An instance of the fingerpost by iain pears penguin books australia. An instance of the fingerpost by iain pears overdrive. Arcadia by iain pears is published by faber on 3 september. Michael stocker holds that the concrete merits of an alternative can justify choosing it over others, whether or not the alternatives can be compared. Iain pears is a journalist and art historian with a doctorate in art history from oxford. Readers of iain pears 17th century murder mystery might prep for the experience by delving into gilbert burnets history of my own times. In 1987 he became a getty fellow in the arts and humanities at yale university. How do you resolve a scandalous kidnapping without paying the ransom or attracting. He is the author of six highly praised detective novels, which include the raphael affair, the bernini bust and an instance of the fingerpost. 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. A missing signet ring leads his colleagues to his former servant and rumored. Robert grove, a fellow of new college is found dead in suspicious circumstances. 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. Reading guide for an instance of the fingerpost by iain pears.
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. 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. Pears puts the truth such as it is in the words of the real antiquarian, anthony wood, who explains that a fingerpost like a pathognomonic signpoints to the only solution possible. Editions of an instance of the fingerpost by iain pears. But four witnessesa medical student, the son of a traitor. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. Iain pears digs deep into religion and science in this compelling period mystery set in oxford, england in 1663. 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. When a fellow of new college in seventeenthcentury oxford is found dead and. His wellknown novel series features jonathan argyll, art historian, though international fame first arrived with his best selling book an instance of the fingerpost 1998, which was translated into several languages. The protagonists are four people giving evidence in a murder in 17th century england. An instance of the fingerpost by iain pears, cape, pounds 16.
An instance of the fingerpost nashville public library. Why you need an app to understand my novel books the guardian. Buy an instance of the fingerpost by iain pears from waterstones today. 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. Jan 17, 2012 an instance of the fingerpost by iain pears, 1999, berkley books edition, in english.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read an instance of the fingerpost. An instance of the fingerpost by iain pears librarything. Information and translations of fingerpost in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. 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. Apr 01, 2000 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. Kindle ebooks can be read on any device with the free kindle app. 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.
Books by iain pears author of an instance of the fingerpost. Clever and witty art historymystery featuring jonathon argyll, scholar and sleuth, from the bestselling author of an instance of the fingerpost. March 9, 1998 nothing in pearss five archly amusing art mysteries giottos hand, p. 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. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. Charles ii has been restored to the throne following years of civil war and cromwells shortlived republic. An instance of the fingerpost ebook the indianapolis. Arcadia district of columbia public library overdrive. An instance of the fingerpost by pears iain, signed abebooks. If you liked umberto ecos name of the rose, you should run to buy iain pearss lavishly erudite historical.
This acclaimed book by iain pears is available at in several formats for your ereader. An instance of the fingerpost is a 1997 historical mystery novel by iain pears. I loved the dream of scipio and an instance of the fingerpost so i was looking forward to this book. One blames the crime on too much authority, another on the lack of it. Set in oxford in the 1660s a time and place of great intellectual, religious, scientific and political ferment this. A novel on the way we interpret events to suit our purpose.
In 1663 oxford, a servant girl confesses to a murder. Kindle store go search best sellers gift ideas new releases deals. A panoramic novel with a riveting mystery at its heart, stones fall is a quest, a love story, and a tale of murder richly. An instance of the fingerpost audiobook abridged listen.
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 utterly compelling historical mystery, in the tradition of umberto eco and john fowles. An instance of the fingerpost by iain pears goodreads. He has also written a book of art history and countless articles on artistic, financial and historical subjects. Set in oxford in the 1660s a time and place of great. With an overdrive account, you can save your favorite libraries for ataglance information. An instance of the fingerpost audiobook, by iain pears. Get an adfree experience with special benefits, and directly support reddit. 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. But four witnessesa medical student, the son of a traitor, a cryptographer, and an archivisteach finger a different culprit. There were other books i wanted and needed to read, so it kept being moved to the bottom of a very big pile. Goodreads members who liked an instance of the fingerpost al. But an instance of the fingerpost is a good deal more than a detective story.
In 1960s oxford, professor henry lytten is attempting to write a f. At oxfords new college, fellow robert grove is found dead. Read an instance of the fingerpost by iain pears available from rakuten kobo. He is the author of numerous works, including seven detective novels in the jonathan argyll series, a book of art history, and the new york times bestselling.
