The Lost World: about the author.

Arthur Conan Doyle (May 22, 1859 – July 7, 1930)

Arthur Conan Doyle was born in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, even though he is
considered to be an English writer. His date of birth is 22d of May, 1859. His mother, a good
story-teller, often told him stories and as Arthur told himself, it was her who developed his
interest in books. His favourite writer was Walter Scott. As for his father, he died very early on
in his life which caused great financial struggles for the Doyles family.
When Arthur started his education, he found studies rather boring . In college his
favourite occupation was playing sport and reading books. Since childhood his favourite genre of
literature were historical novels. During that time he started trying to write poetry.
After finishing college Conan Doyle entered the medical faculty in the University of
Edinburgh. ON the third year of study, he sailed to the Arctic as a ship’s doctor. That voyage
gave him a lot of practical knowledge. After graduating from the University, he set off for
Western Africa.
When Arthur Conan Doyle came back, he started his medical practice in a small English
town located in Southsea resort. While working as a private doctor, he often had lots of free time
as the patients were very rare. That’s when he dipped down into his writing career. During this
period of his life, his most famous character - Sherlock Holmes was created, who was based on a
professor back from his college days. His first detective “A Study in Scarlet” was published in
1887 and was a great success. In 1891 Conan Doyle completely gave up his work as a doctor and
completely devoted himself to his writing career.
Thanks to his qualifications, Doyle was sent to South Africa in 1900 to serve as a medic
for the British troops during the Second Anglo Boer War. In 1902, Doyle wrote a pamphlet on
the war called The War in South Africa: Its Causes and Conduct, which responded to all the
charges levelled against the British for their conduct during the war. Doyle defended the British
position in the pamphlet, and this work became so popular that he was officially knighted in
October, 1902. Doyle also wrote a book called The Great Boer War, which tabled all those
wounded or killed in the war. His journey to Africa will later become a great inspiration for one
of his most famous books: The Lost World.
Conan Doyle died in Windlesham, in his home in Crowborough, Sussex on July 7, 1930.