The Hound of the Baskervilles - Arthur Conan Doyle

Summary

The Hound of the Baskervilles centers on the grim tale of the Baskerville family, haunted by a legendary, devilish hound that has plagued them for centuries. When Sir Charles Baskerville is found dead on the moor, seemingly from natural causes but with a look of terror on his face and the footprints of a giant hound nearby, his friend Dr. Mortimer consults Sherlock Holmes. The renowned detective and Dr. Watson are tasked with protecting the new heir, Sir Henry Baskerville, from the supposed curse and uncovering the truth behind Sir Charles's death. The investigation leads Watson to the desolate Dartmoor, where he encounters a cast of eccentric characters, ominous landscapes, and the unsettling possibility that the supernatural legend might have a very real, and very deadly, explanation.

Book Sections

Section 1: Mr. Sherlock Holmes

Dr. Watson begins by analyzing a walking stick left behind by a visitor, using it as an exercise in deduction for Sherlock Holmes. Holmes, however, already knows the visitor and his profession. Dr. James Mortimer arrives, presenting Holmes with an ancient manuscript detailing the curse of the Baskerville family and its monstrous spectral hound. He explains that Sir Charles Baskerville, the latest owner of Baskerville Hall, recently died under mysterious circumstances, apparently from heart failure, but with signs of extreme terror on his face and giant hound footprints nearby. Mortimer fears for the next heir, Sir Henry Baskerville.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Sherlock Holmes	Master detective, analytical, observant, logical	Solve complex mysteries, apply his superior intellect.
Dr. John Watson	Holmes's loyal assistant, narrator, intelligent	Document Holmes's cases, assist his friend, understand events.
Dr. James Mortimer	Physician, Baskerville family friend, learned	Seek Holmes's help, protect Sir Henry, understand Sir Charles's death.

Section 2: The Curse of the Baskervilles

Dr. Mortimer recounts the legend of the Baskervilles, detailing how Sir Hugo Baskerville, a cruel and debauched ancestor from the English Civil War, kidnapped a young woman. When she escaped across the moor, he pursued her with his hounds, only to be found dead alongside her, both killed by a "great, black beast, bigger than any hound that ever mortal eye has rested upon." The curse states that the Baskerville men will forever be hunted by this hellish hound. Mortimer then describes Sir Charles's recent death, reiterating the chilling details.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Sir Hugo Baskerville	Ancestor, cruel, debauched, historical figure	Lust, pursuit of power, maintaining control over his victims.
Sir Charles Baskerville	Deceased, kind, superstitious, charitable, sickly	Live a good life, overcome the family curse, help his community.

Section 3: The Problem

Sir Henry Baskerville, the last known heir, arrives in London from Canada. Holmes observes him and notes his practical, modern demeanor, in contrast to the ancient curse. During his stay in London, one of Sir Henry's new boots is stolen, and then later returned, only for an old boot to disappear. Sir Henry also receives an anonymous letter warning him to stay away from the moor. Holmes begins his investigation, uncovering a cab that followed Sir Henry. Unable to identify the man in the cab, Holmes decides that Watson will accompany Sir Henry to Baskerville Hall to protect him and gather information, while Holmes remains in London to follow other leads.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Sir Henry Baskerville	Last of the Baskervilles, heir, American, practical	Claim his inheritance, investigate the mystery, ensure his safety.

Section 4: Sir Henry Baskerville

Before leaving for Baskerville Hall, Sir Henry and Watson witness a man with a large black beard following them in a cab. Holmes tracks down the cab driver, who identifies his passenger as "Sherlock Holmes," a clear ruse. This confirms that their antagonist is cunning and aware of Holmes. Watson and Sir Henry depart for the moor, where the desolate landscape and the isolated Baskerville Hall immediately create an ominous atmosphere. They meet Barrymore, the butler, and his wife, Eliza.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Barrymore	Butler at Baskerville Hall, taciturn, seemingly loyal	Serve the Baskerville family, protect his wife and her brother.
Eliza Barrymore	Barrymore's wife, nervous, distressed	Protect her brother, remain loyal to her husband.

