Arthur is one of the three protagonists in There Are Rivers in the Sky. Born on the banks of the Thames while his mother is out scavenging with a group, he is christened “King Arthur of the Sewers and Slums” by the toshers who assist in his birth. Arthur is born with the gift of perfect recall; he remembers every experience and incident from and including the moment of his birth. This gift enables him to excel in school, and after he drops out, he continues to excel in all the work he does. He apprentices at a printing press before he eventually goes on to work at the British Museum, dedicating his life to the study of cuneiform tablets from ancient Mesopotamia and The Epic of Gilgamesh in particular.

Along with his impeccable memory, Arthur inherently possesses a keen sense of justice and a deeply sensitive and empathetic nature. Arthur’s mother, Arabella, struggles with mental health conditions all her life, while his father is largely absent and abusive when present. Arthur also has twin younger brothers, and between his father’s abuse and his mother’s ill health, the burden of caring for his family falls onto his shoulders.