Introduction to The Hounds of Baskervilles By Arthur Conan Doyle The Hound of the Baskervilles is the third of four crime novels 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.

Doyle’s Inspiration South England In 1901, Doyle vacationed in the moors of Dartmoor with a childhood friend.

Here, local legend told of hounds that roamed the moors at night Dartmoor abounds with myths and legends. It is reputedly the haunt of pixies, a headless horseman, a mysterious pack of 'spectral hounds', and a large black dog. Duringthe Great Thunderstorm of 1638, Dartmoor town of Widecombe-in-the-moor was even said to have been visited by the Devil. Here, local legend told of hounds that roamed the moors at night

The Fox Tores Mire = Grimpen Mire? Fowelscombe Hall Hayford Hall Real sites thought to be possible models for the setting of the story and Baskerville Hall The Fox Tores Mire = Grimpen Mire?

The real Baskervilles? The name came from last name of a servant of Doyle’s friend. Book inscribe with: "To Harry Baskerville, with apologies for using the name.“ More likely inspired by Sir Richard Cabell, who was said to have sold his soul to the devil and killed his wife when she tried to escape.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Born in Scotland, 1859 Studied to become a doctor. Impressed with a professor’s practice of using deductive reasoning to diagnose disease. Began writing Sherlock Holmes stories in 1890, where they were serialized in popular magazines. The first widely popular were a series of short stories.

In 1893, he “killed” off Holmes in the novel The Final Solution, but the public outcry was great. In 1902, Doyle returned to the character of Holmes by writing a prequel story, That was called The Hounds of Baskerville

DETECTIVE FICTION a novel or short story in which a detective (either professional or amateur) investigates and solves a crime

ORIGINS Father of Detective Fiction is Edgar Allan Poe "The Murders in the Rue Morgue“ Characteristics of Poe’s detective fiction set the standard for mystery genre

THE MYSTERY GENRE The Basic Definition • A subgenre of narrative fiction; often thought of as a detective story. Usually involves a mysterious death or a crime to be solved. In a closed circle of suspects, each suspect must have a credible motive and a reasonable opportunity for committing the crime.

Protagonist The central character eventually solves the mystery by logical deduction from facts fairly presented to the reader. This classic structure is the basis for hundreds of variations on the form. The protagonist may have a “sidekick.” Poe used this “assistant” for comic relief. Sidekick: Watson

Narrative Techniques Foreshadowing—clues left by the author as to possible outcomes. Suspense—having to hold various possible conclusions at bay as you wait to see what happens; reader is expected to enjoy the suspense, and to read to find out what will happen.

Narrative Techniques Ratiocination: the activity or process of reasoning – Poe’s name for deductive reasoning: one must eliminate the impossible to conclude the possible – make logical inferences

Narrative Techniques Red herring—a kind of foreshadowing clue that leads the reader to false conclusions. Inference Gaps—mysteries, by their very nature, do not tell the whole story. It is up to readers to notice the gaps in the story and try to fill these gaps by using and connecting the information that is presented. Hidden Evidence is presented, i.e., essential details are offered in such a way that they seem unimportant.

Plot Use of Forensic pathology: determining the cause of death by examining the cadaver – Poe introduced this in fiction Twist of plot in the end In Poe’s detective fiction, the reader has been unknowingly introduced to the murderer at some point before the crime is solved