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An Instance of the Fingerpost

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An Instance of the Fingerpost

By: Iain Pears
Narrated by: Gareth Armstrong, Roger May, Christopher Oxford, David McAlister
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About this listen

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.

©1997 Iain Pears (P)2011 Isis Publishing Ltd Crime Fiction Historical Fiction Mystery Suspense Thriller & Suspense Fiction Crime

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An excellent story, filled with historical detail and great atmosphere. As an audiobook (brilliantly narrated), it requires much concentration to keep track of the many events and characters. Relieved to have finally reached the end. Emphatically illustrates the vital importance of separating religion and state.

Well researched, written, narrated

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I first read this in 1997, when recommended by someone from Oxford. I enjoyed it, but truthfully I had forgotten most of the plot by the time I listened to this audiobook. Loved it. The story is inventive and well-narrated in four different voices. I never lost interest and I was swept along by the performances. I was trained as an historian and worked as a librarian, and found myself (quietly) shouting 'yes' when points from both disciplines were discussed. (Yes, I know I have no life!!) Great plot, led me to look at other aspects of the period, which I thought I knew well. It's a long listen and complex, but I can recommend it.

Excellent throughout

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At first I found the modern prose style confusing but when I got used to thoroughly enjoyed the story at all levels. I have bought another book by this writer which I am saving for my Christmas read!

A new road to follow

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For those who love history combined with detective fiction, this book is a jewel. Loved it.

Brilliant

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There is very rarely an historic novel that grabs. This is mine. From start to finish. All either real or feasible for the time in history and brilliantly narrated. There are some books I love but can't listen to the narrator, this was perfect! I would recommend to anyone because there is something from all the characters that would appeal.

An instance of the fingerpost

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An amazing story told in a very ingenious way. It has definitely inspired me to read more from this author.

Excellent!

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Really enjoyed it. You a great read and very well performed. Very well done Audible👍

Wonderful

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This is a series of four accounts of the same time, addressing a central mystery, but with additional peripheral stories which become clear and are resolved by the end of the last account. It is set in the period after the Interregnum, with all the political uncertainties and maneuverings of the time, overshadowed by the Civil War and unhealed schisms. Whilst ostensibly a whodunnit, it is much more complex than this, touching on the nature of historical truths, on religious divisions and similarities, class and feminism. Disappointingly, there are only two women in the entire book (which has a very large cast of male characters - oh sorry, there is also a bit-part for Wood's mum), and they are made to embody all of the virgin-whore-mother-witch-servant-savior tropes between them, depending on which account you are reading; whilst the women are completely central to the story, they have to do quite a lot of the emotional work and perhaps this might have been shared with a few other female characters.

All of the accounts are first person narratives and the second and third are by highly unsympathetic (and slightly two-dimensional) characters which were a bit hard-going in places. Surely no-one lacks self-awareness to that degree? Or if they do, they aren't a head I want to inhabit! The second reader is weaker than the others which is a pity as otherwise it is well-performed, although I did listen to the third and fourth on 1.2x speed as I found them a bit ponderous and liable to induce sleep.

I enjoyed the story and I enjoyed the exploration of the period in English history. The four perspectives (like the four gospels, perhaps) were thought-provoking on the nature of primary sources, on memory, on how much agenda plays in what we remember as history. Long and quite complicated, with some weaknesses, but definitely worth the time.

Complicated, but worth it

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Enjoyed the story. Good narration and liked the sneaky twists and turns . . .

Nice twists in the story.

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A nice gentleman gave me a copy of this book some 20 years ago and it has remained one of my favourite novels that I have ever read. it has mystery, intrigue, politics, murder and much much more. It really is a tour de force.

One of my favourites.

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