The Hound of the Baskervilles: Another Adventure of Sherlock Holmes (Penguin Clothbound Classics)

This is a lovely paperback edition of the old, much-loved and always fascinating story. It's a real pleasure to handle the book, the print is very clear, and no matter how many times you have read this story it remains absolutely fascinating. From the very beginning, when we learn about the legend of the Hound and the dangers to the Baskerville family, it is gripping. What I love about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's writing is that not a word is wasted in any of his Sherlock Holmes stories, and I love being taken back to the London of those times, when you could send out for maps, when there were hansom cabs, etc., and the world was so different. The novel takes you back in time completely, because the settings are so vivid. I was delighted to be able to replace my old copy, which had fallen apart (I bought it many, many decades ago) and enjoy the book afresh.

The Hound of the Baskervilles opens with the story of an ancient, aristocratic Devonshire family haunted by a mythic hound, continually hell-bent on avenging an injustice committed by a Lord Baskerville many generations ago. Sherlock Holmes investigates the recent death of the latest Lord, and threats made to the next Baskerville heir. Holmes is not a man for superstition. Scientific in his approach to crime solving, he does not take kindly to supernatural hounds stalking around Devonshire seeking vengeance for past wrongs. I had no trouble seeing that you could easily poke fun at The Hound of the Baskervilles. While there is great descriptive writing, the dialogue is stiff, with little variation between voices. The main characters, whether they are upper class Englishmen, women or Americans, all sound like upper class Englishmen. Characters of the lower classes are incapable of doing anything helpful without a half sovereign to persuade them towards correct behaviour. Holmes puffs hopelessly on his appalling shag tobacco, while somehow remaining a finely tuned physical specimen, ready to run any villain to ground and administer a sound thrashing. Beyond all that, however, The Hound of the Baskervilles is actually a fascinating study of science. So bear with me and let’s investigate. The scientific method involves isolating a limited number of variables, while keeping everything else the same. That way you work out the effect of those few factors you have isolated. This is what Holmes does. He creates the limits of a controlled experiment. He begins to investigate the Baskerville case from his Baker Street office in London, laying in a large quantity of the strongest shag tobacco. Shutting himself away from the countless variables of the city, he concentrates his mind on the few facts of his case. The resulting smoky, poisonous atmosphere in his room disgusts Holmes’s assistant, Dr. Watson. Watson tries unsuccessfully to persuade Holmes to leave a window open. The great detective, however, works by closing windows. He looks forward to moving the scene of his investigation from London to Dartmoor. There, instead of a city full of variables, he enjoys the prospect of concentrating his investigation on the few inhabitants of Dartmoor living close to Baskerville Hall. This is a characteristic set-up for detective fiction: think of Agatha Christie’s train marooned by snow in Murder on the Orient Express. Holmes is undeniably successful in his forensic studies, but the story of his investigation also suggests that life refuses to see itself as a few isolated factors. Life is like London, a teeming mass of interrelationships. Holmes’ smoke-filled Baker Street room does not suggest the clear light of truth and neither does Dartmoor. Fog is a defining feature of both. This is what I liked about The Hound of the Baskervilles. This is crime fiction saying that science isn’t the only way to find out about life.

Fantastic novel! This is my first delve into the world of Conan Doyle and his Sherlock Holmes. Thought I would start with the most famous, and I am not disappointed!

This is a crime novel focusing on mystery and murder. It is 256 pages (or approximately 6 hours long). I listened to this version in the car to and from my exams and I loved it! The Hound of Baskerville begins in the office of Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson. They are trying to work out who was trying to visit them based upon a wooden cane that was left there. They conclude that the man was a doctor and the stick was a present given to him when he left working at a city hospital to open up a country practice. This conclusion is reached because of the letters CCH, which they take to stand for Charing Cross Hospital, and the fact the stick is fairly worn, which they say explains the walking required for a village doctor. This beginning set the story up perfectly because it encouraged the reader to pay close attention and look for clues. Once the visitor, Dr Mortimer, returns he tells Watson and Holmes the tale of The Hound of Baskerville. It is an ancient family legend concerning the Baskervilles. It explains how an evil ancestor of the Baskervilles was cursed and killed by a hellhound many years ago. Now Sir Charles Baskerville has died and the details of the death don’t add up… This causes Dr Mortimer to ask Holmes and Watson: does it have anything to do with the legend? There were plenty of twists throughout which kept me guessing and certainly threw me off the scent. The plot was good and there was constantly the debate between a rational explanation and a supernatural cause, which was interesting. The ending was perfect: everything was tied up nicely and all the clues were explained. After reading this I will definitely be picking up some more Sherlock Holmes novels.

