“The most dangerous condition for a man or a nation
is when his intellectual side is more developed than his spiritual.”
Arthur Conan Doyle
“The Logical Song” by Supertramp (courtesy of Cruz De Ferro Motoclube Brasil):
“Life is actually a series of encounters
in which one event may change those
that follow in a wholly unpredictable,
even devastating way.”
from Jurassic Park
“Dance of the Knights” from “Romeo and Juliet” by Sergei Prokofiev, performed by Gautier Capuçon, Jérome Ducros, and Orchestre Lamoureux:
SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
22 May 1859 – 7 July 1930
Courtesy of Oxford Digital Media:
Arthur Conan Doyle was born in 1859 in Edinburgh and educated at Stonyhurst College and Edinburgh University. He qualified as a doctor and had a practice in Southsea, Portsmouth.
Stonyhurst College
Courtesy of BBC Studios:
Edinburgh University
The success of his creation, the detective, Sherlock Holmes, enabled Conan Doyle to abandon his career as a doctor to live by his pen; his ambition to make his literary reputation by writing historical novels rather than tales of detection was, however, rejected by readers as well as publishers, who demanded to read more of the stories about the eccentric detective whose genius has held readers in thrall for more than a century now.
“Discombobulate” by Hans Zimmer (courtesy of kia4465):
Courtesy of TED-Ed:
It would be hard to name another modern literary character who has achieved such international celebrity. Sherlock Holmes’ several intriguing qualities are immediately apparent: the excitable intellect, the passion for scientific inquiry, the preternatural skill at quickly interpreting, in revelatory detail, evidence that is in plain sight but invisible to everyone else.
“Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77: II. Adagio” by Johannes Brahms, performed by Frank Peter Zimmermann and Berliner Philharmoniker:
Conan Doyle’s conception of a scientific, rationally deductive detective was based in part upon Dr Joseph Bell, a professor with whom the author had studied during his medical education at the University of Edinburgh. “He was a very skilful surgeon,” Conan Doyle wrote in his autobiography, “but his strong point was a diagnosis, not only of disease but of occupation and character.”
Dr Joseph Bell
Courtesy of Royal Medical Society:
Combining Bell’s diagnostic gifts with elements drawn from the early detective tales of Edgar Allan Poe and Wilkie Collins, Conan Doyle imagined an investigator who would solve cases “on his own merits and not through the folly of the criminal.”
Edgar Allan Poe
Wilkie Collins
This was one of the reasons that perhaps for the first time in the genre, the detective himself became the focus of the reader’s fascination that was quick to take hold.
The editor of The Strand Magazine asked Dr Conan Doyle to write a few detective stories, and if the author had his way that might have been the end of Sherlock Holmes. When The Strand asked for more Holmes stories, Conan Doyle named an exorbitant price as a deterrent; to his surprise, they readily agreed to his terms. After this second set of cases had run, The Strand requested twelve more, and again the author named a price he was sure would be prohibitive. Once more the magazine happily agreed. Sherlock Holmes proved too popular to be put to rest.
“Frédéric Chopin (Variation) Nocturne in F Minor Op. 55 No. 1 for Piano, Violin, Cello” by Chad Lawson
(courtesy of Classical World • Klasik Dünya):
Indeed, eager to be free of his creation, Conan Doyle completed this additional Strand commission with “The Final Problem,” a story in which he seemed to kill Holmes off in an encounter with his arch-enemy. The outrage among readers was such that the author eventually reopened the Holmes casebook, producing a stream of new stories throughout the rest of his writing career.
Courtesy of Saxon Brack:
THE LOST WORLD
Doyle also wrote historical romances and his scientific novel The Lost World was the first of a series of stories to feature the cantankerous Professor Challenger. No one believes controversial scientist Professor Challenger’s story about prehistoric animals still living on a remote plateau in South America, so he takes an expedition back there to prove it.
Among the team is our narrator, the journalist, Edward Malone. What they find in the furthest stretches of the River Amazon is shocking, terrifying, and life-threatening. Will they all survive their trip back in time?
The tension in Conan Doyle’s fascinating adventure builds slowly, and he describes in detail the flora and fauna the team encounters along the way. His basic idea has inspired many other novels and films over the years, including Michael Crichton’s The Lost World and Steven Spielberg’s 1993 blockbuster Jurassic Park.
After Doyle’s son died in World War I, he devoted most of the rest of his life to the study of spiritualism and wrote several books on the subject. He died in 1930.
“Sir Arthur” by David Hicken:
An extract from The Lost World:
“Early next morning we were again afoot and found that the character of the country had changed once again. Behind us was the wall of bamboo, as definite as if marked the course of the river. In front was an open plain, sloping slightly upwards and dotted with clumps of tree-ferns, the whole curving before us until it ended in a long, whale-backed ridge. This we reached about midday, only to find a shallow valley beyond, rising once again into a gentle incline which led to a low, rounded sky-line. It was here, while we crossed the first of these hills, that an incident occurred which may or may not have been important.
