Sherlock Holmes
Readers love Sherlock Holmes because they believe he was once a real-life detective. According to author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the stories and identity of Sherlock Holmes were based on a British surgeon named Joseph Bell. What an unexpected turn of events!
Sherlock Holmes
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Zorro
Another well-known hero who turned out to be entirely fictional is Zorro, the legendary swordsman who wears a black mask and rides a black horse. Zorro may tell of historical legends, but he was also a legend, one created by Johnston McCulley. Zorro was, however, inspired by Joaquin Murrieta, a real-life thief from the 19th century.
Zorro
