Part of the reason I like him so much is knowing what Sir Arthur Conan Doyle went through to create his more than famous character. That in and of itself would make a great book or movie! What you may not know is that Doyle used a real person as part of his character development! How cool is that?
Sherlock Holmes
At first glance, Sherlock Holmes and a medical lecturer might not seem to have much in common. After all, Holmes is perhaps the greatest fictional detective of all-time, and certainly the most famous. However, when you really stop to think about it, it makes sense that Holmes would be based on a medical doctor renowned for his keen observational skills and superior intelligence. That man was Dr. Joseph Bell, and he was a lecturer at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland in the 19th century.
Bell was an acquaintance of Holmes’ creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and in fact served as the doctor’s clerk at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. Bell was famous for being able to observe a man and instantly deduce things he could not possibly have known, which should like a familiar trait to anyone even loosely aware of Sherlock Holmes. Reportedly, Bell even advised the police in several investigations in Scotland, including the Ardlamont Mystery, and testified as an expert witness in the ensuing murder trial.
With inspiration like this, is it any wonder that Sherlock was such a great detective? I think not!
Thanks to everyone that made my day better by all the birthday wishes! I really appreciate it...a bunch!
Coffee out on the patio before the cold weather gets here! Anyone rather have hot chocolate?
