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''Author and Sportsman'' is an interview of [[Arthur Conan Doyle]]  written by a journalist of [[The Argus]] (Melbourne, Australia) on 2 october 1920.


== Author and Sportsman ==
[[File:The-argus-1920-10-02-p20-author-and-sportsman.jpg|thumb|200px|right|[[The Argus]] (2 october 1920)]]

'''Sir A. Conan Doyle's Visit.'''

Can detective stories be literature?, [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]], the creator of [[Sherlock Holmes]], does not think so. <q>"The main thing,"</q> he said yesterday, chatting, at Menzies' Hotel after his arrival from Adelaide, <q>"is to make your detective as sharp as possible, and to get some genuity into the plots. The stories should be clear-cut, but always with certain reservations, so as to maintain the interest of the reader to the conclusion. There is not much room for literary style."</q>

Asked whether he had any favourites among his books. Sir Arthur named "[[The White Company]]" and "[[Sir Nigel]]." In these, he said, he hoped that he had caught the spirit of an early English period which had not been overworked by other novelists, <q>"I also enjoyed writing '[[Rodney Stone]],'" he added, "with its pictures of the bucks of the Regency."</q>

And its boxing episodes?

<q>"Yes, I had always taken an interest in boxing, though my own form in it was only fair. It is not generally known that I was asked referee the Johnson-Jeffries fight in America. I considered the proposal carefully, but I did not feel inclined to travel thousands of miles, and possibly to, have to face a hostile demonstration from the supporters of the beaten man, whichever it might be. During the war I refereed a large number of army contests, in which the feeling of the onlookers was always sport-manlike. I'm looking forward to seeing the football match to-morrow, and to studying the points of the Australian game".</q>

You still take an interest in cricket, too?

<q>"As far as possible. I was late in getting into first-class cricket — I had so many other things to think of - but in the only year I seriously gave to it I was rather proud of having a batting average of 38, and of having taken the wicket of the great W.G."</q>

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is a big, breezy man, grey haired and blue eyed, with an open-air look and a pleasant, friendly manner. This is his first visit to Australia, but his books arc very well known here.
Lady Doyle, who came into the flower adorned sitting-room for a few minutes, is a brunette, with dark bright eyes. <q>"I do not find much time for writing now,"</q> said [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle|Sir Arthur]], in reply to a question, <q>"but it is quite possible that I shall write some more stories. When I return from New Zealand I may give readings from my stories and novels. I have written the last volume of my war history. In treating of the war one of my chief aims was accuracy, and I travelled widely in the area of operations to ensure it. Before I left London there was some talk of making my history the 'interim official history' while the large official work was being prepared."</q>

The father and grandfather of [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]] were artists, and two of his uncles were "Dicky" Doyle, the celebrated "Punch" artist, and James Doyle, who wrote and illustrated in colours "The Chronicles of England." [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle|Sir Arthur]] was engaged in medical practice until his successes as an author caused him to take up definitely a literary career. His hooks make, a long list of historical, romantic, and modern novels, detective tales and other short stories, war histories, and miscellaneous writings.








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* [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle:Complete Works|Back to Complete Works]]
* [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle|Back to Conan Doyle]]