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This cover illustration
is signed "A.G.J.," the (unknown) artist's initials |
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This cover from an Irish edition of Hound shows an animal that is more endearing than frightening |
I stooped under the rude lintel, and there he sat upon a stone
outside, his grey eyes dancing with amusement as they fell upon my
astonished features.
Just as Holmes enjoyed trumping Watson's deductions about the walking stick at the beginning of the story, now he revels in his friend's astonishment.
"...for when I see the stub of a cigarette marked Bradley, Oxford Street, I know that my friend Watson is in the neighbourhood."
This imaginary tobacconist's shop would have been located just a few blocks from Baker Street.
I was still rather raw over the deception which had been practised
upon me, but the warmth of Holmes's praise drove my anger from my
mind.
Holmes often hurts Watson's feelings by withholding information from
him. Later, Holmes has a logical explanation for his deception, and
Watson always forgives him. For information about an interesting made-for-TV
version of Hound (2003) that explores this dynamic in depth,
see below.
When I learned that the missing man was devoted to entomology the
identification was complete.
It is ironic that Stapleton's one harmless passion leads to his downfall.
And a new sound mingled with it, a deep, muttered rumble, musical and yet menacing, rising and falling like the low, constant murmur of the sea.
Holmes and Watson hear the hound before they see it. The hound is an elusive presence in the story--this authorial choice makes the beast more frightening and formidable when it finally does appear.
Illustrators of Hound must decide what conception of the hound will
have maximum impact. Is it better to represent him as a monster, or
to leave him a shadowy presence? Filmmakers face the same dilemma.
Above right, the cover illustration for the first complete edition
of Hound shows the animal in silhouette against the moon.
The stylish, art-deco cover sports a red background with gold tracery
and questions marks. The interior illustrations by Sidney Paget had
appeared in the original Strand Magazine series. This edition
was published in England by Georges Newnes, owner of The Strand
Magazine, in 1902.
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