Professor Challenger, who with two locals was in the van of the party, stopped suddenly and pointed excitedly to the right. As he did so we saw, at the distance of a mile or so, something which appeared to be a huge grey bird flap slowly up from the ground and skim smoothly off, flying very low and straight, until it was lost among the tree-ferns.
‘Did you see it? cried Challenger, in exultation. “Summerlee, did you see it?’
His colleague was staring at the spot where the creature had disappeared.
‘What do you claim that it was?’ he asked.
‘To the best of my belief, a pterodactyl.’
Summerlee burst into derisive laughter ‘A pter-fiddlestick!’ said he. ‘It was a stork, if ever I saw one.’
Theme from “Jurassic Park” by John Williams, conducted by John Williams and Vienna Philharmonic (courtesy of Deutsche Grammophon):
naturetails 
Another great writer and another wonderful tribute, Joanna. The musical pieces here are all such a joy and also the accompanying videos. It was interesting to learn more about how the Holmes character was developed. Many thanks.
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Thank you so much, Carolyn, for the wonderful comments, which are greatly appreciated!
Joanna
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Joanna ji 🙏
What a beautifully crafted and deeply thoughtful piece! The way you have woven literature, music, and philosophy together is truly captivating. Conan Doyle’s observation that an intellect outgrowing its spirituality can be dangerous resonates powerfully, and you’ve reflected it wonderfully through the contemporary quotations and musical selections. The excerpt from The Lost World, paired with the subtle parallel to Jurassic Park, takes the reader on an unexpected yet meaningful journey.
Your inclusion of Prokofiev, Brahms, and John Williams adds a vivid emotional soundtrack to the narrative, enriching the entire experience. The flow of your writing and the depth of your references are both admirable the post not only informs but invites the reader into contemplation.
Please keep sharing such brilliant work; this piece will surely inspire many and offer them a moment of reflective delight.
With appreciation from a reader who truly enjoyed every word.
-Vijay
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Thank you so much, dear Vijay, for your wonderfully analytical comments, which I love and deeply appreciate!
Joanna
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Good night Joanna ji 🙏
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Good night, Vijay!
Joanna
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Fascinating Joanna. I wonder if anyone has ever compared Hercule Poirot to Sherlock Holmes. I actually know of each character rather than a thorough grounding about the particular details of either character.
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Hi Joanna. Terrific essay. Holmes and Watson made their first appearance in A Study In Scarlet. I read that book about ten years ago. I loved it.
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“…the preternatural skill at quickly interpreting, in revelatory detail, evidence that is in plain sight but invisible to everyone else.”
What a wonderful encapsulation of Doyle’s character’s inimitable talent!
Another lovely, well-researched piece, Joanna.
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An author and a character that has stood the test of time. Everybody loves a good whodunnit mystery and this character seems to be reinvented frequently. Thanks for shedding some light on the author. Have a wonderful day. Allan
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As always, you provided a wonderful essay about an author and his work. The character, Sherlock Holmes, is without doubt at least as famous as his creator. It is a tribute to Doyle that he created a character which in some ways took on a life of his own.
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Thank you so much, Diana, for the wonderful comments, which are greatly appreciated!
Joanna
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Thank you, Allan, for the wonderful comments, which I love and greatly appreciate!
Joanna
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Thank you, Annie, for the wonderful comments, which are greatly appreciated!
Joanna
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Thank you, Neil, for the wonderful comments, which I love and appreciate!
Joanna
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Thank you, Pat, for the interesting comments, which are greatly appreciated!
Joanna
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Great read Joanna! Thank you for this.
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Thank you, Dorothy, for the kind comment, which is greatly appreciated.
Joanna
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Thank you, Joanna, for yet another fascinating post this week! You’ve chosen a remarkable author and an equally remarkable book, and you’ve woven together some wonderful insights about them.
I haven’t read many detective stories in my life, but during my student days, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle captured my imagination. His works became an essential part of our world back then.
Your post also brought to mind a senior colleague of mine who was deeply upset when his only son, despite graduating in engineering with distinction and securing a lucrative job in an MNC, decided instead to travel across India before pursuing writing as a career.
Interestingly, though my colleague himself wrote poems and articles in his leisure time, he disliked the idea of writing as a profession. I reminded him of Conan Doyle, a qualified physician who left his medical practice to create the immortal Sherlock Holmes.
I especially loved the quote you shared about Holmes’ strength lying in his power of diagnosis, not just of diseases, but of people, their occupations, and their characters.
