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Arthur & George by Julian Barnes
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Arthur & George (original 2005; edition 2008)

by Julian Barnes

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4,8951762,245 (3.7)1 / 321
Arthur & George is based on the true story of two men. One is Arthur Conan Doyle, the other is George Edalji, a solicitor from Birmingham. Their nineteenth-century lives are worlds and miles apart, until a series of shocking events brings them together. In dubious circumstances, George is found guilty of harming animals and is sentenced to seven years' penal servitude, a future of ignominious obscurity. However, when Arthur, who is now one of the most famous men in the land as creator of Sherlock Holmes, hears of this racist miscarriage of justice he decides to clear George's name. Told against the backdrop of Arthur's family life, his own passionate affair with the woman who was to become the second Lady Conan Doyle and his wife's lengthy battle with TB, this extraordinary novel is a dazzling exercise in detection.… (more)
Member:rieja
Title:Arthur & George
Authors:Julian Barnes
Info:Amsterdam Atlas 2008
Collections:Literatuur, Your library
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Arthur & George by Julian Barnes (2005)

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» See also 321 mentions

English (168)  Spanish (3)  Danish (2)  Swedish (1)  Catalan (1)  Dutch (1)  All languages (176)
Showing 1-5 of 168 (next | show all)
Quite unlike anything I've ever read. Part intriguing biography, partly recounting a "legal miscarriage". A "historical footnote" is highlighted from a most unusual perspective. Highly enjoyable read. The unfolding of the legal case alone made an 18 km run go by in a whiffy.
  Kindlegohome | Mar 6, 2024 |
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, slightly bored with his fame and fortune, takes up the case of wrongfully convicted George Edalji due to willful incompetence and racist attitudes towards Anglo-Indians. Set against the personal lives of both men as they reflect both their idiosyncrasies and the late Victorian / early Edwardian era. Musings on the nature of fame, how a person lives up to his own view of themselves, of being out of step with one’s time and also a product of it. Elegantly written, generally holds interest but not a second read. Characters expertly drawn, one truly feels they are real people, that you’ve met them. Slice of life between Victorian and Edwardian England, no surprises but compassionately examined. I’m not a Sherlock Holmes fan nor read the true crime genre so of limited interest. Good turn of phrases, JB insights but nothing significant. Satisfying and well done, not exceptional. ( )
  saschenka | Mar 12, 2023 |
A great book by a great English author. More, please, Julian! ( )
  jean-sol | Mar 2, 2023 |
This book came highly recommended and did not disappoint. I was unaware of it's subject matter but found it intriguing as I knew little about the life of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle other than as an author of classic books. However it was the character of George that really drew me in to the story. It is narrated in the 3rd person, alternating between the lives of Arthur and George and told in a sequential manner until they meet as adults. Their meeting comes at Arthur's behest as he has learned of the injustices perpetrated on George by the legal system of Britain. George is a quiet, hardworking young lawyer of Indian /Scottish ancestry and was raised in a vicarage in a loving home. He has been charged and served time in prison for the gross mutilation of an animal. Even Sir Arthur can see the unlikeliness of George having perpetrated this crime and he sets out to clear George's name. To these ends he dons his Sherlock Holmes hat and begins his campaign for justice. ( )
1 vote HelenBaker | Feb 20, 2023 |
Historical fiction inspired by real events in the early 20th century in England. George is a solicitor living in the rural town of Great Wyrley near Birmingham. He is accused of mutilating horses and other farm animals. Arthur is convinced of his innocence and gets involved in the case.

The plot revolves around the mysterious mutilations, though I would call this book more character driven. Barnes provides a satisfying portrait of two contrasting personalities. George is cautious, introspective, and quiet while Arthur is flamboyant, assertive, and outspoken. The writing is elegant, and the narrative is compelling. I found myself drawn along by the mystery element, while also wanting to learn more about the people, history, and culture of the time period.

The two main characters are similar in their application of logic. Arthur applies logic in the manner of a detective in attempting to break a case. George, as a student of law, employs an analytical approach to his situation, trying to remove as much emotion as possible. Each sees something the other cannot. For example, Arthur is aware that racial prejudice has played a role in George’s accusation and George sees that Arthur has come up with an alternate suspect using a great deal of circumstantial evidence.

I frequently read historical fiction based on real people, and this book is a masterful example of the way convey a feeling of authenticity. Barnes convinces me he has a grasp on the personalities of these people, as they try to navigate the complexities of their lives. This book provides a satisfying blend of plot, character, flow, originality, and style. I enjoyed it immensely.
( )
1 vote Castlelass | Oct 30, 2022 |
Showing 1-5 of 168 (next | show all)
Barnes’s suave, elegant prose — alive here with precision, irony and humaneness — has never been used better than in this extraordinary true-life tale, which is as terrifically told as any by its hero Conan Doyle himself.
added by simon_carr | editThe Times, Peter Kemp (Jun 26, 2005)
 
For all the numerous retellings of Conan Doyle's life, it is hard to imagine that Barnes's semi-fictional version could be bettered in texture or acuity. In his elegant mini-chapters, he unpacks the writer's extraordinary rites of passage: his famous failure as an ophthalmologist; his work on a whaling ship; his sporting prowess - batting for the MCC, skiing Alpine passes; his heroism in the Boer War.
 

» Add other authors (18 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Barnes, Julianprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Anthony, NigelNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Wiel, Frans van derTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Information from the Swedish Common Knowledge. Edit to localize it to your language.
to P.K.
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A child wants to see. It always begins like this, and it began like this then. A child wanted to see.
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George Edalji died at 9 Brocket Close, Welwyn Garden City, on 17th June 1953; the cause of death was given as coronary thrombosis.
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This is the book; do not combine with film/video
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Arthur & George is based on the true story of two men. One is Arthur Conan Doyle, the other is George Edalji, a solicitor from Birmingham. Their nineteenth-century lives are worlds and miles apart, until a series of shocking events brings them together. In dubious circumstances, George is found guilty of harming animals and is sentenced to seven years' penal servitude, a future of ignominious obscurity. However, when Arthur, who is now one of the most famous men in the land as creator of Sherlock Holmes, hears of this racist miscarriage of justice he decides to clear George's name. Told against the backdrop of Arthur's family life, his own passionate affair with the woman who was to become the second Lady Conan Doyle and his wife's lengthy battle with TB, this extraordinary novel is a dazzling exercise in detection.

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