An Entirely New Country - Arthur Conan Doyle, Undershaw and the Resurrection of Sherlock Holmes

by Alistair Duncan, Mark Gatiss (Foreword)

The late 1890s saw Arthur Conan Doyle return to England after several years abroad. His new house, named Undershaw, represented a fresh start but it was also the beginning of a dramatic decade that saw him fall in love, stand for parliament, fight injustice and be awarded a knighthood. However, for his many admirers, the most important event of that decade was the resurrection of Sherlock Holmes - the character that he felt had cast a shadow over his life.

Genres: History, Biography

320 pages, Paperback

First published December 5, 2011

Reviews

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting look at Doyle's life during his Hindhead years. Obviously well researched with a nice collection of photographs. It ended on a bit of a sour note which was a little sad (but no doubt appropriate) but that was really my only negative thought on it. I would certainly recommend it to fans of Doyle and to those who are wanting to support Undershaw (like myself!) and I will be checking out Mr. Duncan's previous books.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of new information on the day to day life of Doyle at Undershaw if you like Sherlock Holmes a great book to read

[LuAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thorough coverage of Conan Doyle's interests and activities while living at his home Undershaw in Hindhead, Surrey utilizing newspaper reports, letters and other resources. While a chronological accounting of his movements and writings, the narrative flowed in an entertaining manner. I was primarily interested in his writing of "The Hound of the Baskervilles" and gleaned new information about that. The insight into his relationship with Jean Leckie as regards ACD's character was disappointing, but we're all flawed. Also good to learn the correct pronunciation of Edalji (accent on the first syllable, not the second).

Would be a good addition to a Sherlock Holmes/Arthur Conan Doyle collection as being focused on one time period, it contains details that usually would be contained in an overall biography.

I received this free from MX Publishing via Audible which has no influence on my review. While the narrator's voice is quite low, he was understandable and did a good Scottish accent for ACD quotes.

[Tony Ciak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arthur Conan Doyle during the time that he was in residents at Undershaw. The design and building of it, living in it was something he avoided as time went on; with more important places to be, while his first wife was waiting to die there.

[Laura L. Van Dam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una biografía parcial de ACD, centrada en el período en que vivió en Undershaw con su primera esposa Louise "Touie" y sus hijos. Me quedé con ganas de leer más sobre otros períodos de su vida, pero como este libro fue publicado a beneficio del Undershaw Preservation Trust se enfoca sólo en el período de unos 30 años en que habitó la casa.

[Elizabeth Gaskins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually really liked this book! I am always a little nervous about non-fiction/history books but the way Alistair Duncan writes really makes it easy to read. I was also super glad to find out that 50% of the proceeds of this book went to help save Undershaw (the home Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was living in during the years the book examines). A good book that gives back? Its truly a win win. :) I highly reccommend this book :)

[Bonnie Dale Keck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have read all of Doyle's Sherlock Holmes and probably others as well, just never bothered to put them in to amazon or goodreads, so dates wrong. Some KU some paperback some hardback some collections.