Synopsis
As he did so marvelously in FLAUBERT'S PARROT, Julian Barnes uses a famous literary figure (in this case, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) as the basis for a marvelous and mysterious novel that blends academic insights and profoundly human emotion. In ARTHUR & GEORGE, the reader does not immediately discern Arthur's identity. Instead, Barnes gradually and artfully introduces us to Arthur as he pursues his medical career, aspires to being a writer, and deals with a bland marriage, an illicit love, and the attractions of spiritualism. Simultaneously , Barnes tells the story of George Edalji, a beleaguered half-Indian lawyer harassed by local villagers because of his race. Finally, after George has been falsely accused of cruelly mutilating animals, and served three years in prison, the two men's lives intersect, and Arthur, in typical Sherlock Holmes fashion, sets out to prove George's innocence. Shortlisted for the Man Booker in 2005, and based on the true story of the "Wryley Outrage," ARTHUR & GEORGE is a masterly, heartfelt, and ingenious tale about truth, class, and the intricacies of turn-of-the-century British society.
| Details | | Publication Date: | 2007-01-09 | | Series: | Vintage International Series | | Edition Description: | Reprint |
| Size | | Length: | 445 pages | | Height: | 8.0 in | | Width: | 5.3 in | | Thickness: | 1.0 in | | Weight: | 12.8 oz |
Publisher's Note
Set against the backdrop of the British Empire, an intriguing novel by the author of Flaubert's Parrot chronicles the lives of two boys--George, the son of a Midlands vicar, and Arthur, growing up in Edinburgh--one who is forgotten by history, and one who becomes the creator of the world's most famous detective, as they pursue their separate destinies until they meet in a remarkable alliance. Reprint. 75,000 first printing.
Industry Reviews
"It would be a damn fine tale even if Barnes had made the whole thing up; that it is drawn from history makes it all the more resonant. And, of course, like all good historical fiction, ARTHUR & GEORGE--if you read between the lines--is as much about our times as those in which it is set."
Literary Review - Martyn Bedford (07/01/2005)
"Will Barnes ever write a dull or mediocre novel? On the strength of this one and all the others that preceded it, the prospect seems increasingly unlikely."
(01/14/2006)
"[A] beautifully crafted novel, as one would expect from a virtuoso like Barnes, who can make a rounded portrait out of a few sparse brush strokes."
(02/20/2006)
| See an error? Submit a change request |
All rights reserved.
