DOYLE, Sir Arthur Conan (1859-1930). Creator of Sherlock Holmes.
Fine early Autograph Letter Signed to F[rederick] B[azett] Doveton, 1 page 8vo with blank leaf and envelope, Bush Villa, Southsea, postmark, 31 March 1890. Relating to his novel Micah Clarke, and thanking Doveton for verses 'which make a very spirited little ballad'.
'... Yes. I collated all Jeffrey's [sic] remarks & moulded my portrait of him upon them. His portrait was & I presume still is in the National Portrait Gallery. He was a very handsome man.
 'I tried to get genuine old Taunton names. Most of my incidents - not all - are historical. I remember the episode of the girl, but did not quite see my way to bring it in. Timewell was mayor [of Taunton] in 1685.'Micah Clarke, Doyle's third book, an historical romance about the Monmouth rebellion and Judge Jeffreys set in late-seventeenth century Somerset, was first published in 1889.
 Doveton, a cousin of Rider Haggard, was the author of numerous works in verse and prose.
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