Barnes, Julian: *1946
Arthur & George, 2006 - Information about the Book
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If you’re short on time, the following resources offer valuable insights into the novel and provide a foundation for exploring its central themes. Read/watch them in the order given: Resource Time Focus on Information from Julian Barnes's Homepage 5 min Barnes himself explains the historical case, the two protagonists, major themes, and how he combines research with imagination. Show me the way to go, Holmes 8–10 min Explains how Barnes structures the novel, contrasts Arthur and George, discusses the Great Wyrley case, race and Englishness, and examines Barnes’s style and treatment of fact versus fiction. Information from Wikipedia 4-5 min Factual overview: publication, plot, characters, historical basis, and reception The Birth of a Detective: Arthur & George 5-7 min (Audio) Focuses on how the lives of Conan Doyle and George Edalji intersect through the Great Wyrley Outrages. - General Information
- Tracing a string of crimes alleged to involve an attorney named George Edalji, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle struggles to not only right injustice, but also to keep his own name out of the mud.
- Julian Barnes' inspiration for writing Arthur & George:
Julian Barnes found inspiration for his novel Arthur & George in a true historical case involving Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, and a man named George Edalji. The novel is a fictionalized account of real events surrounding Edalji's wrongful conviction and Conan Doyle's role in seeking justice for him.Barnes extensively researched the case, incorporating historical records, court documents, and Conan Doyle's writings to create a richly detailed and layered novel. This careful balance of historical fidelity and literary creativity makes Arthur & George a fascinating exploration of truth, justice, and human complexity.
Information from Julian Barnes's Homepage (Barnes himself describes the novel, its historical basis, the Great Wyrley Outrages, its themes, editions, and adaptations)- Information from Wikipedia (Good for a quick overview of the plot, historical background, characters, publication, and reception)
- Facts
- Awards: Arthur & George received critical acclaim and was shortlisted for numerous awards. It won the 2005 Costa Book Awards (formerly known as the Whitbread Book Awards) for Best Novel.
- Arthur Conan Doyle
Arthur Conan Doyle was a renowned Scottish writer and physician best known for creating the iconic detective Sherlock Holmes. In the novel, he is portrayed as a man grappling with grief over his wife's illness and death, as well as guilt over his decade-long platonic affair with another woman. Driven by his strong sense of justice, Doyle takes up the case of George Edalji after receiving a letter pleading for his help.George Edalji
George Edalji was a solicitor from a Parsi Indian family living in the English village of Great Wyrley. In 1903, he was wrongfully convicted of mutilating horses and cattle and sentenced to seven years in prison. Despite maintaining his innocence, Edalji's case highlighted the racial prejudices of the time. After his release, he wrote to Doyle seeking his assistance in clearing his name.Developed by AI
- Pronunciation of George Edalji
- The Nature of Truth and Storytelling
Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, represents the power of narrative and imagination, while George Edalji, the wrongfully accused solicitor, is grounded in facts and reality. The novel examines the tension between these two perspectives.Racial Prejudice and Injustice
George Edalji, being of mixed race, faces discrimination and is wrongfully convicted due to racial bias, despite a lack of evidence. The novel highlights the injustices faced by minorities in Victorian England.Honor and Morality
Arthur struggles with his sense of honor and morality, particularly regarding his feelings for Jean Leckie while still married to his wife Touie. The novel explores the complexities of human relationships and personal ethics.The Legal System
The novel critiques the flaws in the legal system, as George is convicted on circumstantial evidence and denied proper appeals. It also touches on the introduction of an appeals court in England, inspired by cases like George's.Spiritualism and Belief
Arthur's interest in spiritualism and the supernatural contrasts with George's rational, fact-based worldview, raising questions about the nature of belief and knowledge.Overall, Arthur & George talks about themes of truth, prejudice, morality, and the human capacity for both injustice and redemption.
Developed by AI
- Reader Rating:
- Commentary
- The novel is quite factual and gives an interesting look at Conan Doyle's family life, medical background, experiences as a famous writer and devotion to Spiritualism. Edalji's story shows how ethnicity can affect an entire life and also the effect of an unidentified serious visual defect on childhood and development. It was an uplifting reading experience and makes Conan Doyle's doctor stories more meaningful.
Marjorie S. Sirridge
Excerpted, with permission, from the Literature, Arts, and Medicine Database at New York University School of Medicine, © New York University.
- The novel is quite factual and gives an interesting look at Conan Doyle's family life, medical background, experiences as a famous writer and devotion to Spiritualism. Edalji's story shows how ethnicity can affect an entire life and also the effect of an unidentified serious visual defect on childhood and development. It was an uplifting reading experience and makes Conan Doyle's doctor stories more meaningful.
- Author
- An evening with Julian Barnes. Host: Thomas Bodmer. SwissEduc; Zurich, Switzerland; June 2, 2007
Julian Barnes talks about ...- ... the background of the novel
- ... Doyle’s interest in the case
- ... the séance session at the end of the novel and his own faith (answer to a question from a guest)
- ... the background of the novel
- Podcast
Julian Barnes answers readers' questions
- An evening with Julian Barnes. Host: Thomas Bodmer. SwissEduc; Zurich, Switzerland; June 2, 2007
- Reviews, Critiques
- Review: "The article gives some useful context but does not deeply analyze the novel." (Useful as an example of contemporary popular reception) Oprah; January 2006
- Explanations
- Show me the way to go, Holmes: "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." (Good for discussing Barnes's style, historical fiction, Conan Doyle and the relationship between fact and fiction) The Guardian; June 26, 2005
- Audio (5:27)
The Birth of a Detective: 'Arthur and George', by Maureen Corrigan. "Arthur & George vividly details how the lives of two utter strangers intersected in what was known as "the Great Wyrley Outrages" 100 years ago." (Gives an independent explanation of the novel and its historical case) NPR Radio; January 26, 2006 - Actors Arsher Ali and the creative team behind Arthur & George, discuss their TV adaptation of the Julian Barnes novel