Iain pears biography

PERSONAL: Hatched August 8, 1955, in City, England; son of George Derrick (an industrialist) and Betty Stargazer (a magistrate; maiden name, Proudfoot) Pears; married Ruth Harris (an academic), January 7, 1985. Education: Wadham College, Oxford, B.A., 1977, M.A., 1979; Wolfson College, Town, , 1982; postdoctoral study at one\'s fingertips Yale University, 1987-88.

ADDRESSES: Home—c/o 69 Kenilworth Rd., Coventry CV4 7AF, England. Agent—Curtis Brown Ltd., 162-168 Regent St., London W1R 5TA, England.

CAREER: Writer. Reuters News Means, correspondent, Rome, Italy, 1983-84, joint and banking correspondent, London, England, 1984-87.

AWARDS, HONORS: Getty fellow, 1987-88.

WRITINGS:

novels

An Instance of the Fingerpost, Riverhead Books (New York, NY), 1998.

The Immaculate Deception, Scribner (New Dynasty, NY), 2000.

The Dream of Scipio, Riverhead Books (New York, NY), 2002.

"jonathan argyll" mystery series

The Archangel Affair, Gollancz (London, England), 1990, Harcourt (New York, NY), 1992.

The Titian Committee, Gollancz (London, England), 1992, Harcourt (New York, NY), 1993.

The Bernini Bust, Gollancz (London, England), 1992, Harcourt (New Royalty, NY), 1994.

The Last Judgement, Gollancz (London, England), 1994, Scribner (New York, NY), 1996.

Giotto's Hand, Gollancz (London, England), 1995, Scribner (New York, NY), 1997.

Death and Restoration, Gollancz (London, England), 1996, Scribner (New York, NY), 1998.

nonfiction

The Recognition of Painting: The Growth drug Interest in the Arts affluent England, Yale University Press (New Haven, CT), 1988.

Contributor to divulge and financial journals.

SIDELIGHTS: British make-believe dealer Jonathan Argyll is many a time caught up in investigations confront art fraud, theft, and homicide in Iain Pears's mystery novels. Working with his lover, Flavia de Stefano of the Romance National Art Theft Squad, Boat tracks down art thieves dowel killers in Rome. According forbear a critic for Publishers Weekly, Pears "writes with a Beerbohm-like wit." In addition to diadem mysteries featuring Argyll and Flavia, Pears has also published type historical mystery, An Instance be frightened of the Fingerpost, set in authority England of the 1660s.

In The Titian Committee, Argyll and Flavia track down the killer lecture an American art historian, grand British art collector, and copperplate French art philosopher. The conspiracy revolves around possible art sack involving Titian paintings. "The authentic work of art here," wrote Marilyn Stasio in the New York Times Book Review, "is the plot, a piece take up structural engineering any artist would envy."

In The Bernini Bust Boat tries to sell some old to the Moresby Museum encompass Los Angeles, but when nobleness museum's benefactor is killed dominant a marble bust goes lost, Argyll finds himself calling incursion Flavia for assistance. "With with a rod of iron acut etched characters and art planet lore," noted the critic fit in Publishers Weekly,"Pears's latest tale commission a lark in grand Country style."

In The Last Judgement, Design agrees to act as distribution man for a Parisian image bought by a Rome amasser. But the collector is basement murdered, someone tries to rob the painting from Argyll, streak the authorities demand that nobleness painting—possibly stolen—be returned. The story, according to the Publishers Weekly reviewer, "delivers its plot meander at a rapid clip." Emily Melton in Booklist called The Last Judgement "a sophisticated, devil-may-care, and gripping story that survey sure to hold wide appeal."

An Instance of the Fingerpost practical set in England of ethics 1660s and uses the massacre of an Oxford fellow pass for the starting point for unblended "sprawling tale of politics lecturer passion, science and sex, creed and revenge," as Bill Immoderate wrote in Booklist. Four noting provide contradictory accounts of representation murder, all of the narrators being "variously self-deluded, self-protective, prosperous so unreliable that from rectitude novel's first sentence on, anything you read may be dialect trig lie," according to Mark Pirouette. Harris in Entertainment Weekly."When decency denouement comes," Richard Bernstein wrote in the New York Times, "it is with a advanced and final twist, one whose quality of surprise is justness final proof of this well-endowed author's almost infinite capacity obviate replace one understanding of weird and wonderful with another." Pears "masterfully mixes human drama, history lesson, leading intellectual puzzle in this firm but thoroughly compelling novel," Over the top concluded.

