Hound of the Baskervilles

Introduction

Sherlock Holmes story, 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' was popular when published and remains so today for a variety of reasons. Back in the Victorian period crimes stories were very well-liked by the public. A police force had just been formed and many people didn't yet know how it worked. Crime was on the rise and it wasn't safe to walk alone on the streets at night. People were fearful of the streets but were also intrigued by the changes that were occurring before them. This is when characters such as Holmes began to appear. Holmes' character was innovative idea as few crime fiction stories about detectives had been written before. A detective like Holmes was rarely found and could be described as an exotic character to the Victorians. The stories about the new detectives satisfied the general public's curiosity about the police force and the Holmes series began its popular era. Now a days though we are much more familiar with detectives and how they work because of television, radio etc. but a story like The Hound of the Baskervilles still appeals to us. As well as the book being part of the ever-popular crime fiction genre it also has many other aspects that make it such an exhilarating book. The way that Conan Doyle writes the book is very interesting to the reader. The story is told through the eyes of Watson and is also told in a diary kept by Watson. This adds a new dimension to the book and the way the book is written so well is the main reason why it remains popular today and why it was popular in the Victorian era. There are few detail so we have a clear picture of the surroundings. This helps us imagine being in the characters position and makes us feel more involved. The characters again help the book as they are so introvert, unique and believable. Watson helps the reader to understand the story and gives them an idea of what is going on from the point of view of a normal person. The reader can enjoy the book more because of Watson as they have a better understanding of the plot. Finally, the story line is a masterful one and there are many twists and turns as it begins to unravel. The reader is always on the edge and doesn't know what to expect which creates an exciting read. The book would not be so popular with out such an innovative plot. All these points I have prepared show why the book is so popular whateverthe era. Throughout The Hound of The Baskervilles, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle uses effective characterization, through the characters of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson to lure the readers in to the novel, and keep them in suspense with the complex plot that only Holmes himself seems to be able to understand. Doyle describes Holmes as " tall and lean obsessively clean using his cold, incisive, and ironical voice." When he hides in the Grimpen Mire, he not only arranges for supplies of food but for daily clean clothes and opportunities to bathe. Holmes' voice carries with it a certainty projecting quality that every word he speaks is the cold hard truth. A "brilliant" thinker obsessed with the intellectual aspects of criminal detection. Holmes is set up as a sort of super mastermind of all events surrounding the case. He is always two steps ahead of the reader, and three ahead of Watson. He is able to distinguish tobacco by smell, and even with the smallest of glimpses get a perfect image of any suspect. For example when the taxi cab is spotted trailing Holmes, and it speeds off, Holmes is able to make out the cab number only after a split second look over a long distance. "My dear Watson, clumsy as I have been, you surely do not seriously imagine that I neglected to get the number? 2704 is our man." (Doyle-39) In his "ironical" voice, he has not only managed to reveal that he has the cab number, but is also able to show up his superior detective skills. "[Holmes] displays his love of the chase; he is delighted that the villain is, like himself, brilliant, because he takes joy in the contest