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littletaiko's review against another edition
4.0
Highly readable, slightly uneven story based on real events. Arthur is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and George is George Edalji, two unofficial Englishmen growing up in different parts of England whose paths cross in later in their lives. Obviously, Doyle is best known for writing the Sherlock Holmes stories. However, from time to time he played real life detective. Upon reading about George's trial for animal mutilation and quickly determining that George was innocent despite the verdict, Doyle took it upon himself to help right the wrong. The book starts a bit slowly as it introduces the two men when they were boys and slowly builds to the point where their stories merge. From that point it was really hard to put down the book. The last few chapters were a bit of a disappointment as it didn't quite fit with the rest of the book. However, overall I really enjoyed it.
sisbill's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
Bookmiser’s bookclub
hobhouchin's review against another edition
4.0
I had been sceptic. I read works by Julian Barnes before and had very mixed feelings about his storytelling. The first book I read was “A History of the World in 10½ Chapters” in German translation, which I loved but found quite verbose in some parts. The second was “The Sense of an Ending” which I absolutely didn’t like. The story was boring, the protagonists idiots. Maybe one can blame the story itself, it was simply not my cup of tea.
And now “Arthur & George”. Like stated before I had been sceptic since “The Sense of an Ending” was (for me!) a little bit disappointing but Arthur & George is a great book! I grew quite fond of Mr Barnes’ writing and I really like it how he gave the two main protagonists their voices back (as well as the secondary characters). I think it must be a real challenge for an author to write a novel about historic personalities and the more famous the person was the higher the bar is raised.
As far as I was able to tell his research and background knowledge about George Edalji’s and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s lives and whatabouts was absolutely neat and thorough. If he did leave something aside in his story it didn’t make itself conspicuous. He didn’t add what wasn’t to be proven by secondary sources and all in all his approach of a rather difficult topic and two very different and not less difficult personalities was tender and well thought of.
Like ”A History of the World in 10½ Chapters” this book as well had some lengthy parts but the entirety of greatly drawn characters (the lot of them), interesting parts and an insight to two very different life careers whose paths crossed more or less by chance, completely made up for it.
I was quite surprised and didn’t expect to enjoy this book so much.
And now “Arthur & George”. Like stated before I had been sceptic since “The Sense of an Ending” was (for me!) a little bit disappointing but Arthur & George is a great book! I grew quite fond of Mr Barnes’ writing and I really like it how he gave the two main protagonists their voices back (as well as the secondary characters). I think it must be a real challenge for an author to write a novel about historic personalities and the more famous the person was the higher the bar is raised.
As far as I was able to tell his research and background knowledge about George Edalji’s and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s lives and whatabouts was absolutely neat and thorough. If he did leave something aside in his story it didn’t make itself conspicuous. He didn’t add what wasn’t to be proven by secondary sources and all in all his approach of a rather difficult topic and two very different and not less difficult personalities was tender and well thought of.
Like ”A History of the World in 10½ Chapters” this book as well had some lengthy parts but the entirety of greatly drawn characters (the lot of them), interesting parts and an insight to two very different life careers whose paths crossed more or less by chance, completely made up for it.
I was quite surprised and didn’t expect to enjoy this book so much.
growlcat's review against another edition
4.0
It kept me interested, especially after I found out that it was a true story. There were a few threads left untied, especially the references to the suspicions Doyle's secretary had about his second wife. Nevertheless, it was well written and kept you guessing right until the end.
emmamgregory's review against another edition
4.0
I'm loving Julian Barnes as an author. His stories are intelligent and deeply satisfying. Arthur and George was brilliant I learned a lot about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in a very readable fashion. Would highly recommend.
bianca89279's review against another edition
3.0
My fifth Julian Barnes left me underwhelmed. Who would have thought? After all, I was raving about how amazing his writing was, how intelligent etc.
Unfortunately, from the very beginning, I had an issue with the narrator of this audiobook. He wasn't terrible but not quite to my liking.
I had no idea what the book was about before I started it. I liked the short alternate chapters corresponding to the two protagonists: George Edjali's and Arthur Conan Doyle, respectively. The two grew up in different parts of Britain and had different trajectories.
Of course, Arthur Conan Doyle became Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, famous for writing the Sherlock Holmes novels.
George Edjali became a solicitor who went to jail for harming a horse. It was all a huge misconduct of justice, at the beginning of the XXth century.
The two finally come together towards the last quarter of the book, when Edjali asked for Conan Doyle's help to exonerate him. There's more action happening as we Conan Doyle takes on the task of discovering who was the actually quilty person.
Truth be told, it was interesting enough, I've learnt a few things about Doyle, but it didn't have the wit, intelligent observations or even the elevated language I've come to expect from Barnes.
So this is only getting a 3.5 stars.
Unfortunately, from the very beginning, I had an issue with the narrator of this audiobook. He wasn't terrible but not quite to my liking.
I had no idea what the book was about before I started it. I liked the short alternate chapters corresponding to the two protagonists: George Edjali's and Arthur Conan Doyle, respectively. The two grew up in different parts of Britain and had different trajectories.
Of course, Arthur Conan Doyle became Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, famous for writing the Sherlock Holmes novels.
George Edjali became a solicitor who went to jail for harming a horse. It was all a huge misconduct of justice, at the beginning of the XXth century.
The two finally come together towards the last quarter of the book, when Edjali asked for Conan Doyle's help to exonerate him. There's more action happening as we Conan Doyle takes on the task of discovering who was the actually quilty person.
Truth be told, it was interesting enough, I've learnt a few things about Doyle, but it didn't have the wit, intelligent observations or even the elevated language I've come to expect from Barnes.
So this is only getting a 3.5 stars.
kathleenww's review against another edition
4.0
Intelligent fictionalized retelling of actual true crime in the English country side. Arthur Conan Doyle, a now successful and beloved mystery writer decides to be his own Sherlock Holmes and comes to the aid of George Edalji, accused of various animal mutilations and strange goings on in his hometown. Clearly being targeted for being considered an outsider (although he is born and raised in England to his Indian father, a clergyman, and his Scottish mother, the daughter of a clergyman), Doyle comes to his aid and defense. This ia complicated, character heavy tale, and lots of information about Doyle's life and relationships are also speculated upon brilliantly by Barnes.
I read this while on vacation in New York earlier this year and forgot to write my review then, and this was also a book I read for my book group. Generally, no one else really liked it. I highly recommend it for fans of Arthur Conan Doyle, and it was also oddly appropriate for our fairly xenophobic times.
I read this while on vacation in New York earlier this year and forgot to write my review then, and this was also a book I read for my book group. Generally, no one else really liked it. I highly recommend it for fans of Arthur Conan Doyle, and it was also oddly appropriate for our fairly xenophobic times.
cass_10e's review against another edition
4.0
This was a first for me from Julian Barnes. I had no idea what I was getting into when I started it, I knew nothing about it. Through the course of a rather interesting book, I found out a lot about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and a particular miscarriage of justice in England’s history. I was sad when it was done.
kymme's review against another edition
3.0
If you're looking for a sort of Conan Doyle-as-Sherlock story, you'll sort of get it here. If you're looking for insanely detailed stories of two young British boys' lives so that you'll really, really know their back stories for the inevitable crime story, you'll definitely get that. If you're looking for Victorian morality played out within and beyond a marriage, or insight into the spiritualist movement in the 1800s, you'll get both in spades. If you're looking for a story that defies expectations, that contains some delightful turns of phrase, and that answers one of the questions it raises *after* the end of the book, you'll get all that here.