Contents
Iris Murdoch
Writing morally intricate novels such as The Sea, the Sea.
Under the Net · The Sovereignty of Good
- Born
- 15 July 1919
- Birthplace
- United Kingdom
- Died
- 8 February 1999
More people
Iris Murdoch
Iris Murdoch was a novelist and philosopher whose books explored love, self-deception and the difficulty of seeing other people clearly. She combined academic philosophy with a prolific literary career.
Early life
Beginnings
Born in Dublin and raised largely in London.
Education
Studied classics, ancient history and philosophy at Oxford.
Career
- 1948
Philosophy teacher
Became a fellow of St Anne’s College, Oxford.
- 1954
First novel
Published Under the Net.
- 1978
Booker Prize
Won for The Sea, the Sea.
- 1987
Damehood
Was honoured for services to literature.
Selected work
Under the Net
Followed a writer through a comic web of relationships.
The Sovereignty of Good
Set out influential essays on moral attention.
The Sea, the Sea
Explored a retired theatre director’s obsession and self-deception.
Beyond work
Relief work
Worked for the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration after the war.
Marriage
Married literary critic John Bayley in 1956.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Biography and career evidence ↗Photo: Image reproduced in the linked biographical source. Copyright retained by the credited rights holder · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.