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Iain Pears
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An Instance Of The Fingerpost Audio CD – Unabridged, April 1, 2011

by Iain Pears (Author), Gareth Armstrong (Reader), Roger May (Reader)
4.3 out of 5 stars 2,193 ratings
Set in Oxford in the 1660s – a time and place of great intellectual, scientific, religious and political ferment – this remarkable novel centres around a young woman, Sarah Blundy, who stands accused of the murder of Robert Grove, a fellow of New College. Four witnesses describe the events surrounding his death: Marco da Cola, a Venetian Catholic intent on claiming credit for the invention of blood transfusion; Jack Prescott, the son of a supposed traitor to the Royalist cause, determined to vindicate his father; John Wallis, chief cryptographer to both Cromwell and Charles 1l a mathematician, theologican and inveterate plotter; and Anthony Wood, the famous Oxford antiquary. Each one tells their version of what happened but only one reveals the extraordinary truth.
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  1. Language
    English
  2. Publisher
    Isis Audio Books
  3. Publication date
    April 1, 2011
  4. ISBN-10
    1445007983
  5. ISBN-13
    978-1445007984
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Isis Audio Books
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 1, 2011
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1445007983
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1445007984
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.3 ounces
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 2,193 ratings

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Iain Pears

Iain Pears

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
2,193 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this historical novel fascinating, particularly appreciating its complex plot and multiple narrative perspectives. Moreover, the book receives positive feedback for its creativity, with one customer noting how well it captures a period of history. However, the writing quality is mixed, with some praising the prose while others find it tedious and repetitive. Additionally, customers disagree on whether the book is engaging, and many find it very long.

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PlotCharacter developmentCreativityPage turnerEnthrallingLength
81 customers mention "Plot"70 positive11 negative

Customers enjoy the plot of this historical novel, describing it as a fascinating mystery set in a complicated time with a complex narrative structure. One customer notes that the story is told from four different perspectives.

"...While a knowledge of English history is helpful, it isn't necessary for the enjoyment of the tale. More important is to read carefully...." Read more

"...the other reviewers--this book is one of the best written, most intricately plotted I've ever read--I have to confess--I skipped through the third..." Read more

"...But some mysteries are, in fact, solved. For me, they are solved in an intriguing, satisying way. Now, about that word "fingerpost."..." Read more

"...For me, this ability to awaken, or even create, a new subject of intellectual curiosity is one of the rarest, and therefore most valuable, talents..." Read more

17 customers mention "Character development"14 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with one review highlighting the fascinating quartet of narrators.

"...The last narrator, Wood, tells a fantastic tale of loving Sarah, Grove's maid, who confesses murdering the old man and is hung for it but "magically..." Read more

"...The characters are fairly well developed. The structure of the novel is interesting and adds dimension. Now, the bad news...." Read more

"...The real beauty of this book is being able to piece together all the recollections of the characters until "No other possibility"..." Read more

"...Cromwell's spymaster, all make appearances and all are convincingly portrayed...." Read more

13 customers mention "Creativity"13 positive0 negative

Customers praise the book's creativity, with one customer noting how it brilliantly captures a period of history, while another appreciates its 17th century setting.

"...At the end of this very cleverly drawn book, I was longing for more, including more information beyond the dramatis personae entries on the main..." Read more

"...And that's good because he is smitten with her incredible beauty, even though the other men describe her as evil incarnate or childishly..." Read more

"...A very imaginative read." Read more

"Elegant and clever as usual, the author starts his novel from the end...." Read more

5 customers mention "Page turner"5 positive0 negative

Customers describe the book as a page turner, with one customer noting how the author keeps readers engaged on every page.

"...A book to be savored. No page turner; rather, a thought provoking historical novel set in 1663 England, just after the restoration...." Read more

"A Master at work on every page. What a refreshing book this was to read...." Read more

"And Pears has become a favorite author. Excellent prose that keeps you turning pages, even during slower periods...." Read more

"Loved this book. Page turner." Read more

16 customers mention "Enthralling"7 positive9 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the book's entertainment value, with some finding it more engaging on subsequent readings, while others describe it as dull.

"...They are all unreliable, something I've never liked in a book...." Read more

"I enjoyed reading this book and learned a lot from it. The story is interesting and I enjoyed the 17th century setting...." Read more

"...I’ve ever encountered in a novel, although the ultimate reason is a bit disappointing...." Read more

"...It teaches while entertaining on a grand scale...." Read more

16 customers mention "Length"0 positive16 negative

Customers find the book's length to be a significant drawback, with multiple reviews noting it is 400 pages too long.

