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The Hound of the Baskervilles
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Hi Cathrine:I just happened to finish Hounds last night, a fitting read for the Irene-wait-out given the gloomy setting -- it also just happened to be where I was in the complete collection. I also remember reading it as a kid (and thought it was spooky at the time, I was unfamiliar with most of the books)...I did enjoy the adult re-read, but I too was disappointed at how little Sherlock showed up, and I felt Watson's pain, as he--and every other character--wanted Sherlock to be there too, to take the mantle of responsibility off of poor Watson. I also felt his peevishness at finding out later what Sherlock was actually doing while Watson did the heavy-lifting; I know now that I would not have been as charitable as Watson!!
I have yet to read the Mary Russell series, but I am glad to be prepared! Thanks.
Sherlock Holmes Was Wrong: Reopening the Case of the Hound of the BaskervillesFinished an interesting read recently. "Sherlock Holmes was Wrong: Reopening the case of the Hound Of the Baskervilles" is literaly a break down of the Holmes Novel that paints a picture of a different Murderer. I found the evidence convincing and thought his conclusions fit with a re-reading of the novel.
The actual style of the writing has much to be desired but it was translated from French so that might account for the dull bits.
I also feel that The Hound of the Baskervilles is my least favorite of the novels. I don't know exactly why... I am a big Watson fan so you would think that I would love it! Maybe it kinda reminded me too much of Scooby Doo with a "ghost" dog haunting the moors ect.
The Hound of the Baskervilles is one of my favorite novels of all time! Though the ending was weak compared to the rest of the awesome book.
Cathrine wrote: "Sherlock Holmes Was Wrong: Reopening the Case of the Hound of the BaskervillesFinished an interesting read recently. "Sherlock Holmes was Wrong: Reopening the case of the Hound O..."
Wow, is there a book like that? Hmmm, interesting.......
Cathrine wrote: "This is quite possibly the most famous of all Sherlock Holmes stories; it is certainly the most filmed. So I figured that it was about time to start a thread for it.This was the very first book..."
Well, actually, I found those parts which you thought were boring really interesting, but that's just my opinion. ;D
I agree that the absence of Holmes is a problem for his followers. However, I think the novel is remarkable for its atmosphere and for characters that are very approachable. The litigious Frankland, mounting those preposterous lawsuits and the plight of abused spouses, and even Mrs. Barrymore who continues to see Selden as her baby brother are still relatable - there is nothing dated about them.I have always thought it was a shame that there was never a really satisfying, well-produced film of HOB.
J. wrote: "I have always thought it was a shame that there was never a really satisfying, well-produced film of HOB." I agree! I could never stay awake for any of them. Even the Basil Rathbone one. Even the Granada version! I've tried like 3 times I don't think I've ever been awake for the ending. I am pretty horrible at staying conscious for most movies, though.
hi all.I have read this novel, I don't even remember how many times... I love the first chapter, Mr. Sherlock Holmes very much...
I simply adore this book as I have enjoyed it as paperback, ebook, audiobook, hardcover, borrowed, and finally bought the complete Holmes.
We are have a free weekend on one of the pay cable channels and they have been running the 2002 Hound. I think that I had seen some of it before but it didn't register. Of all the Hounds, this one seemed to have a lot going for it - the atmosphere, the interesting choice to set it at Christmas, very well shot. I really liked the actors who played the Barrymores and Beryl Stapleton. However, I think the casting was off in other respects - Watson wasn't robust enough, and I would have switched the Roxborough and Grant roles for the sake of a more appropriate physical type - though I have to admit, Grant was quite chilling as Stapleton. Mortimer was too old, of course - he usually is. The hound was a fair rendering - CGI, I guess.
Re: Hound. I cannot say with certainty how many times I have read this story. As someone in this thread mentioned: atmosphere! The story has wonderful atmosphere. It has been, and will remain, a favorite of mine. The movie versions: not so much. I prefer to imagine my 'hound', the size and ability of said canine pointing to a mastiff type animal rather than a hound.
This was the first ever Sherlock novel I read, so I wasn't exactly phased about Sherlock being away for most of the novel. I loved 'Hound of the Baskervilles' it certainly brang the foggy streets of London and its criminal underworld to life. In truth, I was slightly freaked out at first, the moore, the sounds, they were all very creepy. And the relevation that Sherlock was there...I squealed in delight! I love the end, the chase through the moor's...This is defiantly one of the best novels by Sir Doyle.
J. wrote: "I have always thought it was a shame that there was never a really satisfying, well-produced film of HOB." Though by no means perfect, I really enjoy both Peter Cushing versions of HOUN: the 1959 Hammer film and the 1968 BBC version. The 1939 Rathbone HOUN is by far the best Rathbone/Bruce offering and not a bad film on the whole.
One version of HOUN that is much better than one would think is the 1982 Tom Baker (aka the 4th Doctor) made for TV miniseries of HOUN.
Personally, the version I enjoy watching the most is the 1988 Granada/Jeremy Brett version. I'm really not sure why the Granada version is consistently met with a negative/tepid response - I suspect fans expect something 'more' from Brett and Hardwicke when it comes to HOUN and are disappointed that it ultimately comes off as 'just as good as' any of the other early Granada episodes.
I just downloaded the 1983 Ian Richardson take of HOUN (the only film/TV version I have not seen).