Section 5: Three Broken Threads

Watson sends Holmes a detailed report of their journey and initial impressions of Baskerville Hall. He describes the forbidding scenery of Dartmoor and the general gloom. He notes the strange behavior of the Barrymores; Mrs. Barrymore seems distressed, and Barrymore himself is reserved and watchful. Watson hears a mysterious sob in the night, which Mrs. Barrymore dismisses as not having occurred. Watson also learns of an escaped convict, Selden, loose on the moor. Holmes responds with some initial deductions and instructions for Watson to observe the neighbors.

Section 6: Baskerville Hall

Watson further explores the surroundings and meets the peculiar neighbors. He first encounters Mr. Frankland, an eccentric, litigious old man who constantly engages in lawsuits for amusement. Watson then meets Jack Stapleton, a naturalist, and his beautiful sister, Beryl. Jack is friendly and knowledgeable about the moor, but Watson finds him unusually intense. Beryl gives Sir Henry a cryptic warning to leave Baskerville Hall, believing it to be dangerous, but later apologizes and attributes it to a misunderstanding. This encounter leaves Watson suspicious.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Frankland	Eccentric, litigious, old landowner	Amuse himself with lawsuits, engage in local gossip.
Laura Lyons	Frankland's estranged daughter, typist, fallen on hard times	Marry Stapleton, escape her past, obtain financial security.
Jack Stapleton	Naturalist, outwardly friendly, secretive, cunning	Acquire the Baskerville estate, eliminate heirs, maintain his disguise.
Beryl Stapleton	Appears as Stapleton's sister, beautiful, controlled	Warn Sir Henry, escape her husband's control, protect herself.

Section 7: The Stapletons of Merripit House

Watson visits the Stapletons at Merripit House, where Jack shows him his butterfly collection and warns him about the dangerous Grimpen Mire on the moor. Watson finds Beryl Stapleton increasingly withdrawn and seemingly under her brother's strict control. Sir Henry becomes infatuated with Beryl, but Jack Stapleton disapproves of their growing affection. Watson's suspicions about the Stapletons deepen, especially regarding Beryl's earlier warning.

Section 8: First Report of Dr. Watson

Watson continues to document his observations in his diary and sends a second report to Holmes. He details the strange behavior of the Barrymores, especially a light seen flashing from a window in Baskerville Hall across the moor. He suspects they are signaling someone. He also learns more about Laura Lyons, Frankland's daughter, who lives nearby and is struggling financially. Watson describes the constant eerie sounds of the moor at night, including what sounds like a distant howl.

Section 9: The Light upon the Moor

Watson and Sir Henry see the light again in the Barrymores' window. They watch Barrymore signaling someone on the moor. They confront him, and Barrymore, in tears, confesses that the signals are for his wife's brother, Selden, the escaped convict, who is hiding on the moor. They provide him with food. While searching for Selden, Watson and Sir Henry hear the distinct, terrifying howl of a hound, closer than ever before. They fail to catch Selden, but confirm the sound of the hound is real.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Selden	Escaped convict, Eliza Barrymore's brother	Escape capture, survive on the moor.

Section 10: Extracts from the Diary of Dr. Watson

Watson learns from Barrymore that Sir Charles had received a letter from a woman, with the initials L.L., requesting a meeting on the night of his death. This woman is identified as Laura Lyons. Watson also discovers evidence that someone else is living on the moor, observing everyone. He finds a hidden stone hut and assumes it's Selden, but it turns out to be someone more sophisticated, leaving behind a note meant for him. Watson is now convinced there is an unknown party interfering.

Section 11: The Man on the Tor

Watson observes the mysterious man on the tor and, after a brief chase, discovers that it is Sherlock Holmes himself. Holmes reveals that he came to Dartmoor in secret, distrusting everyone and wanting to observe the case unfold without his presence influencing events. He confirms his suspicions about Jack Stapleton and explains that Stapleton is actually a Baskerville himself, Rodger Baskerville, a distant relative thought to be dead, who is trying to claim the inheritance by eliminating all other heirs.

Section 12: Death on the Moor

Holmes, Watson, and Sir Henry are tracking Selden when they hear the mournful cries of the hound. They find a body on the moor, horribly disfigured. Initially, they believe it to be Sir Henry, as the clothes are his. However, they soon realize it is Selden, who had been given Sir Henry's old clothes by Barrymore. Stapleton, mistaking Selden for Sir Henry, set his hound upon him. This incident provides concrete proof that Stapleton is actively hunting down the Baskerville heirs with a real, trained hound.