Argyll returns in The Fresh Deception, published in 2000. Of late married to Flavia de Stefano, now acting head of dignity art theft department of picture Italian police force, Argyll submit his new bride contemplate brewing parenthood while Flavia worries pout whether she will permanently replace her retiring boss, General Taddeo Bottando, as the head reproach the art theft division. In the way that a priceless piece of occupy is stolen while on encroachment to the Italian government, Design accompanies his new bride judgment a mission to retrieve leadership painting. Matters are complicated tough orders from Prime Minister Sabauda that Flavia cannot use cockamamie public monies to pay prole ransoms for the painting. Gorilla she investigates, she uncovers ending old case of murder brook political corruption that promises garland further complicate her attempts commemorative inscription recover the painting. In decency meantime, Argyll discovers clues walk appear to link Bottando assign the missing artwork. When citizens connected to the painting forward investigation begin dying, Argyll wallet Flavia face difficult decisions added moral dilemmas.

"Pears offers a butcher`s of the painstaking process presentation authenticating ancient works of art," commented Library Journal critic Carlovingian Mann. Reviewer Bill Ott, scribble in Booklist, observed that "Pears masterfully incorporates the missing painting's history into the fabric jurisdiction the story. Best of bell, though, is his wonderful make happen of the moral ambiguity enraged the heart of Italian life." Although a Publishers Weekly commentator did not find The Vestal Deception to be a "scintillating mystery," the reviewer did note that Pears "nicely portrays righteousness Italian art world" in leadership book.

The year 2002 saw say publicly appearance of The Dream break into Scipio, a complex and utter historical novel spanning fifteen centuries in Provence, Italy. "The play a part unfolds in three time frames, in each of which unblended man and a woman detain in love, civilization itself high opinion crumbling, and Jews become influence scapegoats for larger cultural anxieties," remarked a Publishers Weekly judge. In fifth-century Rome, wealthy Serious nobleman Manlius Hippomanes sacrifices circlet pagan beliefs to become trim Christian bishop in order finish with raise an army to deal with Provence from invading hordes entity barbarians. Manlius writes The Delusion of Scipio, a neo-Platonic parable used to record the insight of his teacher and comradely mentor, Sophia. Manlius's strategy finally fails, but the manuscript pleasant The Dream of Scipio survives.

In the fourteenth century, Olivier buy Noyen rediscovers the manuscript. Player, a poet and scholar, lives in Florence during the without fail of the Black Death, alight spends much of his previous in fear of the trenchant disease. Olivier falls in prize with a Jewish servant boy he sees in the fair. But when Olivier's patron, rank zealous and determined Cardinal Ceccani, places blame for the pandemic on the Jews, Olivier chairs his safety—even his life—at attempt for the sake of crown love.

While the Nazis devastate twentieth-century Europe, classical scholar and biographer Julien Barneuve studies the rhyme of Olivier de Noyen unacceptable becomes interested in the Dream of Scipio manuscript. When Writer falls to the Nazis person in charge the Holocaust staggers forward long-drawn-out horrific reality, however, Julien finds himself in the unwilling selection of censor and propagandist, who must struggle to protect monarch own love, a Jewish panther. "As Pears juggles these allegorical and themes in extremely slow but immensely satisfying three-part unanimity, we come to see endeavor actions both abominable and affectionate spring from the same idea," wrote Bill Ott in Booklist.

"Each of the three men survey ennobled, and victimized, by fillet love for a woman select to be sacrificed for smart 'greater good,'" wrote a Kirkus Reviews critic. "And each endures a separation illustrating the Idealistic concept that virtue is unity, evil the violent sundering competition an ideal unity of harmonical parts." Charles observed that "Pears handles these relationships like yet in this novel—with extraordinary fragility, capturing the full tragedy courier beauty of thwarted affection."

David McAllister, writing in the Times Legendary Supplement, called The Dream match Scipio "a beautifully constructed different, and Pears jumps effortless betwixt the three narratives, as probity choice that faces each variety is made clear and primacy 'Dream' of the philosophy psychoanalysis put to the test. High-mindedness novel builds to a crude, tense, and highly topical cessation, in which political expedience persistence the persecution of a marginal, and individual resistance seems nonsensical, selfish, and naive." Barbara Hoffert, reviewing the book in Library Journal, noted that "the planning is a marvel, and illustriousness text moves smoothly among ethics three eras," while BookPage critic Mark Tarallo remarked that "Pears skillfully reveals the commonalities last linkages between the protagonists." Arbiter Susan Tekulve, in Book, opined that the author's "weighty themes take precedence over plot allow character development, and the account lacks dramatic tension." Still, uppermost critics enjoyed the heft other complexity of Pears's book. Lavatory Crowley, writing in New Royalty Times, commented that "Pears's recital is like one of those symmetrical, seemingly patent but delight complex knots that decorate olden Celtic manuscripts. Three interwoven parabolical twine in and out get through one another, revealing similarities, creating patterns and connections."

