In the first decade of the 20th century, the creator of a perspicacious literary protagonist undertook an investigation in order to help clear a certain young man of disturbing charges against him. Who was this famed writer, what were the particulars of the case, and what modern literary figure has recently published a fictionalized treatment of this episode?

bigponder

Arthur & George, the most recent novel by Julian Barnes, tells the story of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's attempts to clear the name of George Edalji, who was convicted of mutilating a pony. Mar 19 06, 6:31 PM

lanfranco

More than a pony. I'll give you a provisional yay, bigponder, but would you please provide a reference site? Mar 19 06, 6:35 PM

bigponder

A provisional yay? I'll take it. You're right, it was more than a pony and racism, or at least the possibility of it (I haven't read the book) is a major issue. A reference: Michiko Kakutani's rather critical Jan. 10 review in the New York Times. Mar 19 06, 7:18 PM

lanfranco

Yes. Kakutani called the book "serviceable but sluggish," though Terence Rafferty's assessment in the NYT Book Review (January 15) was considerably more positive. So far, I'm enjoying it. But just to let everyone know what we're talking about, here is the sort of site I had in mind: http://www.siracd.com/life_case1.shtml Mar 19 06, 8:24 PM

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