First published 2011
This debut novel reveals the early creative mind of a young Arthur Conan Doyle, written in 1883 when he was only 23 years old. Living in Portsmouth and working to build his medical practice, Doyle crafted this story while balancing his dual ambitions as both physician and writer. The manuscript remained unpublished for over a century, making its eventual release in 2011 a significant literary discovery. The work provides readers with direct access to the developing imagination that would later create the world's most famous detective. Written during Doyle's formative years, the novel captures his voice before fame shaped his style, offering insights into the creative processes that preceded his legendary Sherlock Holmes stories.
Genres: classic-literature, 20th-century, adventure, biographical-fiction, 21st-century, 19th-century
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Portsmouth
Period: 1883
144 pages · Hardcover · British Library