The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Condensed Version by LitBits™ Audio
The Hound of the Baskervilles was written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and first serialized in The Strand Magazine in 1901–1902 before being published as a novel in 1902. It marked the return of Sherlock Holmes after Conan Doyle famously killed off the detective in an earlier story, much to the dismay of his fans. The book was an immediate success, quickly establishing itself as a classic within the detective genre and revitalizing public fascination with Holmes and Watson.
Over the years, The Hound of the Baskervilles has sold millions of copies worldwide, solidifying its place as one of the best-loved works in detective fiction. It has been translated into numerous languages, and its enduring appeal has led to countless adaptations in film, television, radio, and stage. Today, The Hound of the Baskervilles remains not only a hallmark of Conan Doyle’s work but also a foundational story in the mystery and suspense genre.
The Curse of the Baskervilles
In the heart of London, on a foggy evening, Dr. John Watson was reflecting on recent cases with his companion and world-renowned detective, Sherlock Holmes, when an unexpected visitor arrived: Dr. James Mortimer. Dr. Mortimer, a tall, nervous man, presented Holmes with a perplexing tale and an ancient manuscript—an old family legend about the Baskerville family, dating back hundreds of years.
The story went that Hugo Baskerville, a reckless ancestor, had met a dark fate. In his pursuit of a farmer’s daughter across the moors, Hugo was said to have unleashed a supernatural hound, a creature so fierce it tore him to shreds, leaving a curse on his bloodline. Generations later, Sir Charles Baskerville, the latest family heir, had been found dead at his Dartmoor estate, his face frozen in terror. Nearby, on the damp ground, were paw prints—far too large for any ordinary dog.
Dr. Mortimer insisted there was something unnatural about Sir Charles’s death, and now, with Sir Henry Baskerville, the last living Baskerville, arriving in England to claim his inheritance, he feared for the young man’s life.
Holmes, intrigued by the mix of folklore and reality, decided they would protect Sir Henry and uncover the truth. Watson would accompany Sir Henry to Baskerville Hall while Holmes attended to other matters in London but remained a silent observer, ready to intervene when needed.
Meeting Sir Henry
The next morning, Sir Henry Baskerville arrived at Holmes’s Baker Street office—a sturdy, practical man with a hint of the rugged life he’d lived in Canada. But even he couldn’t brush off the unease he felt. Since his arrival in London, strange things had been happening. That very morning, he had found a threatening letter waiting at his hotel, the words clipped from a newspaper: “As you value your life or your reason, keep away from the moor.”
Holmes examined the letter with keen interest, his eyes narrowing. “Whoever sent this didn’t want their handwriting recognized,” he noted, “and they’re warning you for a reason. Someone close by, but hidden.”
Just as Holmes began piecing together the mystery, Sir Henry reported yet another oddity—one of his new boots had gone missing, only to turn up again after a different boot was taken. It seemed like small change, but to Holmes, it hinted at an unsettling obsession.
Despite these warnings, Sir Henry was determined to go to Baskerville Hall. Holmes agreed but insisted that Dr. Watson accompany him as both a protector and his eyes on the ground. Watson packed his bag, and within the hour, he and Sir Henry were on the train to Dartmoor, where Baskerville Hall awaited—along with a sense of dread that even Watson couldn’t ignore.
As they traveled, Watson couldn’t shake the shadow that seemed to hang over Sir Henry. Was it just the fear of an old legend, or was something far more tangible stalking him?
As Watson and Sir Henry arrived at Baskerville Hall, the weight of the legend settled over them. The Hall itself was vast and somber, with heavy stone walls and dark corners, a mansion built to withstand both weather and time. From the first night, Watson felt as though they were being watched, the ancient walls carrying whispers of the past.
The surrounding moorland stretched out for miles, a haunting, mist-shrouded expanse where the howls of distant creatures seemed to echo. The moor had its own kind of emptiness, both beautiful and menacing, and locals were reluctant to speak about the strange sights they claimed to have seen there—unearthly lights, ominous shapes. One night, Watson even thought he saw a faint glow on the moor, flickering like a distant lantern before disappearing into the darkness.
Adding to the mystery were the curious residents of the estate: the reserved housekeeper, Mrs. Barrymore, and her husband, who was known to wander the halls at odd hours. Late one night, Watson caught a glimpse of Barrymore holding a candle up to a window, his face filled with an intensity Watson couldn’t quite place. When questioned, Barrymore gave vague answers, his evasiveness only fueling Watson’s suspicions.
