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Synopsis
In February 1880, when Arthur Conan Doyle was only twenty years old, he embarked upon 'the first real outstanding adventure in my life,' seven months as a ship's surgeon on an Arctic whaler. The voyage took the young Conan Doyle into unknown regions and plunged him into dangerous and bloody work on the ice floes of the Arctic seas. His unforgettable adventure was echoed in a number of his early landmarks as a writer. A ghost story based on the experience, 'The Captain of the Pole-Star,' got him noticed in publishing circles as a promising young writer, and a magazine article called 'The Glamour of the Arctic' won him the respect of intrepid Arctic explorers. During the voyage, Conan Doyle kept a detailed diary. This incredible document, hidden from public view for more than a century, is written in his clear handwriting and is illustrated with many charming pen-and-ink sketches of scenes of life on board and of the sea-creatures and other sights he saw. It provides a vivid account of the coming of age of the young man who would go on to create Sherlock Holmes, and of a life at sea that no longer exists. This book will feature a facsimile of this remarkable diary, with a transcript, as well as several non-fiction and fiction pieces based on the experience, including the Sherlock Holmes story 'The Adventure of the Black Peter.' It will also include photographs of the ship, its captain, and young Conan Doyle on deck. The publication of this unknown diary will be welcomed by all fans of Arthur Conan Doyle.
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About the Author
Arthur Conan Doyle (1859 - 1930) was a British physician and writer, most noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes. He was a prolific writer whose other works include science fiction stories, historical novels, plays, romances, poetry, and non-fiction.
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'Dangerous Work', Diary of an Arctic Adventurer. Numbered, limited edition with slipcase.
Published by
The British Library, London, 2012
ISBN 10: 0712358846
ISBN 13: 9780712358842
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Lanna Antique, Perth, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Fine. 1st Edition, Limited Edition. In 1880, a young medical student named Arthur Conan Doyle, in need of remuneration and adventure, took time away from his medical studies in Edinburgh, to act as ship's surgeon on a 6-month Arctic voyage on a whaling vessel. His inexperience led to a challenging and sometimes life-threatening journey. He kept a diary of that voyage of his experiences, along with illustrations of his travels. Some of those maritime experiences went on to influence a number of his stories in years to come. 'Dangerous Work', Diary of an Arctic Adventurer, by Arthur Conan Doyle. Edited by Jon Lellenberg & Daniel Stashower. His journal lay largely forgotten outside his descendants, until it was offered for sale at Christie's in May, 2004, where it actually went unsold, and was then listed as remaining in the ownership of the heirs of Anna Conan Doyle. The journal was reproduced in facsimile in 2012, by the British Library in the UK, and the University of Chicago Press in the USA. Alongside the standard trade edition, the Publishers also produced a limited and numbered collector's edition. 150 copies were issued with 100 in the UK (offered at £150) and 50 in the USA (offered at $250). Here we have one of those scarce limited edition copies - in this case a British Library version, hand numbered 20 out of 150 copies. Now very scarce. This deluxe edition consists of a slipcase, with the book inside mirroring the design of the original journal. The book contains a photographic facsimile of the journal with a full transcript. and additional supporting text. Published by The British Library, London. 2012 first, numbered, limited edition. A fine hardback, which appears to be in unread, as new condition, housed in a near fine slipcase. The slipcase has grey linen cloth over boards, with a gilt whale tail design. With some slight scuff marks. The book has a grey linen spine with gilt titles, and facsimile printed marbled paper over boards. With printed endpapers. Text is bright and clear throughout. Soundly bound. a handsome copy of a scarce publication. Text in English. Prelims + 368pp. Approximate dimensions in slipcase: 265mm high x 226mm wide x 42mm deep. Weight approximately 1680g (unpacked). Many more photos available on request. Seller Inventory # LAN9506
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