Barnes, Julian: *1946
Arthur & George, 2005 - Information About the Book
- General Information | Facts | Commentary | Author | Articles
- General Information
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Good for Discussing:
Discrimination
Spiritualism versus Rationality - 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. See Summary.
- 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 Wikipedia
- Information from Julian Barnes's Homepage
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Good for Discussing:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- ... Dole's interest in the case
- ... the seance 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
- Articles: General Information | Detailed/Scholarly Information
- General Information:
- Review: "Barnes' prose throughout the novel effortlessly evokes its period: it is dry and utilitarian." April 30, 2006
- Review: "The article gives a solid summary and personal take, touching on the historical plot, characters, and the reviewer’s impressions, but it’s not deeply analytical or scholarly." May 6, 2020
- Actors Arsher Ali and the creative team behind Arthur & George, discuss their TV adaptation of the Julian Barnes novel: "This video gives a basic overview of Arthur & George grounded in its historical context and themes but doesn’t offer deep literary analysis beyond summarizing the novel’s premise."
- Detailed/Scholarly Information:
- Review: "The article provides a detailed analysis of character, historical context, and narrative style, highlighting Barnes’ treatment of truth, justice, and Edwardian society." September 10, 2014
- Audio (5:27)
The Birth of a Detective: 'Arthur and George'. "This audio explains how Julian Barnes’ novel uses the real‑life “Great Wyrley Outrages” and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s involvement to explore justice, identity, and truth in early 20th‑century Britain" 100 years ago." NPR Radio; January 26, 2006 - Show me the way to go, Holmes: "The article gives a clear and detailed review, explaining its dual‑biography structure, the real‑life Edalji case, and how Julian Barnes explores Conan Doyle’s role and themes like justice and English identity." The Guardian; June 26, 2005
- The Constructedness of Englishness: "The article analyzes how Julian Barnes portrays Englishness as a constructed and mythologized identity, examining issues of racial prejudice, national belonging, and the critique of traditional national narratives." Academia; April 2017
- Evidence and the Past: "The article gives a clear academic summary of how Barnes’s novel explores the idea of Englishness as a constructed cultural identity and critiques social attitudes (like racism and national myths)." Victorian Web; 2010