling Conan Doyle, finally making sense of a long-standing mystery: how the scientifically minded creator of the world's most rational detective himself succumbed to an avid belief in spiritualism, including communication with the dead.

Conan Doyle was a man of many contradictions. Always romantic, energetic, idealistic and upstanding, he could also be selfish and fool-hardy. Lycett assembles the many threads of Conan Doyle's life, including the lasting impact of his domineering mother and his wayward, alcoholic father; his affair with a younger woman while his wife lay dying; and his nearly fanatical pursuit of scientific data to prove and explain various supernatural phenomena. Lycett reveals the evolution of Conan Doyle's nature and ideas against the backdrop of his intense personal life, wider society and the intellectual ferment of his age. In response to the dramatic scientific and social transformations at the turn of the century, he rejected traditional religious faith in favor of psychics and s ances -- and in this way he embodied all of his late-Victorian, early-Edwardian era's ambivalence about the advance of science and the decline of religion.

The first biographer to gain access to Conan Doyle's newly released personal archive -- which includes correspondence, diaries, original manuscripts and more -- Lycett combines assiduous research with penetrating insight to offer the most comprehensive, lucid and sympathetic portrait yet of Conan Doyle's personal journey from student to doctor, from world-famous author to ardent spiritualist.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Free Press
Published: 11/18/2008
ISBN: 9780743275255
Pages: 557
Weight: 1.17lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.48w x 1.38d
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SKU: 19527617304

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Susan M. Kitchings
Lake Worth, US
★★★★★ 5
Good value
Size: Large
So far so good! Seems sturdy enough for my little guy. Good value for the price.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2026
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katie clenshaw
Lowell, US
★★★★★ 5
my dogs love these! their new constant companions!
When I first opened the box and saw these three octopuses, I thought they looked a little anemic, but looks can definitely be deceiving because my dogs love them. We try to be really careful about the toys we buy because one of my dogs swallowed a squeaker in the past and had to have surgery. Ever since then, we've been really mindful about what toys they have and making sure we're watching them when they play. I have to say these have been great. My dogs carry them everywhere. They take them outside, bring them back inside, and I've had to wash them multiple times because they are so loved and so well used. For some reason, my dog who is a constant chewer and destroyer of toys has not chewed through these. They feel relatively tough, especially considering how lightweight they are. They do have a squeaker inside, but they also have something crinkly in them that makes noise when the dogs are running around and playing with them. My dogs seem to love that. My dogs also look super cute running around with the octopus legs hanging out of their mouths. Fun product!
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Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2026
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Sabrina P.
Louisville, US
★★★★★ 5
Great toys for dogs
I received these octopus toys for my dog because he destroys stuffed toys almost immediately, and I liked that these were no stuffing. They ended up being a big hit right away. The squeakers kept him interested longer than most toys do, and he loves shaking the octopus legs around while playing. Since there’s no stuffing inside, I don’t have to worry about coming home to fluff all over the house, which has honestly been a huge plus. The toys are lightweight and easy for him to carry around, and they work well for toss and fetch too. I have a medium sized dog, but I could see these being fun for smaller or even larger dogs depending on how aggressive of a chewer they are. They seem decently durable for plush toys. Mine have held up better than expected considering how rough my dog can be with his toys. The stitching has stayed together pretty well so far. I also like that the pack comes with three because one is always getting hidden somewhere in the house. It’s nice having extras ready to go. These have definitely helped keep my dog entertained and busy, especially on days when we can’t spend as much time outside.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2026
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Amazon Customer
Omaha, US
★★★★★ 5
Durable Octopus Toys That Have Survived My Little Destroyer
Durable Octopus Toys That Have Survived My Little Destroyer These octopus dog toys have been a big hit with our Boston Terrier, who treats every toy like a personal mission to destroy it as quickly as possible. Surprisingly, these have held up really well so far. The toys arrived a little flattened and crinkled because they were packed into a fairly small box, but once opened they shaped up fine and still looked good. The material feels durable, and I like that there’s no stuffing inside to explode all over the house once the chewing begins. As expected, the squeakers only survived a few minutes, but honestly that’s normal in our house and not really a knock on the toy itself. The important part is the toys themselves have not been ripped apart yet, which is impressive for our aggressive little chewer. The colors are bright, the faces are funny, and the overall construction feels stronger than a lot of plush-style dog toys we’ve tried before. At the time of my review, these feel like a great value for a durable and entertaining 3-pack. Overall, a fun and surprisingly tough set of dog toys that have managed to survive longer than most in our house.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2026
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SLee
Carnegie, US
★★★★★ 4
No Foam, No Stuffing, No Mess. Just a Dog Toy that the Dog Loves
I received this product at no cost through the Amazon Vine program in exchange for my review. Our dog took to this right away, which is the most important review criterion as far as we are concerned. The crinkly noise is a big hit with him, consistent with similar toys we have given him in the past that he has gravitated toward. The standout practical feature for anyone tired of cleaning up after destructive chewers is the absence of foam or stuffing. If you have spent any time finding bits of foam or clumps of stuffing scattered under your furniture you will immediately appreciate this design choice. Less mess without sacrificing the sensory experience the dog is after. The long legs are also worth mentioning as a functional design element. Our dog clearly enjoys the feedback from shaking his toys and the legs deliver exactly that kind of satisfying resistance and movement. A well thought out toy that works for the dog and makes life a little easier for the owner. I do have a nagging concern about a generic/no name brand, but I do recognize that many if not all of the dog toys we have are also made in the same region and maybe even the same factory.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2026

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