Pears was born on 8 august 1955 in coventry, england. Fingerpost in 17thcentury oxford, stones fall in the more familiar environment of late19thcentury europe. Pears books before, i would have given up on stones fall early on. As in an instance of the fingerpost, pears uses multiple narrators to tell the story of financier john stones death after a fall out a window. Its no surprise that pears, author of the 17thcentury mystery an instance of the fingerpost, started his career writing detective novels. Iain pears is the author of the bestsellers an instance of the fingerpost, the dream of scipio, stones fall, and arcadia, and a novella, the portrait, as well as a series of acclaimed detective novels, a book of art history, and countless articles on artistic, financial and more about iain pears. A panoramic novel with a riveting mystery at its heart, stones fall is a quest, a love story, and a tale of murder richly. Stones fall by iain pears penguin random house audio. Iain pears thriller about the mysterious death of a london financier and the machinations of international bankers is the right book for the times.
And stone s fall has all the makings of an excellent novel. Stones fall is a crime, detective, fiction and suspense novel in the murder case of the wealthiest man john stone. A panoramic novel with a riveting mystery at its heart, stones fall is a quest to discover. Pears has worked as an art historian, a tv consultant, and a journalist for many countries. Well, all you iain pears fans can relax hes written a terrific book again. Stones fall book chicago public library bibliocommons. Stones fall is a 2009 historicalmystery novel by iain pears.
Stones fall iain pears knows how to deliver a complex historical mystery. Buy stones fall by pears, iain from amazons fiction books store. Pears pieced together a historical mystery that simply broaches espionage, international finance, and military arms production. Admirers of iain pearss an instance of the fingerpost have waited more than 10 years for another lengthy, serpentine thriller bearing the stamp of his erudition in matters historical, artistic and financial. Stones fall, a long novel by iain pears, the british writer best known.
Iain pears novel stone s fall is incredibly complex. Coming the year 2009, he published yet another book known as stones fall. In his most dazzling novel since the groundbreaking new york times bestseller an instance of the fingerpost, iain pears tells the story of john stone, financier and arms dealer, a man so. Aug 02, 2010 in his most dazzling and brilliant novel since an instance of the fingerpost, iain pears tells the story of john stone, financier and armaments manufacturer, a man so wealthy that in the years before world war one he was able to manipulate markets, industries and indeed whole countries and continents. And stones fall has all the makings of an excellent novel. Aug 06, 2018 the central mystery of iain pears stones fall concerns how john stone died. Stones fall begins with a funeral in paris in 1953, and then lurches. A return to the form that launched iain pears onto bestseller lists around the world. The growth of interest in the arts in england, 16801768 studies in british art iain pears. Stones fall, a long novel by iain pears, the british writer best known for an instance of the fingerpost, gives the reader the expected morethan500 pages and also what is not. Pears is the author of the jonathan argyll series of art history mystery novels. Stones fall is one of those gloriously long books that is never long enough. The first part is by far the worst, and if i hadnt read other i.
He died through falling from a high window in his this is the fourth of pears s five to date standalone novels. Iain pears has also written a novel series that features an art historian, jonathan argyll. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. Iain pears is the author of the bestsellers an instance of the fingerpost, the dream of scipio, stones fall, and arcadia, and a novella, the portrait, as well as a series of acclaimed detective novels, a book of art history, and countless articles on artistic, financial and historical subjects. Both are beautifully written i suspect ian pears couldnt write a bad sentence if he tried. It consists of three interconnected tales with three distinct narrators. Money, he said wearily, looking out of window as though he was seeing a golden age go by. Iain pearss literary gift lies in zipping around history and arranging smackdowns between different paradigms of reality and their incommensurable versions of truth and moral value. Iain pears, quote from stones fall young men of my type are prone to be impatient of details, and give their loyalties without regard to evidence. The narrator is an poorly educated journalist from lower class backgroud, who has the job of investigating life of a famous financier but who doesnt understand finance, and isn. John stone, a man so wealthy that in the years before world war one he was able to manipulate markets, industries and indeed whole countries and continents, has been found dead in mysterious circumstances. A novel 9780385522847 by pears, iain and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. In his most dazzling novel since the groundbreaking new york times bestseller an instance of the fingerpost, iain pears tells the story of john stone, financier and arms dealer, a.
Iain george pears born 8 august 1955 is an english art historian, novelist and journalist. Buy stones fall by iain pears from waterstones today. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. It used to be that the sole determinant was the number of men you could march out to meet your enemies. In it, pears goes back to his habit of having different protagonists tell the story and only when you have read the three accounts, do you get the full picture. May 08, 2009 stone s fall is constructed as an intricate and, at almost 600 pages, hefty, puzzle, but because the end of the story is known from the outset, its revelations must be cleverly managed if the plot. The multiple narrators, in turn, narrate stories taking place in. Still catching my breath after finishing stone s fall last night. Jun 03, 2010 buy stone s fall by pears, iain from amazon s fiction books store.
