Barnes, Julian: *1946

Arthur & George, 2006 - Thematic Parallels: Justice

Barnes, Julian: Arthur & George, 2006
The fiction explores the real‑life wrongful conviction of George Edalji and the crusade by Arthur Conan Doyle to bring justice—blending biography, crime investigation, and social commentary.
The following books are thematically similar. They lend themselves well to being read in groups, compared with one another, or used to teach a similar topic over an extended period with a class:
- Clark, Brian: Whose Life Is It Anyway?, 1978, ~80pp
  The novel investigates justice and autonomy in moral and legal spheres, similar to the legal battles in Arthur & George.
  Both works question the legitimacy and moral authority of institutions that claim to act in the individual’s interest but may, in fact, suppress personal agency. Both characters fight for recognition of their identity beyond how others (doctors, police, society) define them.
- Lee, Harper: To Kill a Mockingbird, 1960, ~300pp
  This novel addresses issues of racial prejudice and wrongful conviction within a legal framework.
  Both texts are aligned by their critique of racial prejudice, their portrayals of injustice within the legal system, and their emphasis on moral courage in the face of systemic failure. Each novel uses its specific historical and cultural context to ask timeless questions about truth, fairness, and the human cost of bias.
- Miller, Arthur: The Crucible, 1953, ~120pp
  The play dramatizes how mass hysteria and prejudice can warp justice, further aligning with Barnes’s exploration of social context and legal failure.
  Both works highlight how legal systems can fail when driven by prejudice, fear, or moral panic rather than objective truth. Both protagonists are guided by moral integrity in the face of public pressure and institutional wrongdoing.
- Priestley, J.B. Priestley: An Inspector Calls, 1945, ~70pp
  A “detective” drama exploring social justice and moral responsibility—similar to Conan Doyle’s campaign for justice.
  While "An Inspector Calls" is a tightly structured morality play and "Arthur & George" is a richly detailed historical novel, both serve as literary indictments of societal injustice, encouraging readers to question authority, confront prejudice, and accept personal and communal responsibility.
List of general discussion questions on Justice (pdf)
List of essay prompts on Justice (pdf)