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The Hound of the Baskervilles

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The Hound of the Baskervilles
First edition book cover
First edition book cover, 1902
AuthorArthur Conan Doyle
LanguageEnglish
SeriesSherlock Holmes
GenreDetective, Crime, Mystery, Novel
PublisherGeorge Newnes
Publication date
1901 to 1902 serial (1902 in book form)
Publication placeUnited Kingdom
Media typePrint (Hardback & Paperback) and Audio book
Pages243
ISBNNA Parameter error in {{ISBNT}}: invalid character
OCLC718214

The Hound of the Baskervilles is a crime novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, originally serialized in the Strand Magazine in 1901 and 1902, which is set largely on Dartmoor in 1889. At the time of researching the novel, Conan Doyle was a General Practitioner in Plymouth [citation needed], and thus was able to explore the moor and accurately capture its mood and feel. In the novel, the detective Sherlock Holmes and his assistant Dr. Watson are called to investigate a curse which is alleged to hang over the house of the Baskervilles.

Inspiration for the story

Sidney Paget's illustration of the Hound

The marsh around Fox Tor Mires was almost certainly the inspiration for the book's 'Grimpen Mire'. Baskerville Hall may be either Hayford Hall or Brook Manor, which are both near Buckfastleigh. Baskerville Hall in Clyro also claims to be inspiration for the building in the story, going so far as to have Holmes' silhouette on stationery and brochures.

It is thought that Conan Doyle, who once lived in Birmingham, may have borrowed the name from Birmingham printer John Baskerville. The ideas of journalist and writer Bertram Fletcher Robinson were important in the inception of the book, and he received credit in early publications, although the extent of his contributions are unknown. The Hound of the Baskervilles is considered to be one of Conan Doyle's best works as an author for its descriptive writing.

The story is inspired by regional mythology of the British Isles concerning hell-hounds. (See Barghest and Black Shuck) The latter is of East Anglian origin, and Conan Doyle and Fletcher Robinson spent time at the Norfolk resort of Cromer. The old Cromer Hall nearby which was in the Gothic style is also said to have matched the description of Baskerville Hall. [1] and there was also links between the Cromer and Devon through the Cabell family (said to be an inspiration for the cursed family).

Conan Doyle, who wished to concentrate on his historical novels, chose to bring back Sherlock Holmes for the story despite having previously stated that he had become tired of the character. The decision was probably prompted both by the need for a powerful protagonist and by the astronomical commercial success of Sherlock Holmes at the time, especially in America. However, the events of this story were placed before those of The Final Problem and thus there was no necessity (as yet) to explain away Holmes' "death".

The story was first published in The Strand as "The Hound of the Baskervilles—Another Adventure of Sherlock Holmes" in a series of monthly parts, from August 1901 to April 1902.

Plot summary

Dartmoor landscape.

Holmes and Watson receive a visit from Dr. James Mortimer, who wishes to consult them before meeting Sir Henry Baskerville, the last of the Baskervilles, and heir to the Baskerville estate in Devonshire. Dr. Mortimer tells them he is uneasy about letting Sir Henry go to Baskerville Hall, owing to a supposed family curse. He narrates the legend of the Hound of the Baskervilles, a demonic dog that first killed Sir Hugo Baskerville several hundred years ago, and is believed to kill all Baskervilles in the region of Devonshire. When Holmes dismisses it as a fairy tale, Mortimer narrates the events of the recent death of Sir Charles Baskerville, Henry's uncle. Although he was found dead in his garden without any trace of physical damage, his face was distorted as if he died in utter terror. Dr. Mortimer then reveals something that he had not mentioned at the official inquest. He alone had noticed footmarks at some distance from the body when it was found; the footmarks of a gigantic hound.

