Thank you for drawing my attention to these, it was affirming and so useful to read your experience with Iris. Definitely helping me to deepen that inner conversation I've been building with her work, her voice, her philosophical ideas. Much appreciated.
Very interesting piece. I read a lot of Murdoch in my late teens/early 20s but I have to say it’s the philosophy not the novels that have stayed with me. When I’ve tried to reread any of the novels more recently they struck me as very dated now in a way that the philosophical writing is not. She still seems to me like someone who really wanted to be a great novelist, rather than someone who actually was one.
I binged about half of the novels and then found I wasn't finishing them anymore even when they were excellent (e.g. A Word Child). I thought the four I listed were superb though. I think about them a lot. James Marriott agrees with you.
Loved this, Henry, thank you for sharing it. I've never read any Iris Murdoch, but I'll plan to (your book is a bit higher up my list!)
Given Murdoch's emphasis on the struggle between good and evil in her novels and her belief that literature should challenge the reader's moral compass, how do you think her portrayal of morally ambiguous characters contributes to the reader's understanding of morality and the human condition, rather than their confusion?
Thank you. I think confusion is part of the point! she wants you to be confused, to struggle out of the cave towards the light, not to seek the comforts of consolation and certainty
That's fair enough, I get that. Do you think it's a symptom of us not having figured it out *yet*, or is this greyness something that will be inherent in human nature in perpetuity? I think the latter (we might get better aligned as a society, but I don't think it will ever be perfect) - keen to hear your thoughts.
Very glad to hear that! For a short book the bell maybe. For a bigger stranger work try the good apprentice or the sea the sea. I loved the philosophers pupil and many would recommend a fairly honourable defeat.
I read a lot of early Iris Murdoch at one time because of the edginess I think - maybe an intellectual teen's version of Flowers in the Attic! I remember some of them vividly but I don't feel a pull to return to her world. After a while I got a bit fed up with incest and affairs among self indulgent/intellectual upper classes. Thinking about it, they were varied and inventive books but maybe she just wrote too many? And so inevitably they feel repetitive? I haven't read the later ones you recommend though.
This is helpful, but I am still struggling. I'm sure 30 years ago I read and enjoyed several Murdoch novels, possibly The Black Prince, and The Sea, The Sea. Now when I am researching the lives of a couple of women at Oxbridge late 1930s I thought she would be an obvious person to reconnect with, and picked up Under the Net, but I am really struggling to finish it, the characters are so unappealing. Have I just picked the wrong one?
That’s her first and not her best, though I rather like it. For other 1950s maybe the sandcastle or the bell? She was undergrad in late 1930s though and the novels are later
I've read a lot of her earlier ones and the one I liked best was probably An Unofficial Rose. It's actually more conventional feeling and less strange. I also liked Flight from the Enchanter which is strange and probably has quite a period feel. And the one about the Easter Rising has likeable characters.
Thank you for drawing my attention to these, it was affirming and so useful to read your experience with Iris. Definitely helping me to deepen that inner conversation I've been building with her work, her voice, her philosophical ideas. Much appreciated.
:)
Very interesting piece. I read a lot of Murdoch in my late teens/early 20s but I have to say it’s the philosophy not the novels that have stayed with me. When I’ve tried to reread any of the novels more recently they struck me as very dated now in a way that the philosophical writing is not. She still seems to me like someone who really wanted to be a great novelist, rather than someone who actually was one.
I binged about half of the novels and then found I wasn't finishing them anymore even when they were excellent (e.g. A Word Child). I thought the four I listed were superb though. I think about them a lot. James Marriott agrees with you.
Love Murdoch and really enjoyed this essay Henry. Thank you!
Thanks!
I love Murdochs philosophy but haven’t been able to crack the fiction
which have you tried?
The sea the sea I think? It was years ago
Maybe try the bell or a fairly honourable defeat?
Loved this, Henry, thank you for sharing it. I've never read any Iris Murdoch, but I'll plan to (your book is a bit higher up my list!)
Given Murdoch's emphasis on the struggle between good and evil in her novels and her belief that literature should challenge the reader's moral compass, how do you think her portrayal of morally ambiguous characters contributes to the reader's understanding of morality and the human condition, rather than their confusion?
Thank you. I think confusion is part of the point! she wants you to be confused, to struggle out of the cave towards the light, not to seek the comforts of consolation and certainty
That's fair enough, I get that. Do you think it's a symptom of us not having figured it out *yet*, or is this greyness something that will be inherent in human nature in perpetuity? I think the latter (we might get better aligned as a society, but I don't think it will ever be perfect) - keen to hear your thoughts.
Inherent to be sure—she said philosophy clarifies art mystifies and she’s very interested in that side of life
I really enjoyed this. Where should I start with Murdoch? Her strangeness particularly appeals to me.
Very glad to hear that! For a short book the bell maybe. For a bigger stranger work try the good apprentice or the sea the sea. I loved the philosophers pupil and many would recommend a fairly honourable defeat.
thank you, thank you. Read some of Murdoch when young and am reminded to reread now in old age. Books still in my library so handy.
Enjoy!
Thanks for a great read! Will share with some in my book group who may also want to (re-)read Murdoch.
Ah splendid thank you!
I read a lot of early Iris Murdoch at one time because of the edginess I think - maybe an intellectual teen's version of Flowers in the Attic! I remember some of them vividly but I don't feel a pull to return to her world. After a while I got a bit fed up with incest and affairs among self indulgent/intellectual upper classes. Thinking about it, they were varied and inventive books but maybe she just wrote too many? And so inevitably they feel repetitive? I haven't read the later ones you recommend though.
I think should learn more about archetypes.
With Murdoch, do you think The Sea, The Sea might be a good place to start? am totally new to her
As good as any, yes. It's long though, so if you want shorter try Bruno's Dream, A Fairly Honourable Defeat, The Bell, something like that
that's great, thanks for the advice
This is helpful, but I am still struggling. I'm sure 30 years ago I read and enjoyed several Murdoch novels, possibly The Black Prince, and The Sea, The Sea. Now when I am researching the lives of a couple of women at Oxbridge late 1930s I thought she would be an obvious person to reconnect with, and picked up Under the Net, but I am really struggling to finish it, the characters are so unappealing. Have I just picked the wrong one?
That’s her first and not her best, though I rather like it. For other 1950s maybe the sandcastle or the bell? She was undergrad in late 1930s though and the novels are later
I might try The Bell...
I loved the The Philosopher's Pupil and The Good Apprentice, but those are much later so may not hep your work...
I've read a lot of her earlier ones and the one I liked best was probably An Unofficial Rose. It's actually more conventional feeling and less strange. I also liked Flight from the Enchanter which is strange and probably has quite a period feel. And the one about the Easter Rising has likeable characters.
Enjoy!