Instance of the fingerpost

Buy a cheap copy of an instance of the fingerpost book by iain pears. The narration is provided by the accounts of four of his contemporaries as. The source of the title is found in an epigraph to part iv of the novel. An instance of the fingerpost by iain pears, 9780099751816, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. There were other books i wanted and needed to read, so it kept being moved to the bottom of a very big pile. Iain pears, quote from an instance of the fingerpost he who profits by villainy, has perpetrated it.

Oliver cromwell, rebel and lord protector of england, is dead, and the monarchy of charles ii. An instance of the fingerpost is set in the early years of the restoration, a time in english history marked by political intrigue and social unrest. The story is set in 1663 at and around oxford university, where lecturer robert grove is found poisoned. Four different narrators tell the same story and implicate. The setting of the novel is 1663, just after the restoration of the monarchy following the english civil war, when the. Its england in the 1660s, charles ii has been restored to the throne following years of civil war and oliver cromwells shortlived republic. Oliver cromwells shortlived republic is a thing of the past, and. An instance of the fingerpost by iain pears goodreads. A national bestseller and one of the new york public librarys books to remember, an instance of the fingerpost is a thrilling historical mystery from iain pears. So i was fortunate to find an instance of the fingerpost. An instance of the fingerpost pears iain download bok. An instance of the fingerpost is that rarest of all possible literary beastsa mystery powered as much by ideas as by suspects, autopsies, and smoking guns. An instance of the fingerpost is an impressive, enormous tapestry, and does present a neat picture of especially oxford life but also the political and connectedlyreligious conflicts in the england of that time. Iain pears, quote from an instance of the fingerpost it is cruel that we are granted the desire to know, but denied the time to do it properly.

Books similar to an instance of the fingerpost an instance of the fingerpost. Iain pairs cleverly creates three accounts of a murder and embeds his narrative in 17th century england before and during the restoration. Interweaving real and fictional elements, the american boy is a major new literary historical crime novel in the tradition of an instance of the fingerpost and possession. A murder in 17thcentury oxford is related from the contradictory points of view of four of the characters, all of them unreliable narrators.

I enjoyed reading this book and learned a lot from it. Even owning a kindle was not reason enough to embark on such a journey. Set largely in oxford, the main fascination and brilliance of the novel is its supremely confident structure and plot. An instance of the fingerpost audiobook by iain pears. Jul 22, 2015 iain pears intricately plotted, highly intelligent and very enjoyable novel, an instance of the fingerpost, explores the troubling and problematic side of the historical movement labelled with the smug term the enlightenment. Nothing in pearss five archly amusing art mysteries giottos hand, p. Oxford is the intellectual seat of the country, a place of great scientific, religious, and political ferment. Hefty, intricately plotted, and intellectually ambitious, fingerpost has drawn the inevitable comparisons to umberto ecos the name of the rose and, for once, the comparison is apt. I read this book many years ago and it sent me in search of everything pears wrote before and after. An instance of the fingerpost when in a search of any nature the understanding stands suspended, then instances of the fingerpost shew the true and inviolable way in which the question is to be decided. The term instance of the fingerpost was coined by sir francis bacon, one of the great english champions of the scientific method and inductive reasoning. It retains the pacing and drive of a good mystery, but adds a complex and original structure and historical and intellectual depth to make a striking and memorable novel. An instance of the fingerpost book summary and study guide.

In 1663, an oxford professor has been poisoned with arsenic that much is clear. A fellow of new college is found dead in suspicious circumstances. An instance of the fingerpost by iain pears librarything. An excellent tale of murder, an instance of the fingerpost is also a careful reconstruction of cultural history. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read an instance of the fingerpost. I love a good mystery and history interests me, as well. An instance of the fingerpost is the moment that marks the discovery of an inviolable truth in the cause of an investigation. Oliver cromwell, rebel and lord protector of england, is dead, and the monarchy of charles ii has been restored to power. The book is lengthy, and the time period obscure for most contemporary readers, so be ready to jump in with a strong stomach and a clear mind. An instance of the fingerpost literature tv tropes.

