Review: Arthur & George

Arthur & George by Julian Barnes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This novel enthralled me (and has begun another compulsion to learn as much about Arthur Conan Doyle as possible). The writing is clear and riveting. The history cited is accurate as far as I can determine in my quick Google and Wikipedia searches for information and images. The setting is the Edwardian era, one of the fascinating eras in Great Britain. Barnes kept me thoroughly engaged in the lives of Doyle and Edalji. He carefully scripted the irony of Doyle's case in defense of Edalji, and showed how Edalji was more logical and methodical than Doyle (and Holmes?). But Doyle is passionate and honest. I admire both men greatly.

I began reading this book because we began to watch Arthur and George on Amazon Prime. As soon as I learned that this was a well-reviewed novel, I borrowed it from the online Vermont library, stopped watching the videos, and read the book. I made an excellent decision and I look forward now to seeing the videos.

I see my folly of giving five stars to just about any book I read from beginning to end. I had thought that if I finish a book and not put it away in boredom, then it was worth five stars. By that standard, I would give this book ten stars. Or more.

A curious note: Doyle may have been the person who introduced skiing to Vermont when he brought skis when he visited Rudyard Kipling at Kipling's Vermont home.

I read this book a few years back, so why publish my review now?

This book.

View all my reviews

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

_/\_/\_