Watson couldn’t shake the feeling that there were hidden motives and secrets lurking around every corner. Even Sir Henry, usually confident, had become wary and restless. Every day, Watson wrote letters to Holmes, describing each detail, every unsettling event, hoping Holmes would see the pattern Watson couldn’t.
One day, Watson met a recluse living on the moor—a shadowy figure named Stapleton and his sister, Beryl. Stapleton was strangely intense, his fascination with the moor almost obsessive. He warned Watson to stay away from certain areas, especially Grimpen Mire, a treacherous bog that had claimed the lives of unwary travelers and livestock alike. Beryl, however, was different—nervous and guarded, and when she had a moment alone with Watson, she whispered, “Get Sir Henry away from here… he’s in terrible danger.”
Watson’s sense of urgency grew, as did the mystery. Was there a threat out on the moor, or was it all an illusion, a combination of legends and fear? He continued his watch, feeling the tension tighten, and hoping Holmes would soon arrive to help unravel the truth.
The Hound Revealed
One dark, fog-laden night, Watson's suspicions came to a head. After hearing from a local about strange sightings near Grimpen Mire, he decided to investigate. As he reached the edge of the bog, he spotted something moving in the shadows—a figure he recognized immediately: Sherlock Holmes.
Holmes had been on the moor all along, keeping a careful watch. He explained that he had stayed undercover to observe Stapleton, the man Watson had met on the moor. Holmes suspected that Stapleton was more than just a curious naturalist—he was, in fact, a hidden Baskerville, with a secret claim to the family estate. Driven by greed, Stapleton had been orchestrating a terrifying plot to eliminate Sir Henry and take the inheritance for himself.
Holmes revealed that Stapleton had used a massive, fearsome hound to mimic the legendary Baskerville curse, exploiting the family’s superstitions to create a monster of his own making. The hound had been painted with a phosphorescent substance, causing it to glow eerily in the dark, giving it an otherworldly appearance.
Holmes and Watson quickly put a plan in place to catch Stapleton red-handed. They arranged for Sir Henry to walk across the moor alone, knowing the villain wouldn’t resist one final attempt. As Sir Henry walked through the mist, a low growl echoed across the landscape, followed by the rapid padding of enormous paws.
Then, through the thick fog, the hound appeared—a massive beast, its eyes glowing an unholy green, and foam dripping from its jaws. It charged at Sir Henry, who staggered back in terror. Holmes and Watson sprang into action, firing their guns at the creature. With a final shot, the hound collapsed, revealing itself as a mere dog, albeit a monstrous one, manipulated to incite fear.
With the creature defeated, they turned their attention to Stapleton, who, realizing his plot had failed, fled into the treacherous Grimpen Mire. In his desperation to escape, he wandered into the bog and was swallowed up by the mire, his fate as dark and hidden as his intentions had been.
With the mystery solved, Holmes and Watson returned to London, leaving Baskerville Hall safe for Sir Henry. The case of the Baskerville hound had been an elaborate ruse, rooted in deception rather than the supernatural, yet just as chilling. Holmes closed his notes on the case with one final thought: "Legends can haunt, but it’s often those with something to gain who make them real."
The Enduring Appeal of The Hound of the Baskervilles
Since its publication, The Hound of the Baskervilles has captivated readers with its clever blend of detective mystery, Gothic atmosphere, and psychological suspense. Part of its timeless appeal lies in the way it taps into universal themes: fear of the unknown, the pull of ancient curses and legends, and the danger lurking just beyond the light. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson’s contrasting personalities—Holmes’s brilliant logic paired with Watson’s grounded warmth—bring a human dimension that makes their adventures both thrilling and relatable.
This story’s success also comes from its adaptability. Every generation brings new interpretations of the moor, the hound, and the mystery. The atmosphere in The Hound of the Baskervilles works as well on film and television as it does on the page, lending itself to reinterpretations that keep it fresh and relevant.
For those interested in modern takes on The Hound of the Baskervilles, there are several popular adaptations:
- The 2002 BBC Film starring Richard Roxburgh and Ian Hart gives the story a more intense, dramatic twist while staying true to the dark tone of the novel.
- Sherlock, the BBC series (2012), offers a modernized version in the episode The Hounds of Baskerville, reimagining the curse with a scientific conspiracy and bringing the story into contemporary London.
- Elementary (2014), the American adaptation of Holmes starring Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu, takes a loose approach with references to the Baskerville legend in various episodes, nodding to the original story within a modern New York setting.
Each of these adaptations takes liberties with the story but maintains the core themes: an unsolvable mystery, suspense, and the courage required to face the unknown. The Hound of the Baskervilles has become more than just a novel; it’s a cultural touchstone that allows each generation to face its own “hound,” whatever form that may take.
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