"At medical school, Arthur is still poor. He has
only two pennies for lunch each day - enough
for a meat pie. But on the way to the pies, there's
a bookstore. It has a barrel of books out front with
a sign that says, "Your choice for two pennies!"
Most days, Arthur eats a pie for lunch. But he
can't help peeking in the barrel. And once or twice
a week, he buys a book instead ...
And goes hungry."
Linda Bailey does an exceptional job of bringing to life a man who loved stories as a child, and was always asking for more. His mother, a brilliant and imaginative storyteller, satisfied that need with story after story. She taught him to read while he was very young. The town librarian made a new rule about book borrowing - only two exchanges a day - when Arthur was a constant visitor.
Arthur pens his first story when he is six; he is on his way to becoming a famous and beloved author. The stories he hears and writes help Arthur deal with the many difficulties he faces in his life - poverty, moving from one place to another, his father's mental illness, and enrolment by his rich uncles in boarding school which occasions limited visits with his family each year.
Life there is not much fun. Sports and offering new and exciting tales bring happiness to the other boarders, and often food from those absorbed listeners. Later, medical school introduces him to his mentor's power of observation which will prove extremely important to him. Because of a lack of funds to keep at his studies, Arthur takes jobs that afford many impressive adventures.
With time to write stories, Arthur uses his many experiences to plot tales he hopes publishers will buy. That does not happen until he uses what he learned about observation and adventure to help him create Sherlock Holmes. The stories are a hit, and in much demand.
"They're fascinated by the strange crimes.
They're gripped by the clever writing.
And they can't wait to see how the mysteries will be solved.
Sherlock is a SENSATION!"
With fame and money come untold problems. Fans can't get enough of the quirky detective. They demand more and more. Arthur's writing leaves time for nothing else. Ending Sherlock creates a furor that cannot be contained. Arthur is forced to find a way to revive his iconic character and offer even more stories about him.
In learning about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, readers will discover much about the man whose name is not typically synonymous with Sherlock. Sherlock has always been the star. (Fans even wrote letters directly to Sherlock himself, asking for an autograph, advice, and help to solve their own problems). Ms. Bailey chronicles Arthur's life from beginning to end, allowing readers to see how his own upbringing and life experiences fostered stories about one of the most beloved characters in literature.
This adventurous and often surprising picture book biography is enhanced by Isabelle Follath's glorious artwork created with 'watercolors, pencil, a pinch of Photoshop and gallons of coffee'. Her illustrations add depth and action to the storytelling, engaging the reader at every turn of the page.
A lengthy author’s note at the back of the book describes Bailey’s fascination with Sir Arthur and provides further biographical information about him.
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