ConanDoyleandHisAchievementsArthurConanDoyle(1859—1930)wasthemostsuccessfulcontemporaryofStevenson.Hedidnotinventthedetectivenovel.TherewerealreadydetectivesinthenovelsofDickens,Collins,andPoe.EvenwithoutSherlockHolmesDoylewouldstillholdahighplaceintheliteratureofadventurestoriesandhistoricalromance.Hehimselfwishedtoberememberedbyhishistoricalromances,andheproducedtwomasterpiecesinthisgenre,MicahClarke(1889)andTheWhiteCompany(1881).HewaspractisingasaphysicianwhenhewroteAStudyinScarlet(1887),whichcombinedCollins’techniqueofthemysterystorywiththesprightlystyleofTheNewArabianNights(1882)byStevenson,andinwhichSherlockHolmes,thefirstprivateconsultingdetectiveinEnglishliterature,madehisfirstappearance.InFrance,ErnileGaboriauhadcreatedanenergeticprofessionaldetective,M.Lecoq,apparentlybasedontheactualdetectiveVidocqwhoseMemoirshadbeenpublishedin1824.Doyle’sdetectiveSherlockHolmeswasmodeledupononeofhismedicalprofessorsatEdinburghUniversity,whohadfascinatedthestudentswithhispowersofinduction.ThefirstappearanceofHolmesinAStudyinScarletcreatedlittlestiramongreaders,butthesecond,inTheSignofFour,hadmorepopularsuccess.ButitwasnotuntilTheAdventuresofSherlockHolmesbeganappearingmonthbymonthinTheStrandMagazinein1891thatSherlockHolmestookthepublicbystorm.Eachofthemonthlyissuesincludedacompletestorywiththesamechiefcharactersinsteadofasinglefull-lengthstorycutintomonthlyparts.Doylefoundthattheformofshortstorysuitedhimwell,providingvariety,suspense,andsurprisewhileretainingthecentralcharactersofHolmesandDr.Watson,andthenowfamiliarquartersat221ABakerStreet.ButhewasinahastetofinishwithHolmessothathecouldwritehisfavourite用心爱心专心romance,sointhelasttaleofMemoirsofSherlockHolmes(1892),Doylemadethedetectivemeetwithaspectaculardeath.HoweverthepubliclovedHolmessomuchandprotestedsovehementlythatDoylewasforcedtogivein,andtobringHolmestolifeagain.Butthefinalvolumeoftheseriesdidnotcomeoutuntil1927.Fewfictitiouscharactershaveeverassumedsuchalivingidentityinthemindsofcountlessreaders.用心爱心专心