Stones fall does show, as in pearss reimagining of the 1890 crisis when the bank of england bailed out barings, that the financial. Chronologically, it moves backwardsfrom london in 1909 to paris in 1890, and finally to venice in 1867 and in the. As in an instance of the fingerpost, pears uses multiple narrators to tell the story of financier john stone s death after a fall out a window. Stones fall a novel by iain pears author roy dotrice narrator. In his most dazzling and brilliant novel since an instance of the fingerpost, iain pears tells the story of john stone, financier and armaments manufacturer, a man so wealthy that in the years before world war one he was able to manipulate markets, industries and indeed whole countries and continents. Iain pears novel stones fall is incredibly complex. The quest to uncover the truth behind his death plays out against the backdrop of highstakes international finance, europes first great age of espionage, and the start of the twentieth centurys arms race. He is the author of seven detective novels, a book of art history and countless articles on artistic, financial and historical subjects, and three novels, an instance of the fingerpost, the dream of scipio and the portrait. Description of stones fall by iain pears pdf stones fall by iain pears is a crime, suspense, detective, and fiction novel in which a young officer investigate the death.
Fingerpost in 17thcentury oxford, stone s fall in the more familiar environment of late19thcentury europe. Both are set in a thoroughlyrealised historical past. Nov 28, 2015 stone s fall is a 2009 historicalmystery novel by iain pears. Stone s fall is a 2009 historicalmystery novel by iain pears. In his most dazzling novel since the groundbreaking new york times be. A novel to stand alongside atonement and the remains of the day. It is told from the perspective of three narrators, during three time periods, and in three separate settings. Stones fall by iain pears overdrive rakuten overdrive. The double brackets around around some words were wikilinks hyperlinks to other articles. Stone s fall it is important to say is nowhere as polished or engrossing as an instance of the fingerpost or the dream of scipio but all in all it still makes pleasurable reading. He was educated at warwick school, an allboys public school in warwick. A panoramic novel with a riveting mystery at its heart, stone s fall is a quest to discover. Still catching my breath after finishing stones fall last night. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading stones fall.
An ageing bbc reporter approaching retirement in 1953, matthew braddock is on a farewell tour, visiting the old paris bureau. The following was originally written in 2011 as a wikipedia article the first wp article i ever attempted. When i read iain pears an instance of the fingerpost years ago, i thought it was so brilliantly plotted, so compulsively entertaining, so utterly engrossing that i gave it to my father and said, this is the new dickens. Was the rich and powerful shipbuilding magnate pushed from the window or was it an accident. Iain pears books list of books by author iain pears. Pears combined his knowledge of art and his mystery writing technique in an instance of the fingerpost and other novels. Jun 07, 2009 stones fall, a long novel by iain pears, the british writer best known for an instance of the fingerpost, gives the reader the expected morethan500 pages and also what is not. Did he jump, was he pushed, or was it merely a tragic accident. And who is the child mentioned in his willthe child he wants found. Stone s fall is constructed as an intricate and, at almost 600 pages, hefty, puzzle, but because the end of the story is known from the outset, its revelations must be cleverly managed if the plot. Admirers of iain pears s an instance of the fingerpost have waited more than 10 years for another lengthy, serpentine thriller bearing the stamp of his erudition in matters historical, artistic and financial. What kicks off stone s fall is the death in 1909 of arms trader and industrialist john stone, a figure unknown to the public but a pillar of international finance. The central mystery of iain pears stones fall concerns how john stone died.
The french, i knew, were well ahead in this area, constructing gigantic palaces in the centre of cities which offer every luxury to travellers prepared to. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading stone s fall. Buy stones fall by iain pears from amazons fiction books store. A web of international financial intrigue surrounds these questions. Somewhere between the two lies this odd confection by the restless, genrehopping pears stones fall, 2009, etc. Stones fall by iain pears pdf download archives ebookscart. Pears pieced together a historical mystery that simply broaches espionage. Stones fall by iain pears clare clark on a thriller that combines suspense with prescience. Like politeness, i learned at her salon, is a demanding discipline. Stones fall is constructed as an intricate and, at almost 600 pages, hefty, puzzle, but because the end of the story is known from the outset, its revelations must be. It used to be that the sole determinant was the number of. Last year, in his electronic book of arcadia, he allowed the readers to switch between the multiple narratives.
That should be enough to make your heart pound, but to ensure it, he jazzes. An ageing bbc reporter approaching retirement in 1953, matthew braddock is on a farewell tour. Pears books before, i would have given up on stone s fall early on. I say this as an iain pears fan who had to throw the dream of scipio against the wall with great force. In his most dazzling novel since the groundbreaking new york times bestseller an instance of the fingerpost, iain pears tells the.
In his most dazzling novel since the groundbreaking new york times bestseller an instance of the fingerpost,iain pears tells the story of john stone, financier and arms dealer, a man so. Like fingerpost, stones fall is an intricately plotted and richly satisfying puzzlean erudite work of history and fiction that feels utterly true and oddly timelyand marks the triumphant return of one of the worlds great storytellers. Stone s fall is a 2009 historicalmystery novel by iain pears synopsis. A financier and arms dealer, stone was a man so wealthy that he was able to manipulate markets, industries, and indeed entire countries and continents.
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