After some clever deception by Holmes (this is one of the few cases where he cannot come up with any kind of solution, much less solve it, until late in the story), and the assistance of the Scotland Yard detective Lestrade, it is revealed that the true criminal is a local naturalist called Jack Stapleton, a long lost cousin of the Baskervilles, who hopes to claim their vast fortune himself after removing all other members of the bloodline. His intention was to send a half-starved, vicious dog as his murderous agent, trained to attack individual members of the Baskervilles after prolonged exposure to their scents. This dog is a mixed breed of bloodhound and English mastiff, purchased from the distributor Ross and Mangles, and of an extreme size and cruel disposition. In order to make it seem truly diabolical, Stapleton daubes its coat with a luminous, phosphorus-based ointment. However, when the hound is finally sent to kill Sir Henry Baskerville, Holmes, Watson, and Lestrade are waiting for it. They shoot the hound multiple times, proving it is not a ghost (as they had once thought), and killing it. Stapleton flees and is assumed to have drowned when crossing the Grimpen mire in the fog.


Film, TV or theatrical adaptations

As of 2006, there are at least 24 film versions of the Hound of the Baskervilles. Some remain very close to the text of the original book, while others are notable for differences in plot or execution. Among these are some pastiches and one parody.

Year Title Country Director Holmes Watson
1914 Der Hund von Baskerville, 1. Teil  Germany Rudolf Meinert Alwin Neuß None
1914 Der Hund von Baskerville, 2. Teil - Das einsame Haus
1914 Der Hund von Baskerville, 3. Teil - Das unheimliche Zimmer Richard Oswald
1915 Der Hund von Baskerville, 4. Teil
1920 Das dunkle Schloß  Germany Willy Zeyn Eugen Burg None
1920 Das Haus ohne Fenster Erich Kaiser-Tietz
1920 Dr. MacDonalds Sanatorium
1920 The Hound of the Baskervilles  United Kingdom Maurice Elvey Eille Nowood Hubert Willis
1929 Der Hund von Baskerville  Germany Richard Oswald Carlyle Blackwell George Seroff
1932 The Hound of the Baskervilles  United Kingdom Gareth Gundrey Robert Rendel Frederick Lloyd
1936 Der Hund von Baskerville  Germany Carl Lamac Bruno Güttner Fritz Odemar
1939 The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939 film)  United States Sidney Lanfield Basil Rathbone Nigel Bruce
1955 Der Hund von Baskerville  Germany Fritz Umgelter Wolf Ackva Arnulf Schröder
1959 The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959 film)  United Kingdom Terence Fisher Peter Cushing André Morell
1968 The Hound of the Baskervilles  United Kingdom Graham Evans Peter Cushing Nigel Stock
1972 The Hound of the Baskervilles  United States Barry Crane Stewart Granger Bernard Fox
1978 The Hound of the Baskervilles (1978 film)  United Kingdom Paul Morrissey Peter Cook Dudley Moore
1981 The Hound of the Baskervilles (1981 film) (Собака Баскервилей)  Soviet Union Igor Maslennikov Vasilij Livanov Vitali Solomin
1982 The Hound of the Baskervilles  United Kingdom Peter Duguid Tom Baker Terence Rigby
1983 The Hound of the Baskervilles  United Kingdom Douglas Hickox Ian Richardson Donald Churchill
1983 Sherlock Holmes and the Baskerville Curse  Australia Ian McKenzie & Alex Nicholas Peter O'Toole unknown
1988 The Hound of the Baskervilles  United Kingdom Brian Mills Jeremy Brett Edward Hardwicke
2000 The Hound of the Baskervilles  Canada Rodney Gibbons Matt Frewer Kenneth Welsh
2002 The Hound of the Baskervilles (2002 film)  United Kingdom David Attwood Richard Roxburgh Ian Hart

Other works

In 1997, Spike Milligan satirised the novel in his book, The Hound of the Baskervilles According to Spike Milligan, combining elements of the original novel with the Basil Rathbone serials.

See also

Wikisource has original text related to this article:

References

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