In the mid-18th century, the evil master of the Manor of Baskerville brings a curse down upon his descendants. Wicked and selfish to the core, Sir Hugo Baskerville kidnaps a maiden from a nearby farm. He locks her away in a room in his spacious manor. While she awaits a terrible fate, he goes downstairs to sup and drink with his dishonorable friends. The maiden, desperate, escapes and flees for her life across the dark moor. Sir Hugo discovers her flight, and makes chase - with his hounds.
Sir Hugo's friends follow him. They stop a night shepherd to ask directions, and he replies that Sir Hugo was seen, running away from "a hound of hell." Three of the men continue in their search, only to find death and horror. The maiden is dead: "dead of fear and of fatigue." Close to her form is the mutilated body of Sir Hugo, brought down by the hound.
". . . there stood a foul thing, a great, black beast, shaped like a hound, yet larger than any hound that ever mortal eye has rested upon. And even as they looked the thing tore the throat out of Hugo Baskerville, on which, as it turned its blazing eyes and dripping jaws upon them, the three shrieked with fear and rode for dear life, still screaming, across the moor. One, it is said, died that very night of what he had seen, and the other twain were but broken men for the rest of their days.
"Such is the tale, my sons, of the coming of the hound which is said to have plagued the family so sorely ever since. If I have set it down it is because that which is clearly known hath less terror than that which is but hinted at and guessed. Nor can it be denied that many of the family have been unhappy in their deaths which have been sudden, bloody, and mysterious. Yet may we shelter ourselves in the infinite goodness of Providence, which would not for ever punish the innocent beyond that third and fourth generation which is threatened in Holy Writ. To that Providence, my sons, I hereby commend you, and I counsel you by way of caution to forbear from crossing the moor in those dark hours when the powers of evil are exalted."*
Now, in the later years of the nineteenth century, a descendant, Sir Charles Baskerville, lives in the shadow of this curse. He is found dead in the grounds of his manor. His body is found by his butler, Barrymore. On Sir Charles's face is a look of horror. The diagnosis is cardiac exhaustion. His mysterious death is attributed to the Hound.
Before his nephew and heir, Sir Henry Baskerville, can arrive at the manor, Dr. Mortimer brings the case, the legend, and his concerns for Sir Henry's safety to Mr. Sherlock Holmes at 221B Baker Street. Holmes listens to the case, but appears to be little interested in this "supernatural" hound and the curse. Instead, he sends Dr. Watson with Dr. Mortimer and Sir Henry to Baskerville Hall. Dr. Watson's instructions are to write detailed reports and mail them to Holmes in London.
The beginning of the novel follows Dr. Watson and his investigation and adventures at Baskerville Hall and the nearby village. Besides meeting Barrymore and his wife, Watson makes the acquaintance of a neighbor, Mr. Stapleton and his sister, Miss Stapleton. But the plot thickens, the night comes, and the houd roams the moore.
An excellent edition of "The Hound of the Baskervilles" and other Sherlock Holmes mysteries is The Original Illustrated Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. 37 short stories and a complete novel from The Strand Magazine. They are printed so as to look like they did in the magazine, and they include the dates when each story was released. It an excellent book for all Sherlock Holmes fans. (This is not meant as an advertisement :), but as a suggestion for all book lovers and Holmes fans!)
*All quotations are from this source:
Doyle, Arthur Conan. "The Hound of the Baskervilles." McClure, Philips & Co., 1902. Print. Doyle, Arthur Conan. "The Original Illustrated Sherlock Holmes." Edison, New Jersey: CASTLE BOOKS, A Division of Book Sales, Inc. Print.
Sir Hugo's friends follow him. They stop a night shepherd to ask directions, and he replies that Sir Hugo was seen, running away from "a hound of hell." Three of the men continue in their search, only to find death and horror. The maiden is dead: "dead of fear and of fatigue." Close to her form is the mutilated body of Sir Hugo, brought down by the hound.
". . . there stood a foul thing, a great, black beast, shaped like a hound, yet larger than any hound that ever mortal eye has rested upon. And even as they looked the thing tore the throat out of Hugo Baskerville, on which, as it turned its blazing eyes and dripping jaws upon them, the three shrieked with fear and rode for dear life, still screaming, across the moor. One, it is said, died that very night of what he had seen, and the other twain were but broken men for the rest of their days.
"Such is the tale, my sons, of the coming of the hound which is said to have plagued the family so sorely ever since. If I have set it down it is because that which is clearly known hath less terror than that which is but hinted at and guessed. Nor can it be denied that many of the family have been unhappy in their deaths which have been sudden, bloody, and mysterious. Yet may we shelter ourselves in the infinite goodness of Providence, which would not for ever punish the innocent beyond that third and fourth generation which is threatened in Holy Writ. To that Providence, my sons, I hereby commend you, and I counsel you by way of caution to forbear from crossing the moor in those dark hours when the powers of evil are exalted."*
Now, in the later years of the nineteenth century, a descendant, Sir Charles Baskerville, lives in the shadow of this curse. He is found dead in the grounds of his manor. His body is found by his butler, Barrymore. On Sir Charles's face is a look of horror. The diagnosis is cardiac exhaustion. His mysterious death is attributed to the Hound.
Before his nephew and heir, Sir Henry Baskerville, can arrive at the manor, Dr. Mortimer brings the case, the legend, and his concerns for Sir Henry's safety to Mr. Sherlock Holmes at 221B Baker Street. Holmes listens to the case, but appears to be little interested in this "supernatural" hound and the curse. Instead, he sends Dr. Watson with Dr. Mortimer and Sir Henry to Baskerville Hall. Dr. Watson's instructions are to write detailed reports and mail them to Holmes in London.
The beginning of the novel follows Dr. Watson and his investigation and adventures at Baskerville Hall and the nearby village. Besides meeting Barrymore and his wife, Watson makes the acquaintance of a neighbor, Mr. Stapleton and his sister, Miss Stapleton. But the plot thickens, the night comes, and the houd roams the moore.
An excellent edition of "The Hound of the Baskervilles" and other Sherlock Holmes mysteries is The Original Illustrated Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. 37 short stories and a complete novel from The Strand Magazine. They are printed so as to look like they did in the magazine, and they include the dates when each story was released. It an excellent book for all Sherlock Holmes fans. (This is not meant as an advertisement :), but as a suggestion for all book lovers and Holmes fans!)
*All quotations are from this source:
Doyle, Arthur Conan. "The Hound of the Baskervilles." McClure, Philips & Co., 1902. Print. Doyle, Arthur Conan. "The Original Illustrated Sherlock Holmes." Edison, New Jersey: CASTLE BOOKS, A Division of Book Sales, Inc. Print.
