Two men: one was destined to create England’s greatest detective, the other was to suffer misfortune and become a victim of racial injustice. Julian Barnes weaves a luscious historical fiction novel about the 1906 even that had Sir Arthur Conan Doyle come to the aid of George Edalji and defend him from false accusations of mutilating animals and writing obscene, threatening letters to his family. Barnes examines each man’s life with almost clinical precision, finally detailing the time when their paths, having come from two very different directions, finally crossed — all with restrained irony and fascinating prose. Arthur and George is an excellent examination of early 20th century English society and a fascinating character study of one of England’s most beloved authors.