Iris Murdoch

Hello Gentle Reader

Recently from Amazon.ca i had ordered three novels (one is a large collection of three novels in one large novel) one of the novels that i ordered was "The Black Prince," by Iris Murdoch.

This young, life full filling author and philosopher has been said to be one of the greatest British writers since 1945 ranking number twelve (#12). i am both excited and pleased to receive this novel, by Iris Murdoch. I have looked hard in book stores for one of her novels, and so far i was unable to find one that carried one of her novels, but now that i have a novel written by this dear lady heading my way (i should be expecting this novel around April 16 - April 21st).

I do like to get rather close to the author (or as close as i can) when i read one of their

novels. Usually upon reading about the author, is how i come to the judgement, of whether or not i want to read one of their books. To me a book is just as important as the author.

I first stumbled upon Iris Murdoch by goofing around on wikipeda, by searching for philosophical novels, and i came across the curios title: "The Sea, The Sea," I read over the page about this book, and from there i discovered Iris Murdoch. A few years later, i stumbled upon this writer again, on another website:

http://www.vintage-books.co.uk/authors/8249/iris-murdoch/

Where i came across other novels written by the dear, Ms. Murdoch. Many of them i thought would be fascinating reads, and entertaining. For literature and philosophy go hand in hand, they are also different in many aspects as well, and Iris Murdoch, and other novelists of her time such as Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus, Ayn Rand, James Joyce, Marcel Proust, and even Franz Kafka, could entertain the reader and mix in some philosophical discussions without becoming tedious and boring like a text book.

Now maybe half a year later i find myself, going to read a novel, by Iris Murdoch, for i have already some works by Jean-Paul Sartre, and Ayn Rand. One (or i shall anyhow) admit that i do enjoy philosophy and literature especially, and i do think that the two mix well together, creating both an entertaining novel, but also idea approaching novel as well, in order to help the reader, with their lives, or give them at least a new understanding of life itself.

Back to Iris Murdoch though:

Iris Murdoch was born July 15 1919, and was educated in progressive boarding schools where she read the classics of literature, ancient history and philosophy. From 1938 (like other Oxford contemporaries) Iris found herself engaged in the communist party. However after her philosophical thoughts started to form on their own, Iris left the party. Though she remained very close towards the "Left," of the political spectrum (like Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre.) This party affiliation made it very difficult for Iris Murdoch to receive a visa into the United States (you know the entire fear of communism, can't have any outsider coming in and spreading any Stalin ideologies). Years later Iris Murdoch had commented on her membership to the party: "how strong and how awful (Marxism) is, certainly in its organized form."

In 1954 saw the debut novel of Iris Murdoch titled "Under the Net," from there she would publish 25 more works of literature in novels, and drama (not 25 each may i add.). Iris Murdoch then met her future husband Jonh Bailey in 1956. Skip years ahead to 1995, when the first effects of the horrible disease of alzheimer's took form as a writers block. Iris Murdoch then perished in February 8 1999.

In 2003 a nasty little biography came out, written by A.N. Wilson, titled "Iris Murdoch as I Knew Her." which was quick to through dirt and mud on the poor dead woman's face. the writer A.N. Wilson did write about his affections for the dearly departed Iris Murdoch, he did not hesitate or even show restraint when talking about her "disloyalty's," and "promiscuity." Truly in my opinion its just someone trying to get even with someone else who did not share the same affection in my opinion. This writer further went to defiling the memory of Iris Murdoch in 2009 on BBC Radio 4 by saying that her philosophical works amounted to nothing but "GCSE-style"(General Certificate of Secondary Education) essays on Plato. However another biography came out in 2001 by Peter J. Condari which was well more received, and did not mud sling or soil the memory and works of Iris Murdoch.

Iris Murdoch, love her or hate her, or even have no opinion on her, it is undoubtedly, noticeable that her impact on the 20th century is apparent, and well seen, by those with eyes and can look far enough into it. As Thomas Davies and Margaret Atwood have done for Canadian Literature, Iris Murdoch had done roughly the same.

Thank-you for your Time Gentle Reader
Thank-you for reading

i look forward to writing a review on "The Black Prince," as soon as i get it done.

Morose-Mary

All Information has come from these sources:

http://www.vintage-books.co.uk/authors/8249/iris-murdoch/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_Murdoch