As an aside, one of the greatest byproducts of the various attempts at adapting HOUN to the big/small screen is the wealth of excellent movie posters (both in English and, usually more interestingly, foreign) created in the last 100 years. For a sample of what's available, click here: Google image search for HOUN movie posters. -m
Thanks for the link to the movie posters, Matt. This is my favorite:
Hi Joanna. That's an excellent one. I have to say I'm partial to the one below - it might not be the scariest/edgiest/etc, but it's strangely menacing in a simple, minimal way. And it's kind of cute:
m
I did today's blog on "The Hounds of the Baskervilles", talking about the problems with film and TV versions, mentioning the pluses in a few of them and capping it with a photo of an original choice for Stapleton. You can check it out @http://janetility.com/?p=618
J. wrote: "I did today's blog on "The Hounds of the Baskervilles", talking about the problems with film and TV versions, mentioning the pluses in a few of them and capping it with a photo of an original choic..."I was just watching The Hound of the Baskervilles with Tom Baker today. I agree that it was distracting to have the Doctor play Holmes, though there was a bit of me that thought it was unfair to think that but what are ya gonna do. I was most impresssed with the acting of Christopher Ravenscroft (which is the second best name I have ever heard, after Benedict Cumberbatch) as Stapleton.
I like the fact that the Baker one sticks so close to the dialogue and plotting of the Doyle work. I don't think it suffers at all. I did like the Christmas ball in the 2002 version, but I do wonder why so many versions have to detour away from what Doyle provided.
J. wrote: "I like the fact that the Baker one sticks so close to the dialogue and plotting of the Doyle work. I don't think it suffers at all. I did like the Christmas ball in the 2002 version, but I do wonde..."I was watching it with two friends who don't know HOUN very well and they were very confused by the disappearance of Sherlock during the middle two episodes. One said, "I'm sure he's in it more than that!" and I'm like, well actually...
I'll agree that parts of this novel sagged, but there was plenty to keep me interested. I'd just watched BBC Sherlock's version, and decided to read the original (since if I did as a kid, I didn't remember anything about it). The two are quite different.
J. wrote: "...I have always thought it was a shame that there was never a really satisfying, well-produced film of HOB. "I've always been partial to the Peter Cook/Dudley Moore version! Ha Ha.
Hound is actually my favorite Holmes story. In my opinion, had Holmes been in it more the story would not have been as good and certainly would have been much shorter. Dr. Watson was well up to the challenge of the case and I think Holmes knew it more than the readers would allow.The key for me was the atmosphere. Hound ranks on the same level as 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" in the spooky factor.
One of the big differences with this story is that most of the clues are presented to the reader without the filter of Holmes' observations. It lets you assemble the case in your own mind before Holmes comes in and lays things out. In the other stories Holmes is stressing certain points and making deductions that sort of lead the reader to look at those clues and try to understand what he is going after.
As for the films, I found the Granada version with Brett to be the best. That might be because I liked Brett as Holmes more than any other actor. I was bothered by the hound sound effects, though. I think they could have gotten a large dog to play wrestle and tug-o-war in the studio for them to record rather than having a foley artist growl and snarl. It would have been much better.
JB himself was not satisfied with the Granada version and would have liked to have another shot at it.That being said, it is superior to most versions.
I remember reading this in a single, rather spooky summer night, and I'll never forget how wonderful this book was, nor how exciting it proved to be when I tried to make my assumptions and most were proved wrong. I think this book ranks into my favorite books, bested by Brave New World and a few other classics that made me feel just as excited about reading it as this one.
i think that this book is very overrated. most people start with it, i'm guessing because it has a really cool title. but i found it to be generally lacking in everything. Sherlock was barley in it, the story wasn't as compelling as i would have thought. it's an OK story but it's not one i'll read again. i prefer the short stories to the novels anyway.
Hmmm. I don't quite agree with that, Mitchell. Overrated, maybe a little, as it isn't my favourite in the series, and yet it's the title everyone knows . . . but, (in my opinion) it was no less exciting, complex, intriguing and excellently written as any of the other stories. Maybe Holmes didn't play a huge part in it, and, because of that, you didn't see much of his powers of deduction . . . But in reading the books I have come to love Watson almost as much as Holmes, and reading about his exploits and discoveries was just as interesting.
The plot overall was fantastic, the hound was intense, and Holmes turning up totally unexpected, half way through, was genius in my opinion.
I'm interested to know if anyone else shares this opinion?
I agree with much of what you said, Johanna. As I mentioned in my own post on this thread, I think the story is very different from all the others because the reader views the clues without the filter of Holmes' intellect for the most part. It also relies heavily on the atmosphere of the moors.
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Sherlock Holmes Was Wrong: Reopening the Case of The Hound of the Baskervilles (other topics)Sherlock Holmes Was Wrong: Reopening the Case of The Hound of the Baskervilles (other topics)
This was the very first book by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle that I ever read. Probably because it is the only one of his books that libraries will keep in the childs section. Anyway having already developed a great love for Sherlock Holmes I was quite excited to get it home.
I was devistated. Holmes was barely in the book at all. From chapter six to chapter twelve there is only Watson and the insipid doings of the moor dwellers. It truly bored me. I am sorry Dr. Doyle but not your best work. Anyway I remember being so excited when Sherlock showed up again that I think I squealed with delight.
I did recently reread it and my adult mind served me little better than my younger one did. It was still boring in the middle bits but now it strikes me as being similar to the Mary Russle series in that Holmes leaves Mary alone for most of the books just as he leaves Watson in "Hound".