The Armitstead Lectures
The Armitstead Lectures is an article published in The Dundee Advertiser on 20 november 1893.
The Armitstead Lectures
The third of the Armitstead Lectures will be given on Friday evening, when Dr A. Conan Doyle will lecture on "Facts about Fiction," with illustrative readings. This should prove one of the most interesting lectures of this excellent course. Conan Doyle's success has been one of the remarkable episodes in modern literature. Ten years ago he was practically unknown, now we doubt if there is a more famous litterateur in Britain. Scotland can claim Arthur Conan Doyle as one of her sons. He was born in Edinburgh in 1849. Several of his forefathers were well know in art and letters, his grandfather being John Doyle, the well-known caricaturist. John Doyle had four sons — James, Henry, Richard, and Charles. James Doyle was the author of "The Chronicles of England," "The Baronage of England," and other works; Henry Doyle was a C.B., and was Governor of the National Gallery in Ireland; while Richard Doyle was long connected with the artistic staff of Punch. Charles Doyle, Conan Doyle's father, was also a well-known artist, and held a Civil Service appointment. Dr Conan Doyle was educated at Stonyhurst and at Feldkirch, Germany. On returning to Scotland be entered Edinburgh University as a medical student in 1876. Five years later he took his M.B. degree. But, although he was successful in his medical studies, his heart was not in the work, and he sedulously kept up the study of literature, in which he was determined to succeed. In 1878 "The Mystery of the Sassassa Valley" appeared in Chambers's Journal, but he could not support life on the pittances his literary work brought him, and he had to continue his medical work. He obtained a post as surgeon in the Mercantile Marine service, and visited the Arctic regions in this capacity. The result of these voyages was embodied in a powerful story entitled "The Captain of the Pole-Star." which appeared in Temple Bar, and was subsequently published in book form along with several short stories. Leaving the naval service, he took up a situation as a medical practitioner in Southsea in 1882, and during his residence there wrote short stories and sketches for many of the London magazines. In 1885 Dr Doyle married Miss Louise Hawkins of Minsterworth, Gloucester, and has two children. In 1886 his story, "A Study in Scarlet," was published in "Beeton's Annual," and afterwards appeared in book form. "Micah Clarke" (considered by many to be his best work) was issued soon afterwards, and speedily became very popular, going through 12 editions. Then came "The Sign of Four" and "The Firm of Girdlestone." In 1891 Dr Doyle, finding that his medical practice interfered with his literary work, gave up the former. "The White Company" was then published, and also had a wide circle of readers, eight editions appearing in rapid succession. Towards the end of 1891 he sent one of his "Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" articles to the Strand Magazine. This was accepted, and he continued to supply the articles monthly for a considerable time. That they have been the most successful of Dr Doyle's works is evident, and no one will deny that they are clever, and in many ways superior to the average detective stories of modern times. But it will not be by these that Dr Doyle's name will live. They have neither the literary grace nor artistic touches of his other works, and it will be to Dr Doyle's advantage, and will add more to his reputation, when they are discontinued and the time and labour devoted to them are employed on better work. "The Refugees" was published this year, and was reviewed in these columns recently, but as yet it is too early to judge whether it is to be as successful as his other works. Dr Doyle has also devoted his attention to drama, and in collaboration with Mr J. M. Barrie produced "Jane Annie," a comic opera which had limited success. It may be said that Dr Doyle has many qualities as a storyteller not possessed by any other present-day novelist, and that he really deserves the success his works of fiction have achieved.
