Earlier today I finished reading Arthut & George, a novel by Julian Barnes. It is based on true events from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and George Edalji. George Edalji was an English solicitor. His father was Parsi and a vicar in the Church of England. His mother was English. I do not think I have to explain who Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The book deals with their upbringings. George Edalji and his family are sent anonymous, threatening letters. After he has become la solicitor there are animals slaughtered in the area close to his home. The police had accused him of the anonymous letters along with other misdeeds that he had not done. They accuse him of killing the animals. He is given a jail sentence with labor. The sentence is for seven years, but he is paroled after seven. The police case against him was feeble, but he was still convicted. He appeals to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. He sends articles pertaining to the case. Doyle decides to help him. He is convinced of his innocence. Edalji has not been able to continue his career as a solicitor because of the conviction. Doyle seeks to have his conviction overturned and for Edalji to be compensated financially for the jail term. He succeeds in one but not the other. He thinks that the problems that he had with the police were racially motivated. Edalji does not believe this to be the case. As a result of what happened in this case a court of appeal was initiated in England. It is a very well written book that is hard to put down. It also deals with other aspects of George Edalji's life and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's life, such as Doyle's books and his growing involvement in spiritualism. This book has led me to want to read more books by both Julian Barnes and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Reading this novel was time well spent.
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