Arthur and George

I was fortunate to be present at a recent presentation Roman Krznaric made to a judicial training day. It made me think about what books I have read which might contain themes of both empathy and law. Arthur & George immediately came to mind. Based on a true story of a young mixed race solicitor in England at the turn of the 20th century being falsely accused and convicted of horrendous crimes and the author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's involvement in having his case reviewed to a successful appeal. 

Barnes forces us to see the world through George Edalji's eyes: a slightly odd and bookish young man in a britain prejudiced to professional persons of another colour.

We then experience in practical terms Sir Arthur's empathy as one of Britain's most famous men leading the charge for George's cause.

The reader also gets a full contrast of the two men's lives from childhood.

A brilliantly written and conceived book in its own right (as one would expect from the author) but one highly relevant to an experience and understanding of empathy in my respectful submission!