Summary of An Instance of the Fingerpost
“An Instance of the Fingerpost” is a historical novel set in seventeenth-century Oxford, centred on the poisoning of the theologian Dr Robert Grove. A young servant, Sarah Blundy, is hanged for the crime, but the novel questions whether she was truly guilty. The events are recounted years later by four narrators whose accounts contradict one another: the visiting Venetian physician Marco da Cola, the student Jack Prestcott, the mathematician and cryptographer Dr John Wallis, and the historian Anthony Wood.
Reasons to read An Instance of the Fingerpost
“An Instance of the Fingerpost” is a compelling historical mystery set at the University of Oxford in 1663, during the early years of the Stuart Restoration. It offers a vivid portrayal of England in the latter half of the 17th century, exploring the conspiracies, intrigues, and political rivalries of the period, as well as the intellectual debates concerning science, religion, and the nature of truth. The novel features several real historical figures, including John Wallis, Anthony Wood, and John Locke. Written by the English novelist and art historian Iain Pears, it became an international bestseller and has often been compared to Umberto Eco’s “The Name of the Rose”. Other notable works by Pears include “The Dream of Scipio” and “Stone’s Fall”.
Setting: Oxford (England, UK)
Original title: An Instance of the Fingerpost
Year of publication: 1997
Nr of pages: 704
