I picked this book up thinking it was a new release only to discover when I had finished it that it has been made into a mini series and was nominated for the Man Booker Prize.
As a bit of a Sherlock Holmes’ tragic, I have no idea how this little gem slipped under the radar for me.
Barnes’ charming but often tragic book is based on the true story of George Edalji – an English solicitor of Indian extraction who is wrongly accused and convicted of a number of crimes at the turn of the 20th century. His case captures the attention of the legendary Sir Arthur Conan Doyle who seeks to have the convictions quashed.
There was so much to love about this story. The language is superb. It is told in a deeply personal way – showing the parallel lives of the eponymous Arthur and George before their paths cross as a result of the case.
Conan Doyle’s personal life, well known to me from other books, is handled sensitively so that both protagonists are likable.
The villains of the story are carefully constructed so that they are not people but cultures and institutions – xenophobia, bureaucracy and fear. The heroes are the individuals and ultimately George’s salvation is in the generosity and kindness of the people around him. That is my experience of life in general so it really resonated with me.
I highly recommend this book whether or not you are interested in the colourful history of Sherlock Holmes’ creator.
