Internationally recognised art and literary critic, writer and cultural producer. Published in ELLE, Glamour, Esquire and Cosmopolitan; member of the Union of Writers.
Lucy Worsley is a historian, broadcaster, and author who has a passion for exploring the hidden stories behind our most beloved characters. She is best known for her series A History of Britain, which covers the nation’s past from prehistoric times to the present day. But she also has a keen interest in Sherlock Holmes, the fictional detective created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
In her latest series, Killing Sherlock: Lucy Worsley on the Case of Conan Doyle, she delves into the extraordinary love-hate relationship between Doyle and his most famous creation. She examines how their collaboration and conflict shaped their lives and careers, as well as how they influenced each other’s views on politics, religion, science, and society.
The series consists of three episodes, each focusing on a different aspect of their relationship. The first episode, Doctor and Detective, explores how Doyle managed to finally rid himself of Sherlock Holmes after years of struggling to do so. He had originally intended to kill off his alter ego in 1893, but he was persuaded by his publisher to continue writing stories about him. He also had to deal with legal issues over the rights to his character.
The second episode, Fact and Fiction, examines how Doyle tried to reinvent himself as a writer after Sherlock’s return from the dead in 1916. He became an evangelist for spiritualism, a controversial movement that claimed that spirits could communicate with the living through mediums. He also faced criticism from some fans who felt betrayed by his change of direction.
The third episode, Shadows and Sleuths, investigates how Doyle’s star declined after a public spat with another famous writer, H.G. Wells. They had both written science fiction novels that featured time travel and parallel universes. They disagreed over whether Wells’ idea was more plausible than Doyle’s. They also competed for readership and recognition in their respective fields.
Worsley uses various sources to bring these episodes to life, such as letters, diaries, newspapers articles, books, films, and TV shows. She also interviews experts and enthusiasts who share their insights and opinions on Conan Doyle’s work and legacy.
Worsley reveals that there are some surprising facts about Conan Doyle that you may not know. For example:
He was not very fond of his own name or title. He preferred to be called Sir Arthur or simply Arthur.
He was not very religious or spiritual himself. He only joined the Spiritualists’ National Union because he wanted to support his friend Charles Dickens.
He was not very fond of his own creation either. He once said that he wished he had never invented Sherlock Holmes.
He was not very fond of H.G. Wells either. He once said that he hated him more than anyone else in the world.
He was not very fond of America either. He once said that he hated it more than anything else in the world.
Worsley also reveals that there are some Easter eggs hidden throughout the script for those who pay attention4. For example:
In Doctor and Detective, there is a reference to The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton (1892), one of Sherlock’s most popular stories.
In Fact and Fiction, there is a reference to The War of the Worlds (1898), one of Wells’ most famous novels.
In Shadows and Sleuths, there is a reference to The Hound of the Baskervilles (1901), one of Sherlock’s most enduring mysteries.
Worsley concludes that killing off Sherlock Holmes was not only a way for Doyle to end his relationship with him but also a way for him to end his relationship with himself. She says that by doing so, he freed himself from the burden of being a writer, a doctor, and a detective, and he became a man, a husband, and a father.
She also says that by doing so, he freed himself from the shadow of being Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and he became Sir Arthur Conan Doyleson.
So what are you waiting for? Grab your friends, grab your tickets, and get ready to enter the world of Killing Sherlock: Lucy Worsley on the Case of Conan Doyle. It’s a journey you will never forget.