A fantastic story by one of the greats. I just wish I'd read this when I was much younger. I recommend this for all ages and is an excellent example of Sir Arthur Conan Doyles work (of which I have read most.) In my humble opinion, Sir Arthur was on a par - if not better than Dickens. The stories are tense, informative and give an insight of the Psychology of a "Forensic thinker" - Something which is hardly ever noted when referring to Conan Doyles work. Hound of the Baskervilles is a prime example of such a story. Everything from his sweeping descriptions of Dartmoor (of which I know plenty) to his character building. And of course, the odd literary red herring that takes you one way with your thinking, and then yanks you back with a fact that you, yourself as a reader; will often overlook. This cost me 99p on a kindle. A steal. And I recommend it to literary enthusiasts, mystery buffs and beginning detective types alike.

L'anglais est cependant très soutenu et un peu complexe à lire

A truly wonderful hbk edition of the Hound! Very high-quality!

لقد وصلني بغلاف مختلف !!

L’articolo in questione si distingue come un esempio di eccellenza assoluta, un lavoro che combina rigore, chiarezza e profondità in modo magistrale. Fin dal primo paragrafo si percepisce un’impostazione solida, frutto di una ricerca attenta e di una comprensione completa dell’argomento. È uno di quei testi che catturano immediatamente, non solo per il contenuto, ma per la capacità dell’autore di accompagnare il lettore con naturalezza e lucidità. La narrazione è fluida e ben articolata: ogni sezione si collega alla precedente con logica impeccabile, dando vita a un flusso continuo che rende la lettura piacevole e mai faticosa. Anche i passaggi più complessi risultano facilmente comprensibili grazie a spiegazioni puntuali, esempi calzanti e un linguaggio accurato ma accessibile. L’autore mostra una padronanza sorprendente, riuscendo a semplificare senza banalizzare e ad approfondire senza appesantire. Particolarmente notevole è l’equilibrio tra analisi e sintesi: l’articolo offre una panoramica completa del tema, senza perdere di vista i dettagli essenziali che arricchiscono la comprensione generale. Ogni argomentazione è supportata da considerazioni ben sviluppate e osservazioni acute, che contribuiscono a dare al testo una grande autorevolezza. Si avverte una cura autentica nella scelta delle fonti, nell’impostazione dei paragrafi e nella costruzione del discorso. Lo stile è elegante, professionale e allo stesso tempo coinvolgente. Le frasi scorrono leggere, senza inutili complicazioni, ma con una precisione lessicale che testimonia competenza e attenzione. Il tono rimane sempre equilibrato: informativo, ma mai freddo; dettagliato, ma mai eccessivamente tecnico. È il tipo di scrittura che sa parlare sia ai lettori esperti sia a chi si avvicina per la prima volta al tema. Un altro punto di forza è la capacità dell’articolo di lasciare qualcosa oltre la semplice informazione: suscita domande, ispira nuove prospettive, invita a guardare il tema trattato con occhi diversi. È raro trovare contenuti che riescano a unire valore divulgativo e stimolo intellettuale con una tale naturalezza. In definitiva, questo articolo è un lavoro eccellente, costruito con professionalità, lucidità e passione. Riesce a essere completo, accurato e avvincente allo stesso tempo, e rappresenta un modello di riferimento per chiunque aspiri a comunicare contenuti complessi in modo efficace e raffinato. Un testo davvero meritevole di elogio.

Doyle is a great storyteller and it is evident in this classic thriller. Get yourself a coffee, sit in your favourite chair and prepare to be entertained!