Julie left me Arthur and George to read in that grand tradition of traveler gift giving, “I'm one lighter, Enjoy!” She wanted to know what I thought of it…so here goes.

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Joseph had commented that everyone at Diesel had been terribly excited about the book, but it was too English for him. Well, I loved it. I’m not sure that it was too English for me, but I have, perhaps grown up like a hothouse flower, protected not only from mass culture, but common culture.

To put it plainly, I had no idea who Arthur was. Make of that what you will. This made the read very pleasurable. Imagine my surprise when it finally dawned that I was reading about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle! This was also true for the character Arthur. In the early part of his life (and the book), he had no idea who he would become, and what he would one day create. I also enjoyed discovering that George was of Parsee extraction. George considered himself wholly English. And to his death, did not believe that the illogic inherent in racism (how could someone with no personal knowledge of me, hate me?) could explain his suffering.

Although we are left to wonder about George’s non-existent sex life – or perhaps this wasn’t so unusual for repressed Victorians - George comes off as far more interesting than the bombastic Sir Arthur.

I could easily see the story adapted as a play, culminating in the final Tom Stoppardesque scene where Arthur and George simultaneously read the case verdict.

Clearly the book structure was modeled on Sherlock Holms novels. How much have I missed, having never read Sherlock Holmes? (Please no Holmes books for X-mass. There’s a library within the half-mile).

Thanks Julie for the entertaining read. Who is the next Waymoot traveler who wants to lighten my sack?