Goor read but I lost interest in the middle, when the story line seemed to disappear in favour of character development for its own sake, ( )

This is a well-researched and carefully written work of historical fiction posing as literary fiction: both of the protagonists lived -- although this fact is only slowly revealed. (One would be recognized by any reader in the English language, the other perhaps should be just as famous.)

A good counterpoint to [Mistress of the Art of Death], another work of historical fiction that points to a related historical milestone (honest.)

However, if this were one of my students' papers I would have written "Get to the point" in the margin. This book can safely be read by skipping the first half (or at least the first third). Starting when the protagonists were small children did not add much to the story. Most of the action (and the plot) are in the last half of the book (unless you like lots of historical detail as atmosphere: some readers do.)

There were also several moments when the author seemed to be showing off how much research he had done; at points I wanted to read the non-fiction book he could have written, instead. As a professional historian I know what good research can and cannot do, but there is no need to put blinking arrows pointing at the minutiae one has dug up. I knew something of one of the protagonist's life, and more about the four religions mentioned (including, as background, the Zoroastrians (or Parsis)) but at several places I felt Mr. Barnes was showing off. (Good research, like [[Mary Renault]]'s does not shout and wave its arms.) I read people showing off their grasp of minutiae all day: this is something that irks me when it appears in my time off.

That said, if you like Victoriana; if you are interested in the history of minorities (and women) in Britain; if you like the history of trains, railroads (or railway law); if you would like to know more about the life of a famous figure; if you want to learn about the history of the British legal system (less dull than it sounds); or if you would like to try guessing at who the two protagonists are then I would recommend this long and carefully thought-out telling of a piece of history.

-Kushana ( )

Good for what it was, but not really my thing. A bit too straightforward and normal for me, I think. However, I suspect a lot of people will enjoy it. ( )

The story of Arthur Conan Doyle taking up the cause of a young solicitor of Indian origin who suffered a miscarriage of justice. Written as a parallel history from birth with the nature and fame of Arthur and George only gradually being revealed. An unusual style, but a great result. Read July 2008 ( )

Arthur Conan Doyle ( )