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So, back to the writer’s life. As time went on, things changed drastically for Arthur Conan Doyle. As it turned out, his beloved wife was seriously ill: she was expected just a few months to live at the most. However, the great writer didn’t seem to agree and was determined to extend her life. And he did it. His love, care, and proper treatment made a miracle. Louisa felt much better and lived another thirteen years. When she passed away, Arthur was deeply affected by the loss.
In 1907, Arthur Conan Doyle married Jean Leckie. The happy couple had a lavish wedding with two hundred and fifty guests. Arthur and Jean had three children. The writer shared many of his wife’s activities and lived a measured, quiet life.
Unfortunately, Conan Doyle endured terrible misfortune: he lost many loved ones, including his father, wife, son, brother, and others. It might have been the reason why he showed an interest in spiritualism[1]. This may come as a surprise, but he also believed in the existence of magical beings. Have you ever heard of the Cottingley Fairies? This is a curious story about two girls named Elsie and Frances, who supposedly managed to take a series of photos of dancing creatures. To be more precise, it is one of the greatest hoaxes of all time. It may seem incredible, but those photos, which showed tiny figures with transparent wings, came to Conan Doyle’s attention. Call it coincidence or providence, but at that time Arthur Conan Doyle was working on the article about fairies for the Strand Magazine. When the experts unofficially verified the authenticity of the photos, the writer was so thrilled that he asked Elsie and Frances to use those images of mythical creatures in his publication. The girls’ family was confused by the attention of the legendary writer but quickly agreed. Public opinion was mixed: some believed that the magical beings were real, while others thought they were fake. Later Arthur Conan Doyle wrote a book on the topic under the title The Coming of the Fairies. Only years later, after the writer’s death, the cousins finally confessed that those photos were a hoax, and the wizard creatures were made from paper cut-outs and hat pins. As it turned out, it was Elsie who drew the images and had the wings added to them. When everything was ready, both girls arranged a theme photo shoot. Later Elsie and Frances admitted that they were too embarrassed to tell the truth after fooling the literary genius.
The creator of Sherlock Holmes was once tasked to solve a real-life crime. He helped the wrongly convicted man go free. Do you remember that Doyle also participated in the search for Agatha Christie? He took one of her gloves to a spirit medium to find her location. The visionary supposedly said that Agatha Christie was still alive but was in the “twilight state,” and that she’d show up “next Wednesday.” Believe it or not, but she was found a week later, safe and alive, claiming memory loss. After that, how can one not believe in miracles?
Apart from detective novels and science fiction, Arthur Conan Doyle also wrote poems, plays, and historical novels. Among his most well-known books are The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, A Study in Scarlet, The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Lost World, and many others.
The genius writer lived a rich life filled with many ups and downs. He died in 1930, surrounded by his family. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle will always be remembered as one of the greatest writers of all time.
Vocabulary
all-rounder [ˌɔːlˈraʊndə] – всесторонне одаренный, развитый человек
