Book details
The Hound of the Baskervilles: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery
Description
The country doctor had come to 221B Baker Street, the famous lodgings of Sherlock Holmes, with an eerie tale-the legend of the Hound of the Baskervilles, the devil-beast that haunted the lonely moors around the Baskervilles' ancestral home. The tale warned the descendants of that ancient family never to venture out on the moor. But Sir Charles Baskerville was now dead-and the footprints of a giant hound have been found near his body. Would the new heir of the Baskervilles meet the same dreadful fate? Sherlock Holmes and his faithful friend, Dr. Watson, are faced with their most terrifying case in this wonderful classic of masterful detection and bone-chilling suspense.The Hound of the Baskervilles is the third of the four crime novels written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle featuring the detective Sherlock Holmes. Originally serialised in The Strand Magazine from August 1901 to April 1902, it is set largely on Dartmoor in Devon in England's West Country and tells the story of an attempted murder inspired by the legend of a fearsome, diabolical hound of supernatural origin. Sherlock Holmes and his companion Dr. Watson investigate the case. This was the first appearance of Holmes since his apparent death in "The Final Problem", and the success of The Hound of the Baskervilles led to the character's eventual revival.One of the most famous stories ever written, in 2003, the book was listed as number 128 of 200 on the BBC's The Big Read poll of the UK's "best-loved novel". In 1999, it was listed as the top Holmes novel, with a perfect rating from Sherlockian scholars of 100.
Age
11-12
Text complexity
proficient
Length
134 pages
Book in series
#3
Why to read
- Classic Detective Story: 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' is one of the most famous and enduring stories in the Sherlock Holmes canon, offering readers a quintessential detective narrative filled with suspense, intrigue, and the clever deductions of the iconic detective.
- Atmospheric Setting: The novel is set on the mysterious and fog-laden moors of Devonshire, which adds a gothic and eerie atmosphere to the tale. This setting enhances the suspense and provides a perfect backdrop for the supernatural elements of the story.
- Complex Characters: Beyond the brilliant detective himself, the novel introduces a cast of complex characters, each with their own secrets and motivations. This complexity adds depth to the story and provides a rich exploration of human nature and psychology.
- Themes of Logic vs. Supernatural: The novel explores the tension between logic and the supernatural, as Sherlock Holmes applies his rational approach to a case that appears to be cursed by a mythical hound. This theme invites readers to consider the balance between reason and the unexplained.