Even when Doyle moved from Holmes to the world of Professor Challenger in The Lost World, the essence of intellectual brilliance remained unchanged. As a student of Geology, I thoroughly enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the prehistoric plateau and its mysterious creatures.
The Doyle quote you placed at the beginning highlights the value of spirituality over intellect. It resonated with me deeply, perhaps because he himself turned toward spirituality after the tragic loss of his son.
Thank you once again, Joanna, for an engaging and enriching post, beautifully presented with an enjoyable blend of text, audio, and video.
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Thank you so much, Kaushal, for the wonderfully analytical and perceptive comments, which I love and deeply appreciate. Your kind words lifted my spirits and made my day!
Joanna
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Thank YOU, Joanna, for pouring so much time, intellect, and heart into these pieces!
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Thank you so much, Annie, for being so kind!
Joanna
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It’s truly my pleasure, Joanna. You’re always welcome. Namaste 🙏
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Thank you again, Kaushal, you are kindness personified! Namaste.
Joanna
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A great author. I didn’t realize he wrote so many other books and that his son had died. Very interesting. Love Sherlock Holmes.
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Thank you, Monica, for the wonderful comments, which are greatly appreciated!
Joanna
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Lovely opening and ride with a great song, Joanna! Love the tribute so rich with his many gifts! Thanks, Joanna!
💕
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Thank you, Cindy, for the wonderful comments, which are greatly appreciated!
Joanna x
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You’re always welcome, Joanna!!! My pleasure!!!😇
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Thank you, Cindy!
Joanna x
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You’re so very welcome, Joanna!
❤️
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What a magnificent and thoughtfully woven collection. You have an extraordinary eye for connections, drawing a profound line from Arthur Conan Doyle’s warning about intellect outpacing spirit, through the raw, logical genius of Sherlock Holmes, and directly into the primal, spiritual awe of The Lost World. It’s a journey that mirrors Doyle’s own life—from the razor-sharp logic of Baker Street to the mystical plateaus and his later spiritual quests.
The way you’ve paired the logical dissection of evidence with Prokofiev’s “Dance of the Knights” and the soaring wonder of the Jurassic Park theme is nothing short of brilliant. It creates a dialogue: the cool, discombobulating analysis of Zimmer and Brahms meeting the terrifying, soul-stirring majesty of Williams. You haven’t just shared quotes and music; you’ve built an experience, a narrative about humanity’s eternal tension between the mind that seeks to solve and the spirit that dares to wonder.
This is more than a post; it’s a curated exhibition of ideas. Thank you for sharing such a compelling, intellectually stimulating, and beautifully synchronized piece of work. It’s a testament to a wonderfully perceptive and creative mind.
Warmly Narasimhan
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Thank you so much, dear Narasimhan, for the wonderfully analytical comments, which I love and deeply appreciate!
Joanna
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Joanna ,it was a greatly fascinating post on a remarkable great writer ,Sir Arthur Conan Doyle !He has numerous works to his credit !You have,quite magnificently, given an absorbing account as to how the success of his creation, the detective, Sherlock Holmes, enabled him to abandon his career as a doctor to take up writing; his ambition to make his literary reputation by writing the stories about the legendery detective whose genius has held readers in its magical trance for more than a century now.Doyle also wrote historical romances and his scientific novel,”The Lost World” was the first of a series of stories alongwith the wonderful theme of Jurassic Park.I feel so grateful to you for sharing such an enriching post ,Joanna
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Thank you so much, Dhirendra, for your wonderfully perceptive comments, which I love and deeply appreciate! Namaste.
Joanna
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My hearty pleasure going through your precious posts which are all so deeply researched & educative in nature!Keep it up for your valued readers, Joanna 🙏
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Thank you, Dhirendra, for being so kind!
Joanna
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Namastey 🙏
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Namaste! And thank you!
Joanna
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I love this quote Joanna and it’s sooo true! I always appreciate your gusts of sharing and educating us, thank you so very much! ❤️
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Thank you, Cindy, for the lovely comments, which are greatly appreciated!
Joanna x
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Always, Joanna!
❤️❤️❤️❤️
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Thank you, dear Cindy, for being so kind!
Joanna xx
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Again, this was a lovely read, Joanna. Reading your post made me want to pull a book off the shelf and just sit quietly with it for a while, that’s always a good sign. I love the way you connected the story with deeper thoughts too.
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Thank you, Ritsh, for the wonderful comments, which are greatly appreciated!
Joanna
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❤️❤️❤️
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Loved this, Joanna! Such a rich mix of Doyle’s life, his works, and the accompanying music was lovely. Beautifully put together.
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Thank you, Deepthy, for your wonderful comments, which are greatly appreciated!
Joanna
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