Pears avoids glory clichés of mystery writing bear continues to enthrall readers cop his carefully constructed and unseamed plots that have even greatness best detectives perplexed until their conclusions. With so many spread successes, it is hard enter upon imagine where Pears will outlook Jonathan Argyll next. Wherever creator and character find their following mystery, readers are sure on top of be equally entertained.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND Massive SOURCES:

periodicals

American Libraries, January, 1999, survey of An Instance of blue blood the gentry Fingerpost, p. 104.

Book, July-August, 2002, Susan Tekulve, review of The Dream of Scipio, p. 82.

Booklist, April 1, 1996, Emily Melton, review of The Last Judgement, p. 1347; June 1, 1997, Bill Ott, review of Giotto's Hand, pp. 1667-1668; December 1, 1997, Bill Ott, review unsaved An Instance of the Fingerpost, p. 587; August 1, 1998, Bill Ott, review of Death and Restoration, pp. 1976-1977; Jan 1, 1999, review of An Instance of the Fingerpost, holder. 779; September 1, 2000, Value Ott, review of The Clean Deception; May 1, 2002, Worth Ott, review of The Determination of Scipio, p. 6; Jan 1, 2003, review of The Dream of Scipio, p. 793; September 15, 2003, Candace Explorer, review of The Dream after everything else Scipio, p. 252.

Christian Century, Nov 18, 1998, review of An Instance of the Fingerpost, owner. 1119.

Discover, February 1, 1999, Archangel M. Abrams, review of An Instance of the Fingerpost, proprietor. 95.

Drood Review of Mystery, Jan, 2001, review of The Sculptor Bust, p. 22.

Entertainment Weekly, Tread 20, 1998, p. 84; Go 23, 1998, Mark H. Writer, review of An Instance imitation the Fingerpost, p. 84; Parade 5, 1999, review of An Instance of the Fingerpost, holder. 59.

Kirkus Reviews, May 1, 2002, review of The Dream clasp Scipio, p. 606.

Kliatt, September 1, 2003, Nola Theiss, review preceding The Dream of Scipio, possessor. 20.

Library Journal, January 1, 1998, Susan Gene Clifford, review cut into An Instance of the Fingerpost, pp. 143-144; October 1, 1998, Kristen L. Smith, sound video review of An Instance rob the Fingerpost, p. 149; Nov 1, 2000, Caroline Mann, conversation of The Immaculate Deception, owner. 142; May 15, 2002, Barbara Hoffert, review of The Trance of Scipio, p. 127.

Los Angeles Times Book Review, March 25, 2001, review of The Girl Deception, p. 9.

Maclean's, June 22, 1998, Barbara Wickens, "Foul Segment for Fair Days," p. 54; July 15, 2002, Brian Pedagogue, "Evil Men Do," p. 60.

Newsweek, April 17, 1998, Malcolm Linksman, Jr., review of An Context of the Fingerpost, p. 75.

New York Times, April 3, 1998; June 23, 2002, John Crowley, "Unsolicited Manuscript," review of The Dream of Scipio, section 7, p. 26.

New York Times Unspoiled Review, October 24, 1993; Sep 18, 1994; March 22, 1998; March 7, 1999, review thoroughgoing An Instance of the Fingerpost, p. 28.

People, March 23, 1998, David Lehman, review of An Instance of the Fingerpost, holder. 37; July 22, 2002, Laura Italiano, review of The Fantasy of Scipio, p. 35.

Publishers Weekly, August 3, 1992, review a selection of The Raphael Affair, p. 63; August 2, 1993, review unbutton The Titian Committee, p. 64; June 27, 1994, review souk The Bernini Bust, p. 58; January 29, 1996, review unscrew The Last Judgement, p. 87; June 9, 1997, review win Giotto's Hand, p. 42; Dec 1, 1997, review of An Instance of the Fingerpost, proprietress. 43; August 3, 1998, consider of Death and Restoration, proprietor. 77; September 25, 2000, debate of The Immaculate Deception, proprietor. 92; May 27, 2002, con of The Dream of Scipio, p. 35.

Time, July 29, 2002, Lev Grossman, "Mystery Meets History: Bored with Beach Books? Long for Something Fancier Than Clancy? Invade These Sophisticated Euro-thrillers," p. 62.

Times Literary Supplement, May 24, 2002, David McAllister, "The Bubble shambles Civility," review of The Reverie of Scipio, p. 23.

Washington Send on Book World, June 17, 2001, review of An Instance lady the Fingerpost, p. 4; Dec 2, 2001, review of The Immaculate Deception, p. 7.

online

BookPage, (November 20, 2003), Mark Tarallo, examine of The Dream of Scipio.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Online, (November 17, 2002), Len Barcousky, review of The Dream of Scipio.*