Maria: The Hound of the Baskervilles

Title: The Hound of the Baskervilles

Author: Arthur Conan Doyle

Copyright date: 1996

Number of pages: 147

Genre: crime fiction

To begin with, the story is about the sudden, macabre death of Sir Charles Baskerville who was a rich, amiable, and generous gentleman. Dr. Mortimer, Sir Charles' personal friend and medical attendant, has some doubts about his friend's death being from natural causes. He asks Sherlock Holmes, the famous detective, for help.

The main characters are Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson, Dr. Mortimer, and Sir Henry Baskerville, Sir Charles' nephew. Holmes is always extremely observant and unpredictable in his actions. He associates things between which, at first glance, there is no connection. Dr. Watson is intelligent, too. He is honest and reliable person whom Holmes trusts. Dr. Mortimer is sensible and admired; besides, he has reasons for every decision he makes. Sir Henry Baskerville is quite young, so he expresses his emotions stronger than other characters. However, he has a good head on his shoulders.

The book is set in the nineteenth century in England. The story begins in London where Sherlock Holmes and Watson are at Holmes' apartment on Baker Street. Later they have to go to Devonshire to make farther investigations on their case.

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are visited by Dr. Mortimer who tells them about the mystery around the death of Sir Charles Baskerville. First, he tells them the legend about the Hound of the Baskervilles. Hugo Baskerville came to love the daughter of a yeoman , but she would avoid him for his bad reputation. One day Hugo kidnapped the maiden and imprisoned her in Baskerville Hall. She managed to escape, so Hugo put his hounds upon her. The maiden was found frightened to death, and next to her was laying Hugo, killed by a hound.

Then Dr. Mortimer introduces an article , recently published in a newspaper. It announces the death of Sir Charles and gives more details about it along with how it affected tha local community. Furthermore, Mortimer shares his own observations. Finally, he describes the scene and reveals the shocking fact that he noticed - some little distance off the corpse there were footprints, the footprints of an enormous hound.

On the next day Holmes and Dr. Watson meet Henry Baskerville. Holmes will travel to Devonshire later because he is working on another case in London, so Watson is going with Dr. Mortimer and Sir Henry on the appointed day. The detective and his friend have an agreement that Watson will report everything that happens there to Holmes.

The suspects are John and Eliza Barrymore, Laura Lyons, Mr. Jack Stapleton and Miss Beryl Stapleton. The Barrymores have been servants in Baskerville Hall for a long time. They are obedient and respectful; nevertheless, they are fairly surreptitious. Watson notices that almost every night John Barrymore visits a particular window in the Hall and carries a candle; besides, his wife Eliza always seems worried and sad. It turns up that Selden, a convict who recently escaped prison and is now hiding in the moor, is her brother. Mr. Barrymore sends a signal with the candle to him, so he can expect that he will be given food.

John Barrymore happens to know that Sir Charles Baskerville was going to meet a woman on the night of his death. Sir Charles received only one letter that day; thus, John remembered that it was from Coombe Tracey and was addressed by a woman. Eliza Barrymore found a piece of the letter among the ashes on the grate while she was cleaning Sir Charles' study. She could read the initials 'L.L.'. After an inquiry, Watson finds out that the only woman whose initials are those is Laura Lyons. She is the daughter of one of Sir Charles' neighbours - Mr. Frankland. She had an unhappy marriage with an artist named Lyons. In a conversation with Watson she admits that Mr. Stapleton persuaded her to write to Sir Charles.

The Staplesons live in Merripit House which is not far from Baskerville Hall. They are known as a brother and a sister. Holmes is very suspicious about them; consequently, he does a research which shows that Jack and Beryl Stapleton are actually husband and wife instead of siblings. The detective finds out that Jack has changed his name and is a Baskerville indeed. This gives the motive for the murder. Holmes is certain that Mr. Stapleton will try to kill Sir Henry, too, so he can be the only heir. One evening Sir Henry is invited to have dinner at Merripit House. Holmes and Dr. Watson wait outside for the young Baskerville to leave because they know that as soon as this happens, Jack will release his hound. Fortunately, the detective and his friend manage to shoot the beast before it hurts Sir Henry seriously. Mr. Stapleton realizes that he will go to prison; hence, he hides out in the mire where he finds his death.

What impressed me about the novel is that it was full of action, and it was never boring. In addition, it was quite short which makes it even easier to read. The plot was completely developed although the book was not long. The one thing I didn't like is that it became obvious who was the murderer too early in the story. However, the author managed to include many twists . Finally, I think that the book is worth reading, and I recommend it to anybody who fancies crime fiction.