An Instance of the Fingerpost

By: Iain Pears

Narrated by: Gareth Armstrong, Roger May, Christopher Oxford, David McAlister

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

A gripping tale!

Though long, the story was told through different voices which is a novel approach. The author holds your attention until the very end and provides a totally expected conclusion. Highly recommended and I will want to listen to more from this author.

Slow Buildup, but worthwhile

The four threads of the story are intertwined and build towards the climatic end. Some parts proceed slowly, and patience may be required. I am stumbled by the names of various who's who during that period, and especially lost momentum during the second narrative. But the buildup for me really started in the third narrative, culminating in the final "a-ha!" In the fourth narrative.

This is well worth the read. The readers are all of top quality.

Masterpiece!

I read this when it was first published in 1997 and loved it. Recently I was reminded of it when one of the hosts of the podcast “The Rest is History” called it the best historical novel ever written. I thought I’d try the audiobook and it’s just wonderful. All the readers are excellent. This book demands careful listening and re-listening and you will pick up more each time you listen. Also some knowledge of the historical period (Restoration England in the 1660s and the preceding English Civil Wars) will add to your enjoyment.

How truth is in the eyes of the beholder

A cracker of a story. Narrators that are reliable (and maybe not). Immersion in the now unrecognisable world of Oxford 1600s with gentlemen of faith and science as they knew it. With ideas true to them and foreign to our current time. The story is a slow burn. Immersive. Sometimes details you think we were passing comment are essential when seen from a different point of view and what is obvious and in plain sight is not until you encounter an instance of the finger post.