The Hound of the Baskervilles

1297 Words3 Pages

In The Hound of the Baskervilles, various factors of Arthur Conan Doyle’s early life, popularity, perspective, and status were all expressed in multiple ways. Spiritualism played an crucial role in his life, greatly impacting his work, specifically “The Hound.” Additionally, his birthplace and upbringing, along with the time period, inveigled his writing. Furthermore, Doyle characterized the people in the story in along with real life scenarios.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had an interesting life, full of ups and downs, but regardless, he made himself a man worth remembering. Doyle was born on May 22nd in 1859 in Edinburgh, Scotland. This town had an eerie atmosphere, providing inspiration for the setting of The Hound. Additionally, Edinburgh has moors similar to those surrounding Baskerville Hall. As he grew up in the atmospheric city, he attended a Jesuit school. “Doyle began his writing career while at The University of Edinburgh, where he started medical studies in 1876” (“Arthur Conan Doyle”). He spent a vast majority of his childhood in his ominous hometown, therefore it greatly influenced the setting of The Hound of the Baskervilles.

Additionally, Doyle became fascinated with spiritualism. Many theorize that he became obsessed while he was grieving over his lost kin. (“Arthur Conan Doyle”). After World War I, he spiraled into depression after the deaths of his wife Louisa, his brother Innes, his two brother-in-laws, and his two nephews. He favored Christian Spiritualism, however he studied multiple branches of the religion. (“Arthur Conan Doyle”). Because he fascinated by different faiths and communication with the deceased, he was inspired to add various supernatural elements to his novels. In “The Ho...

... middle of paper ...

...ed, and continued to inspire people today. Multiple

aspects of his life heavily influenced his inspiring works, including his family life, his obsession with spiritualism, his upbringing and early career in Edinburg, and his distorted perspective of society

Works Cited

“Arthur Conan Doyle.” Contemporary Authors Online. Detroit: Gale, 2008. Literature Resource

Center. Web. 16 Dec 2013.

“Arthur Conan Doyle.” EXPLORING SHORT STORIES. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Student

Resources in Context.

Doyle, Arthur Conan. “Sherlock Holmes - The Hound of the Baskervilles.” New York: Dell,

1964. Print.

Heller, Terry. “Arthur Conan Doyle.” British Fantasy and Science Fiction Writers Before World

War I.” Ed. Darren Harris-Fain. Detroit: Gale Research, 1997. Dictionary of Literary

Biography Vol. 178. Literature Resource Center. Web. 16 Dec. 2013.

Open Document