Set against the lush tapestry of late-Victorian Britain, 'Arthur and George' weaves the true story of two men bound by history but separated by class. George Edjali, son of a Midlands vicar of mixed race, finds himself the target of both racial prejudice and a series of sinister crimes falsely attributed to him. Meanwhile, Arthur, later revealed as the illustrious creator of Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle, becomes embroiled in George's case, spurred by a sense of justice and an intimate acquaintance with love amidst the rigidity of social mores. Julian Barnes masterfully reconstructs this historical saga, exploring themes of guilt, innocence, and the complex interplay between identity, belief, and evidence. The novel transcends time, interrogating notions of nationality and race, acting as a mirror reflecting contemporary issues through the lens of the past.