Summary

With a spate of major motion pictures released or pending on the subject, 2010 sees the 150th anniversary of the birth of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859 - 1930), the author who created Sherlock Holmes. Yet the life of this mould-breaking author – creator of the first soap opera and the world’s greatest detective – was at times as dark and as mysterious as the man he created.

How was this extraordinary character formed and did he, as so many believe, really exist? The story behind the creation of this Victorian phenomenon is both disturbing and mystifying. It takes the viewer on a journey through the Edinburgh of the young Conan Doyle and the darker influences in his life, and onto the streets of London. What was it about Sherlock Holmes that captured the imagination of society as it entered the exciting, yet frightening world of the 20th century?

With dramatic visualizations, contributions from leading Holmesian experts, figures from the world of literature and research, and evidence from the medical community, the Sherlock Holmes enigma is dissected and the truth begins to emerge. This brand new documentary explores the intriguing world of Conan Doyle and discovers the truth behind his decision to to kill off the man who had dominated his life for so long in one dramatic episode.