The Hound of the Baskervilles

Arthur Conan Doyle

75 pages 2-hour read

Arthur Conan Doyle

The Hound of the Baskervilles

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1902

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Holmes is a private consulting detective who operates out of London. He possesses astounding deductive abilities and relies strictly on cold logic, physical evidence, and scientific reasoning to solve cases. He takes on the Baskerville mystery with clear skepticism toward the supernatural rumors, viewing the situation as a calculated earthly crime rather than a ghostly curse.

Key Relationships

Best friend of Dr Watson

Investigator for Dr. Mortimer

Colleague of Lestrade

Employer of Cartwright

Investigator of Barrymore

A medical doctor and military veteran, Watson shares the Baker Street flat with Holmes. He documents their cases and frequently travels into the field to gather intelligence when Holmes is occupied in London. He brings a practical, courageous approach to the investigation and serves as Sir Henry's armed bodyguard during their stay at the isolated Baskerville Hall.

Key Relationships

Partner of Sherlock Holmes

Associate of Dr. Mortimer

Acquaintance of Stapleton

Acquaintance of Beryl Stapleton

Acquaintance of Mr. Frankland

Associate of Lestrade

Sir Henry is a sturdy, pugnacious man in his thirties who recently arrived from Canada. As the nephew of Sir Charles, he is the last known heir to the Baskerville estate and its vast fortune. Despite the gloomy environment and the threats on his life, he insists on moving into his ancestral home and plans to modernize the property with electricity.

Key Relationships

Nephew of Sir Charles Baskerville

Client of Sherlock Holmes

Ward of Dr Watson

Friend of Dr. Mortimer

Romantic admirer of Beryl Stapleton

Employer of Barrymore

Neighbor of Stapleton

Supporting Characters

Dr. Mortimer is a tall, thin surgeon with a beak-like nose who practices medicine in the rural area near Dartmoor. He was the personal physician to the late Sir Charles. He brings the case to Holmes out of genuine concern for Sir Henry, though he personally harbors fears that the hound legend might be supernatural.

Key Relationships

Physician to Sir Charles Baskerville

Client of Sherlock Holmes

Associate of Dr Watson

Stapleton is a slim, clean-shaven naturalist in his thirties who resides at Merripit House on the moor. He spends his days studying local plants and insects, possessing an unusual knowledge of the dangerous Grimpen Mire bogs. He acts as a welcoming, eccentric neighbor to the new residents of the Hall.

Key Relationships

Brother of Beryl Stapleton

Acquaintance of Dr Watson

Associate of Laura Lyons

Beryl is an elegant, dark-complexioned woman from Costa Rica who lives at Merripit House. She is deeply anxious about the legends surrounding the moor and the danger they pose to the Baskerville heirs. She actively tries to push Sir Henry away for his own safety.

Key Relationships

Sister of Stapleton

Acquaintance of Dr Watson

Barrymore is the tall, handsome, and thickly bearded butler of the Baskerville estate. He and his wife are longtime servants who intend to leave their posts once Sir Henry is settled. His solemn demeanor and strange habit of creeping around the empty upper floors at night arouse early suspicion.

Key Relationships

Husband of Mrs. Barrymore

Employee of Sir Charles Baskerville

Secretly connected to Selden

Mrs. Barrymore is a large, heavy-featured housekeeper with a stern expression. Despite her stoic public demeanor, she is heard sobbing intensely in the middle of the night, indicating a deep, unshared sorrow. She handles domestic duties while harboring secrets regarding the surrounding moor.

Key Relationships

Wife of Barrymore

Secretly connected to Selden

Selden is a notorious convicted murderer who escaped from a nearby prison and survives in the harsh conditions of the moor. Described as feral and brutal, his presence forces the military to guard the train stations and creates tangible physical danger in the area.

Key Relationships

Secretly connected to Mrs. Barrymore

Secretly connected to Barrymore

Laura is a beautiful woman living in the nearby village of Coombe Tracey. Estranged from a cruel husband, she runs a small typing business heavily subsidized by local benefactors. She arranged a meeting with Sir Charles on the night of his death but claims she never attended.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Mr. Frankland

Dependent of Sir Charles Baskerville

Associate of Stapleton

Inspector Lestrade is a small, wiry, bulldog-like detective from the London police force. He travels to Devonshire to lend official law enforcement authority to Holmes's private investigation.

Key Relationships

Colleague of Sherlock Holmes

Colleague of Dr Watson

Cartwright is a young boy who works for a message delivery service in London. Holmes hires him to run errands, search for clues, and gather intelligence quietly. He later travels to the countryside to deliver supplies and messages.

Key Relationships

Employee of Sherlock Holmes

Sir Charles is the recently deceased uncle of Sir Henry. He made a fortune in South Africa before returning to restore his ancestral home and donate to local charities. His failing heart and deep fear of his family's legendary curse culminated in his mysterious death near the moor gate.

Key Relationships

Friend of Dr. Mortimer

Employer of Barrymore

Benefactor of Laura Lyons

Descendant of Hugo Baskerville

Mr. Frankland is an elderly neighbor who enjoys initiating petty lawsuits against the local townsfolk and police. He spends his days scanning the desolate moorland with a telescope, hoping to spot the escaped convict or other trespassers.

Key Relationships

Father of Laura Lyons

Acquaintance of Dr Watson

Hugo Baskerville is a notorious 17th-century ancestor of the Baskerville line. According to the manuscript, his cruel and drunken behavior during the English Civil War era led him to kidnap a maiden, an act that supposedly brought a demonic curse upon his bloodline.

Key Relationships

Ancestor of Sir Charles Baskerville