"...More important is to read carefully. The novel may be long, but nothing is wasted." Read more

"...two flaws in this book the first being simply, as I said, that it is TOO LONG!!..." Read more

"...Although I liked "Fingerpost", it is a long and difficult read...." Read more

"...It is long also so have to be very committted to see it through. I am not sure I’ll get there." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Leslie Bialler
    5.0 out of 5 stars Something rich and strange
    Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2001
    Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase
    The time was 1663. The place, England. The monarchy had been restored only three years before, and Charles II's crown rested uneasy on his head, in a country still divided by the effects of the civil war of Cromwell's time, and the bitter division between Protestant and Catholic.
    And in Oxford, at the time the home of the likes of John Locke, Richard Lower, and Robert Boyle (all of whom play a part in the story), a gentle Oxford Don was murdered, and his sometime servant was accused of the crime, confessed to it, and was hanged.
    Now, at some unspecified time in the future, four people who were involved in the affair have set down their versions of the story. This multiple-narrator mystery has (not unjustifiably) been compared with Umberto Eco's novel _In The Name of the Rose_, and it has elements in common with the film _Roshomon_ as well. But you may well see it as more like the Dickens novel Dickens never got around to. Those familiar with the works of the contemporary novelist Peter Ackroyd may also discern some parallels.
    Most of the characters, down to the apothocary who makes an appearance in the first segement, actually existed (there's a list of them in the back). But the story is Pears's own, and it gets increasingly complicated as each chronicler, the fictional da Cola and Prestcott, followed by the real John Wallis and Anthony Wood, supply their own take on the sad events of the hanging of Sarah Blundy (fictional) and offer their opinions on why she did confess to the crime she clearly did not commit. Each of the narrators is not quite what he seems to be, and each one adds more facts to the tale until at the end, the entire events are apparently revealed.
    While a knowledge of English history is helpful, it isn't necessary for the enjoyment of the tale. More important is to read carefully. The novel may be long, but nothing is wasted.
    12 people found this helpful
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  • Arianne
    4.0 out of 5 stars LONG!!!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2013
    Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase
    For all that I agree with the other reviewers--this book is one of the best written, most intricately plotted I've ever read--I have to confess--I skipped through the third section (character). He was so disagreeable, following an equally disagreeable second narrator (that's half of this 725 page book), and I was so exhausted with surely the most densely historically detailed book I've ever picked up, with the equally difficult task of keeping all the characters straight. (I do wish I'd known of the character index at the end of the text.) I'm sure I missed important details, but I simply couldn't sustain attention. Since I liked the fourth narrator, I engaged again at that point and am grateful I did as here was the, new word, "fingerpost", and I wouldn't have missed it for the world. It is here that the true mystery is revealed, and I'm left with amazement and wonder. Has Pears simply invented this story or is there truth to it? (I mustn't reveal what "it" is.) I'm fascinated and must do further research (!) on my own to discover the answer.
    But this points to the second of the two flaws in this book the first being simply, as I said, that it is TOO LONG!! (Surely we could have been spared SOME of the details of the 17th century.)
    The second is that the actual kernel of intrigue is hidden so cleverly that one is not illumined ENOUGH regarding it. Surely it's of more importance than all the political intrigues, yet is given relatively little exploration. He's buried the lead, I think, which deflates it.
    I will admit this lack is what leaves the book lingering and teasing at my imagination.
    Surely many kudos to the interwoven intrigues and tidiness of plotting accomplished by Mr. Pears, not to mention the research. I've read many of his books, and I admire him greatly. Just....you know....edit a LITTLE bit out of the 17th century, please.
    13 people found this helpful
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  • Bic
    5.0 out of 5 stars About that word "fingerpost"
    Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2009
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Others have given plenty of good reasons why this is a wonderful book. Nonetheless, here's one more.

    As someone already mentioned, An Instance of the Fingerpost is reminiscent of Rashoman. But there's an important difference. Rashoman is the Japanese movie that tells the same story from multiple points of view. Usually, the lesson of it is that truth is elusive--the question is "whose truth."

    Similarly, An Instance of the Fingerpost tells the same story from different perspectives. But it doesn't try to convince you that truth doesn't exist. Instead, it shows you that people have a hard time figuring out--or accepting--what is true, depending on their beliefs and interests. Some points of view are just wrong. You'll have to decide for yourself whether or not you are ever given the whole truth and nothing but the truth. But some mysteries are, in fact, solved. For me, they are solved in an intriguing, satisying way.

    Now, about that word "fingerpost." A fingerpost is one of those tall road markers with narrow, arrow-like signs at the top. The title of the book comes from a Francis Bacon quotation. If you delve into it, I suppose the title is appropriate. I'd prefer that Pears had called the book something less inscrutable, like "The Short, Happy Life of Sarah Blundy."