An instance of the fingerpost ebook the seattle public. An instance of the fingerpost by iain pears, paperback. Fingerpost definition is a post bearing one or more signs often terminating in a pointing finger. Find a library or download libby an app by overdrive. An instance of the fingerpost iain pears we are in oxford in the 1660sa time, and place, of great intellectual, scientific, religious and political ferment. Best pdf an instance of the fingerpost ebook download. An instance of the fingerpost by pears, iain, iain pears. These instances afford great light, so that the course of the investigation will sometimes be terminated by them.
Oxford is the intellectual seat of the country, a place of great scientific, religious, and political ferment. 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 four narrators of an instance of the fingerpost illustrate that there is never just one side to a story, that an event can be interpreted in a multitude of ways. An instance of the fingerpost by iain pears waterstones. Iain pears is a coventryborn and oxfordeducated art historian and author of historical mysteries, and an instance of the fingerpost is his most famous novel. These i also call decisive and judicial, and in some cases, oracular and commanding instances.
An instance of the fingerpost 1999 edition open library. But four witnessesa medical student, the son of a traitor, a cry. An instance of the fingerpost ebook written by iain pears. 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. Download pdf an instance of the fingerpost pre order. It is 1663, and england is wracked with intrigue and civil strife. Their versions are wondrously convoluted attempts to keep the impossible within the realm of the plausible. An instance of the fingerpost by iain pears books on. Oliver cromwells shortlived republic is a thing of the past, and charles ii has been restored to the throne.
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. It is a pretty easy read although he has chosen to use a narrator the artist, henry macalpine speaking as a monologue to his subject art critic, william naysmith not an easy way to tell a story involving betrayal, jealousy and spite but he copes with this pretty well. Fingerpost definition of fingerpost by the free dictionary. The term fingerpost recently received some attention from its use in the bestselling novel, an instance of the fingerpost by iain pears.
Its england in the 1660s, charles ii has been restored to the throne following years of civil war and oliver cromwells shortlived republic. From the author of the international best seller an instance of the fingerpost, arcadia is an astonishing work of imagination. Handpicked recommendations to other books that have a similar writing style or theme to an instance of the fingerpost. Iain pears has 18 books on goodreads with 97049 ratings. A novel to stand alongside atonement and the remains of the day. An instance of the fingerpost king county library system. A fellow of new college is found dead in suspicious circumstances. Lee an instance of the fingerpost por iain pears disponible en rakuten kobo. Nothing in pearss five archly amusing art mysteries giottos hand, p. An instance of the fingerpost by iain pears reading guide. Educated at wadham college, oxford, he has worked as a journalist, an art historian and television consultant. 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. Each one tells their version of what happened but only one reveals the extraordinary truth.
Fingerpost definition of fingerpost by merriamwebster. Find books like an instance of the fingerpost from the worlds largest community of readers. A national bestseller and one of the new york public librarys books to remember, an instance of the fingerpost is a thrilling historical mystery. Robert grove is poisoned with arsenic in his new college lodgings. An instance of the fingerpost isbn 9780099751816 pdf epub. An instance of the fingerpost ebook por iain pears.
In cold war england, professor henry lytten, having renounced a career in espionage, is writing a fantasy novel that dares to imagine a world less fraught than his own. Anthony wood, a witness to these events, is reconciled to the verdict calling for her execution in the. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. I did some reading this past week on character vs plot driven fiction, inspired by the comments section of the guardians very interesting podcast on editing. A look at the controversies of the day, from medical experiments to religious freethinking. A murder in 17thcentury oxford is related from the.
Borrow ebooks, audiobooks, and videos from thousands of public libraries worldwide. Iain pearss most popular book is an instance of the fingerpost. The source of the title is found in an epigraph to part iv of the novel. 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. Hefty, intricately plotted, and intellectually ambitious, fingerpost has drawn the inevitable comparisons to umberto ecos the name of the rose. He is known for experimenting with different narrative structures, presenting four consecutive versions of the same events in an instance of the fingerpost, three stories interleaved in the dream of scipio 2002, three stories told in reverse chronological order in stones fall 2009, and allowing the reader to switch between multiple. Instance of the fingerpost by pears, iain and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The breathless thrills of an instance of the fingerpost have been exchanged for a lengthy meditation on cultural history, with characters as pegs for thoughts. Among prerogative instances i will put in the fourteenth place instances of the fingerpost, borrowing the term from the fingerposts which are set up where roads part, to indicate the several directions.