It is 1663, and england is wracked with intrigue and civil strife. A murder is at the center of the story, or, more accurately, the several stories of pears massive but unflagging book. An instance of the fingerpost by iain pears is a book i resisted reading for a while for the simple reason i thought it a tad too long. Though the clunky phrase might not seem to construe much of a debt, the ideas behind it are in large part the basis of every whodunit written since. An intricate and wellconstructed book, it is heavy with complexity and the need to reevaluate that which has been said before. The whodunit element, prominent in the opening section, recedes in importance as the book broadens out to embrace more complex material so much so that when at last the murderer unmasks himself, his identity is oddly unimportant. On the whole, pears structures the narrative and how the pieces are revealed in it very well. The abridgment edits out too much of the interesting historical detail, a pleasure of historical fiction, which set the milieu of the times and provides rich context for the characters and plot. An instance of the fingerpost is that rarest of all possible literary beastsa mystery powered as much by ideas as by suspects, autopsies and smoking guns. Iain pears an instance of the fingerpost is a skillful work of historical fiction. An utterly compelling historical mystery set in england in the 1660s. The events of an instance of the fingerpost are set in motion by the death of an oxford don and the subsequent trial of sarah blundy, the woman accused of his murder.

I also drew many lessons from it in how to use the prism of a murder in a small town to explore wider historical issues and a much bigger political conspiracy. An instance of the fingerpost is the kind of lengthy, slow burn of a book that reveals itself only to the most observant and committed of readers, but with an explosive payoff thats well worth the wait. Pears skillful plotweaving will keep you guessing until the final seconds of an instance of the fingerpost. An instance of the fingerpost taught me much about how to write history. Feb 22, 2002 iain pears an instance of the fingerpost is a skillful work of historical fiction. Reading guide for an instance of the fingerpost by iain pears. Do you think that the final witnesss testimony is wholly reliable or does he also succumb to instances of impaired logic, as defined by bacons idols, en route to the truth. With rights sold for recordbreaking sums around the world, an instance of the fingerpost is destined to become a major international publishing event. An instance of the fingerpost iain pears macmillan. Iain pears intricately plotted, highly intelligent and very enjoyable novel, an instance of the fingerpost, explores the troubling and problematic side of the historical movement labelled with the smug term the enlightenment. An instance of the fingerpost by iain pears, page 594. An instance of the fingerpost is a 1997 historical mystery novel by iain pears. But an instance of the fingerpost is a good deal more than a detective story. With an instance of the fingerpost, author iain pears enters literary territory previously explored by writers as diverse as umberto eco, don delillo, and e.

It consists of four accounts of actions centred around the same period, and around the same singular individual. An instance of the fingerpost by iain pears karen brooks. About this title may belong to another edition of this title. An instance of the fingerpost is a true groundbreaker. Robert grove is poisoned with arsenic in his new college lodgings. An instance of the fingerpost 1997 is a historical mystery novel written by iain pears. We hear the story of a 17th century murder from 4 different witnesses.

An instance of the fingerpost is vastly more ambitious than iain pears earlier work, a series of seven novels about a detective with the italian art theft squad. An instance of the fingerpost by iain pears book club. March 9, 1998 nothing in pearss five archly amusing art mysteries giottos hand, p. An instance of the fingerpost by iain pears books on. A missing signet ring leads his colleagues to his former servant and rumored. An instance of the fingerpost ebook the indianapolis. The term fingerpost recently received some attention from its use in the bestselling novel, an instance of the fingerpost by iain pears. At its heart it is a thriller, full of twists and turns and dark alleys full of danger yet it is the reader who gets to play detective, to judge each of the witnesses and reach their own conclusions. Charles ii has been restored to the throne following years of civil war and cromwells shortlived republic. Anthony wood, a witness to these events, is reconciled to the verdict calling for her execution in the belief that the divine plan will be fulfilled. An instance of the fingerpost read the book, eschew the audio. The vehicle for this exploration is the murder by poison of dr. An instance of the fingerpost book san antonio public.

An instance of the fingerpost is a long but involving book, which pays great attention to its historical setting and theme, but at the same time good historians are not necessarily good authors and good authors are not necessarily good historians, but in fingerpost pears manages to strike a comfortable balance between both professions. In mysteries, the instance of the fingerpost is the sudden revelation that makes. The year is 1663, and the setting is oxford, england. An instance of the fingerpost manages to avoid most of these pitfalls, presenting a vibrant and highly compelling 17th century england, but outside the traditional bustle and filth of london. An instance of the fingerpost is an utterly compelling historical mystery with a plot that twists and turns and keeps the reader guessing until the very last page. The structure of the book is also compelling, and as soon as you detect it, the depth and your own interest increases. Here is a book that is set out in a new, pioneering form and written in an intriguing style. Iain pears literate murder mystery an instance of the fingerpost explores the complex world of england during the restoration in a novel reminiscent of umberto ecos the name of the rose.