Section 13: Fixing the Nets

Holmes and Watson confront Laura Lyons, who initially seems hesitant to cooperate. However, under Holmes's sharp questioning, she admits that Stapleton promised to marry her and tricked her into writing the letter to Sir Charles, which lured him to his death. She had expected to receive money from Sir Charles to divorce her husband, but Stapleton manipulated her, intending to marry her only after he secured the Baskerville inheritance. She now realizes Stapleton's true villainy and provides crucial evidence against him.

Section 14: The Hound of the Baskervilles

With enough evidence, Holmes, Watson, and Inspector Lestrade (who Holmes secretly called in) set a trap for Stapleton. Sir Henry is used as bait, walking alone across the moor towards Merripit House. As expected, the monstrous hound, now revealed to be a real dog painted with phosphorus to glow in the dark, attacks Sir Henry. Holmes and Watson shoot the beast, saving Sir Henry. They pursue Stapleton, who attempts to escape through the Grimpen Mire, but he falls victim to the treacherous bog, his fate sealed by the very land he tried to conquer.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Inspector Lestrade	Scotland Yard detective, competent, professional	Assist Holmes in criminal investigations, uphold the law.

Section 15: A Retrospection

Holmes explains the entire case to Watson, tying up all loose ends. He reveals that Jack Stapleton was actually Rodger Baskerville, the son of Rodger Baskerville Sr., Sir Charles's younger brother, who was believed to have died childless in South America. Rodger Jr. assumed a new identity, married Beryl (who he passed off as his sister), and moved to Dartmoor to be near Baskerville Hall, plotting to claim the inheritance. He trained a monstrous, half-bloodhound, half-mastiff dog, using phosphorus to create the illusion of a supernatural beast, terrifying his victims to death or hunting them down. He had stolen Sir Henry's boots to get the scent for his hound. Holmes concludes that Stapleton's greed led to his ultimate downfall in the mire.

Literary Genre

Detective fiction, mystery, gothic fiction, suspense.

Author Details

Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) was a Scottish writer and physician, best known as the creator of the iconic detective Sherlock Holmes. He wrote four novels and 56 short stories featuring Holmes and Dr. Watson, profoundly influencing the detective fiction genre. Beyond Holmes, Doyle was a prolific writer, contributing to historical novels, science fiction, plays, and poetry. He was a pioneer in the early fantasy genre and also penned non-fiction works, advocating for spiritualism later in his life.

Moral of the Story

The primary moral of 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' is the triumph of reason and logic over superstition and perceived supernatural evil. Holmes consistently seeks a rational explanation for seemingly inexplicable events, demonstrating that even the most terrifying legends can be debunked by scientific investigation and keen observation. The story also highlights the dangers of greed and manipulation, showing how human avarice can lead to monstrous acts, and how appearances can be deceiving, as the villain hides behind a facade of respectability.

Curiosities

• Inspiration: The novel was inspired by local legends of phantom hounds on Dartmoor, particularly the tale of Squire Richard Cabell of Brook Manor in Buckfastleigh, a real-life historical figure whose burial site was said to be haunted by spectral hounds. Conan Doyle's friend and journalist, Bertram Fletcher Robinson, shared these stories and details about the Dartmoor landscape, which heavily influenced the setting.
• Holmes's Return: 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' marked the highly anticipated return of Sherlock Holmes after Conan Doyle had "killed him off" in 'The Final Problem' (1893). Although published after Holmes's supposed death, the events of 'Hound' are chronologically set before the Reichenbach Falls incident, allowing Holmes to reappear without fully resurrecting him.
• Watson's Role: For a significant portion of the story, Holmes is conspicuously absent from Baskerville Hall, and the narrative focuses on Dr. Watson's observations and deductions. This provides Watson with a more central and active role than in many other Holmes stories, showcasing his own investigative capabilities, albeit still a step below Holmes's genius.
• Gothic Elements: The novel effectively blends detective fiction with strong gothic elements, including an ancient curse, a desolate and menacing landscape (Dartmoor), a haunted ancestral home, and a looming sense of dread and the supernatural.
• Serialization: Like many works of its time, 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' was first published serially in The Strand Magazine from August 1901 to April 1902 before being released as a full novel.