boundless energy [ˈbaʊndləs ˈenəʤɪ] – безграничная, неиссякаемая энергия
contradiction [ˌkɑːntrəˈdɪkʃn] – противоречие
fairy [ˈfeəri] – фея, волшебница
ghost [gəʊst] – привидение, призрак
the supernatural [ðiː ˌsuːpəˈnætʃrəl] – сверхъестественное
fictional character [ˈfɪkʃənl ˈkærəktə] – вымышленный персонаж
prosperous family [ˈprɑːspərəs ˈfæməlɪ] – благополучная, состоятельная семья
well-respected [wel rɪˈspektɪd] – авторитетный, многоуважаемый
have a passion (for) [həv ə ˈpæʃn fɔː] – обожать, страстно увлекаться чем-то, иметь страсть к чему-то
inherit [ɪnˈherɪt] – унаследовать, перенять
health issues [helθ ˈɪʃuːz] – проблемы со здоровьем
frustrated [ˈfrʌstreɪtɪd] – разочарованный, отчаявшийся
provide for [prəˈvaɪd fɔː] – материально обеспечивать
asylum [əˈsaɪləm] – приют
nursing home [ˈnɜːsɪŋ həʊm] – дом престарелых
boarding school [ˈbɔːdɪŋ skuːl] – школа-интернат, пансион
corporal punishment [ˈkɔ:p(ə)rəl ˈpʌnɪʃmənt] – телесное наказание
compete [kəmˈpiːt] – состязаться, соревноваться
follow in one’s footsteps [ˈfɑːləʊ ɪn wʌnz ˈfʊtsteps] – идти по стопам кого-то
bachelor’s/master’s degree [ˈbætʃələz ˈmæstəz dɪɡriː] – степень бакалавра/магистра
have an impact (on) [hæv æn ˈɪmpækt ɑːn] – оказать сильное влияние (на)
be inspired (by) [biː ɪnˈspaɪəd bai] – вдохновляться
observation skills [ˌɒbzəˈveɪʃᵊn skɪlz] – наблюдательность
deductive skills [dɪˈdʌktɪv skɪlz] – дедуктивные способности
destiny [ˈdestɪnɪ] – судьба
manuscript [ˈmænjəskrɪpt] – рукопись
lose heart [luːz hɑːt] – унывать, падать духом, опускать руки
attempt [əˈtempt] – пытаться
posthumously [ˈpɒstjʊməsli] – посмертно
get discouraged [get dɪsˈkɜːrɪdʒd] – впадать в уныние
try one’s hand (at) [traɪ wʌnz hænd æt] – попробовать свои силы в чем-либо
earn extra money [ɜːn ˈekstrə ˈmʌnɪ] – подзаработать, обеспечить себе дополнительный доход
devote time (to) [dɪˈvəʊt taɪm tu: ] – посвятить время
business is blooming [ˈbɪznəs ɪz ˈbluːmɪŋ] – дела идут в гору, бизнес процветает
surgeon [ˈsɜːʤən] – хирург
surgery [ˈsɜːʤərɪ] – хирургия, хирургическая операция
patient [ˈpeɪʃnt] – пациент
tight-knit family [ˌtaɪt ˈnɪt ˈfæməlɪ] – дружная, сплоченная семья
raise / bring up children [reɪz brɪŋ ʌpˈʧɪldrən] – растить, воспитывать детей
become a household name [bɪˈkʌm ə ˈhaʊshəʊld neɪm] – стать именем нарицательным
catchphrase [ˈkæʧfreɪz] – коронная, крылатая фраза
plot twist [plɒt twɪst] – поворот сюжета
provoke public outrage [prəˈvəʊk ˈpʌblɪk ˈaʊtreɪʤ] – вызывать возмущение общественности
resurrect [ˌrezəˈrekt] – воскрешать
proper treatment [ˈprɒpə ˈtriːtmənt] – правильное, надлежащее лечение
make a miracle [meɪk əˈmɪrəkl] – сотворить чудо
measured life [ˈmeʒəd laɪf] – размеренная жизнь
supposedly [səˈpəʊzɪdlɪ] – предположительно, якобы
hoax [həʊks] – мистификация, выдумка, обман
transparent [trænˈspærənt] – прозрачный
mythical creature [ˈmɪθɪkl ˈkriːʧə] – мифическое существо
be confused [bi kənˈfjuːzd] – смущаться, растеряться
confess [kənˈfes] – признаваться, сознаваться
be embarrassed [biː ɪmˈbærəst] – стесняться, смущаться
wrongly convicted [ˈrɔːŋli kənˈvɪktɪd] – несправедливо осужденный
spirit medium [ˈspɪrɪt ˈmiːdɪəm] – медиум; ясновидящий, который общается с духами
twilight state [ˈtwaɪlaɪt steɪt] – сумеречное состояние[2]
show up [ʃəʊ ʌp] – появляться
ups and downs [ʌps ən daʊnz] – взлеты и падения, плюсы и минусы
Exercises
Exercise 1. Answer the following questions:
1
Spiritualism is a movement based on the belief that souls of the dead can communicate with the living through a medium.
2
Сумеречное состояние – состояние, характеризующееся кратковременной потерей ясности сознания и отрешенностью от окружающего мира.