    On the other hand, when you can write a book like this, you get to call it whatever you want!
    7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • michael hargreaves
    5.0 out of 5 stars a wonderful read
    Reviewed in Canada on November 10, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I bought my kindle edition because I loaned my original copy out many years ago and never got it back. Some books can be read and re-read (in my case, I generally wait 5-10 years) and this was one I knew I would want to re-read. It was as enjoyable the second time around as it had been originally. A fascinating historical mystery novel, with superb characterizations and an intricate, coherent plot. Pears has written a number of short, non-serious art theft mysteries, that are enjoyable enough, but his more serious works are what I admire the most.
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  • Christine
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brillant exposé historique nous apprenant que l'histoire a plusieurs versions
    Reviewed in France on September 22, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    L'analyse historique est telle qu'il faut la plus grande analyse pour en tirer les bonnes conclusions et qu'il existe plusieurs versions, plusieurs chemins et que seul le recul et l'analyse a permis et permet toujours aux historiens de découvrir la réalité. À lire absolument.
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  • A. Fosse
    5.0 out of 5 stars fantasticly written
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 25, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    This was my first book by Iain Pears and by no means the last one.

    Written as a story told by different people, and hence different views. You start with the journal like recollections of Marco da Cola a gentleman from Italy and a student of medicin who was called in to London to check up on family business that has suffered a loss due to the untimely death of a trusted partner. You are here seing the story from the center of the storm, though you do not yet know it. Marco da Cola seems like he is very much out of place in post Cromwellian England and seeks the patronage of Mr Boyle, and bumps into dr Lower who then becomes his confidant and friend, however hot headed and fickle in his ways. He also gains a patient of the less prominent kind and embarks on a teatment involving the transfusion of blood, which he states is the reason behind telling his story as he feels dr Lower steals his discovery.
    In this first part of the story all of the major caracters in this plot is intorduced but you cannot really see the plot yet...
    You are left with a picture of a continental gentleman that is not exepted by the fickle society of the Englishman and that he left the country with a wish of never returning, and many unanswered questions that needs answering...
    The story is then told through the "ramblings of a madman" which might not be as mad as one thinks, and puts another conspiracy into the equation that darkens the plot. He is haunted by the ghost of his dads action during the Cromwell rule as he was at the forefront of the quest for a royal England. Jack Prescott becomes obsessed with vindicating his family name and in obtaining the thruth he goes mad.
    You are then seeing the same events seen through the now half blind Dr Wallis, the doctor, priest and head crypographer for Cromwell as well as for the new King of England. Dr Wallis thinks of himself as a man who is smarter than everyone, even Jhon Thurlow (Cromwells confidant and chief spy). But as he tells his story you learn that he sees conspiracy everywhere and often misunderstand the situation at hand as he is to much of a narcisist to see his own mistakes.
    The last one to tell the story of events is Anthony Wood, a antiquarian and avid hstory fan who sits on the outskirts of events, but yet sees more than most.

    In my opinion this book is brilliant, and I am sure that the fourth version of the story lies between the three versions, and as you read it a second or third, even fourth time you will notice something you didn't at first.
    Iain Pears has chosen to write in the style of writing as done in the times this story is set, which might be a challenge at first, but when you get used to it this really hightens the experience. When he writes about the experiments with blood and transfusion and other experiments you are taken back and can imagine the wonders of the discovery of something as common as transfusion of boold or the properties of arcenic. When he writes about how they practiced medicine with the aid of Galen, astronomy and astrology as well as the fact that they tasted the urine of the patient you get that feeling of past glory. Even the way they discuss any matter of business by aplying philosophy and logic puts you thouroughly in that time and as mentioned before hightens your experience even more.

    A tour de Force and my favourite book, and for anyone wanting an exiting read full of twists and turns, conspiracy, murder and exitment this is definatley the book for you!

    hoe to have been of assistance and please enjoy!
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  • M. Garchet
    3.0 out of 5 stars Interessante mas…
    Reviewed in Brazil on March 27, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    O tema é bastante interessante. No entanto apesar de um início empolgante, vai se tornando maçante, talvez pela extensão do livro. Uma época de grandes descobertas na medicina , de experimentação e desafios. Mas, justamente a descrição tão detalhada de tantas experiências acaba tornando o livro cansativo.
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  • Z.A.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Auch ohne Geschichtskenntnisse lohnenswert
    Reviewed in Germany on May 2, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Mit Geschichtskenntnissen versteht man die Zusammenhänge sicher besser, aber es ist lesenswert, weil die Ereignisse aus sehr unterschiedlichen Perspektiven geschildert werden.
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