Inspiration?

Does anyone know where Doyle got the inspiration for the character of Sherlock? Was there a real trade of consulting detective in London at the time? or a hobbiest friend? or ... ?

No, a surgeon - a Dr. Bell, I believe? - in his training at medical school showed extraordinary Sherlockian observation and diagnostic facility. I don't remember the details well, and am sure someone else can add to and correct them, but I believe that was the inspiration.

As for consulting detectives, that's a knottier question, but I think not.

Yes, Eurydice, I remember reading the same thing. Dr. Bell was one of Conan Doyle's teachers.

I think its best to let Conan Doyle speak for himself here-
"I thought of my old teacher Joe Bell,of his eagle face,of his curious ways,of his eerie trick of spotting details. If he were a detective he would surely reduce this fascinating but unorganized business to something nearer an exact science."

If you look at any photograph of Dr Bell, and with it's sharp features and aquiline nose,you are also looking at the Face of Holmes.
So Eurydice and aluvalibri you are both in the right,Dr Bell is the inspiration.

Thanks everyone - You can always rely on LT for information.

My pleasure to be part of it. What I love is the confirmatory evidence. Three of us, one with clinchers.

And nice to see all of you. :) It's rare to find a thread, now, where everyone's been a familiar 'face' for so long.

Yes,agreed Eurydice.That is one of the nicest things about Librarything,the 'familiar face' aspect. That and the way that everyone seems pleased to pass on information about book topics.I know that I have had several questions answered that would have taken some time to find out about otherwise.

Eurydice and devenish, the fact we always are pleased to pass information etc. is because WE ALL ARE WONDERFUL PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:-))

There was a briliant TV series in the UK called The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes a decade or so ago, starring the late Ian Richardson as Dr Bell. He also played Holmes itself in TV film versions of Hound and Sign of Four.

Just to clarify the above post, the series was actually called 'Murder Rooms' - the first of which was subtitled "The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes".

Oops, I had thought Dark Beginnings was a subtitle for the whole series, but checking on Amazon, I see you are right. John

Fascinating. Thanks to you both.

Paola, how right you are! At least about yourselves, and most people on LT! :)

Yes, Dr. Joseph Bell, and the BBC mini-series about Bell and young Conan Doyle is really good. If I remember correctly, there's a nice feminist angle because one of the students studying along with young Doyle is a woman.

I recently heard a speaker from The Illustrious Clients, the local Sherlock Homes society. He also does fingerprints for the Indianapolis police. He was talking about forensic science in the Sherlock Holmes stories. He said that Sherlock was ahead of Scotland Yard at the time, so Doyle must have read about some of the new things happening on the Continent. Apparently the police of continental Europe and scientists who helped them were more advanced than their British counterparts in discovering/developing forensic techniques to help solve crimes.