Julian Barnes finally won the Booker this year for his novel "The Sense of an Ending" after being nominated several times .The chair of this year's judges, former MI5 director general Stella Rimington, said the winning title had "the markings of a classic of English Literature. It is exquisitely written, subtly plotted and reveals new depths with each reading." I have read one book by Barnes and I have been captivated by his storytelling skills. Arthur and George was nominated for the Booker in 2005 but missed the trophy. After reading Arthur and George I had wondered how such a well constructed novel could fail to impress the judges. A&G will definitely figure in my list of all time favourites.
Arthur and George is the story of two lives Arthur Conan Doyle and a provincial half Indian solicitor George Edalji and the convergence of these two lives at one point. George is wrongly convicted by the police for killing of horses at Wyrley .George approaches Sir Arthur to help him fight his case which finally leads to George’s vindication.
The story is told mainly from two perspectives that of Arthur and George with some characters coming in between. I found the section and sub-section headings interesting. There are four main sections –Beginnings, Beginning with an Ending, Ending with a Beginning and Endings. The sections have sub-sections which simply alternate between Arthur, George, Arthur, George and sometimes George and Arthur, George, Campbell, George and Arthur. It is a mystery and the narrative keeps you involved throughout.
But Arthur and George is not just a crime story .Set against Edwardian background it is about Christianity, religion, racial discrimination, justice, love and society in general.
“The general opinion is that cities are violent, overcrowded places, while the countryside is calm and peaceable. His own experience is contrary: the country is turbulent and primitive, while the city is where life becomes orderly and modern.” I found a resonance in similar thoughts shared by a friend of mine who had been posted in a rural institute sometime back.
The discussions around race and religion -where George says “There were teasings and jokes. I am not so naïve as to be unaware that some people look at me differently. But I am a lawyer …. What evidence do I have that anyone acted against me because of race prjudice? …. What concerned me about more about the police was their lack of competence” and Sir Arthur comments “ The truths of one’s religion and the truths of one’s religion do not always lie in the same valley”- are insightful.The book at times had reminded me of Harper Lee’s classic novel.
The book is also about Sir Arthur’s life, his longstanding relationship with Jean, his work, his psychic and spiritual quests, his experiments with séances, his travels around the world.Sir Arthur's fans will definitely enjoy reading about the life and times of the famous man who still remains a popular household name across the world.
Arthur and George is also a highly readable book because of the language which is simple and classic.The 360 page book is available in both hardback and paperback. I will definitely recommmend it as a brilliant piece of writing.
Ref:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/oct/18/booker-prize-julian-barnes-wins
Arthur and George is the story of two lives Arthur Conan Doyle and a provincial half Indian solicitor George Edalji and the convergence of these two lives at one point. George is wrongly convicted by the police for killing of horses at Wyrley .George approaches Sir Arthur to help him fight his case which finally leads to George’s vindication.
The story is told mainly from two perspectives that of Arthur and George with some characters coming in between. I found the section and sub-section headings interesting. There are four main sections –Beginnings, Beginning with an Ending, Ending with a Beginning and Endings. The sections have sub-sections which simply alternate between Arthur, George, Arthur, George and sometimes George and Arthur, George, Campbell, George and Arthur. It is a mystery and the narrative keeps you involved throughout.
But Arthur and George is not just a crime story .Set against Edwardian background it is about Christianity, religion, racial discrimination, justice, love and society in general.
“The general opinion is that cities are violent, overcrowded places, while the countryside is calm and peaceable. His own experience is contrary: the country is turbulent and primitive, while the city is where life becomes orderly and modern.” I found a resonance in similar thoughts shared by a friend of mine who had been posted in a rural institute sometime back.
The discussions around race and religion -where George says “There were teasings and jokes. I am not so naïve as to be unaware that some people look at me differently. But I am a lawyer …. What evidence do I have that anyone acted against me because of race prjudice? …. What concerned me about more about the police was their lack of competence” and Sir Arthur comments “ The truths of one’s religion and the truths of one’s religion do not always lie in the same valley”- are insightful.The book at times had reminded me of Harper Lee’s classic novel.
The book is also about Sir Arthur’s life, his longstanding relationship with Jean, his work, his psychic and spiritual quests, his experiments with séances, his travels around the world.Sir Arthur's fans will definitely enjoy reading about the life and times of the famous man who still remains a popular household name across the world.
Arthur and George is also a highly readable book because of the language which is simple and classic.The 360 page book is available in both hardback and paperback. I will definitely recommmend it as a brilliant piece of writing.
Ref:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/oct/18/booker-prize-julian-barnes-wins
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