Iris Murdoch's witty, atmospheric subversion of the Victorian Gothic novel
WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY STEPHEN MEDCALFWhen Marian Taylor takes the post of governess at Gaze castle, remote house on a beautiful but desolate coast, she finds herself confronted with many strange mysteries. What kind of crime or catastrophe in the past still keeps the house under a brooding spell?
Iris Murdoch's witty, atmospheric subversion of the Victorian Gothic novelWITH AN INTRODUCTION BY STEPHEN MEDCALFWhen Marian Taylor takes the post of governess at Gaze castle, remote house on a beautiful but desolate coast, she finds herself confronted with many strange mysteries. What kind of crime or catastrophe in the past still keeps the house under a brooding spell? And is her employer Hannah an innocent victim, a guilty woman, a lunatic, or a witch?
“"Miss Murdoch has taken the stock elements of the Gothic novel and wrung hell out of them... a strange combination of fairy tale and blood-and-thunder." --Books and Bookmen”
The Unicorn explores Murdoch's theme that life is - or should be - a spiritual quest or pilgrimage Guardian
A writer of wonderful, and sometimes rather alarming idiosyncrasy; from her first novels, she explored a parish which was uniquely and unmistakably hers. But, somehow, by pursuing her desire only to be herself, she made it possible for generations of novelists after her to be more themselves. Independent
Every novel is imprinted with the same distinctive, magical and wonderfully inventive imagination... A humour and humanity marked her fictional writing and made it a rich, wonderful and varied discourse. She filled it with strong emotions, powerful passions, very human experiences, humour Guardian
Iris Murdoch was born in Dublin in 1919. She read Classics at Somerville College, Oxford, and after working in the Treasury and abroad, was awarded a research studentship in Philosophy at Newnham College, Cambridge. In 1948 she returned to Oxford as fellow and tutor at St Anne's College and later taught at the Royal College of Art. Until her death in 1999, she lived in Oxford with her husband, the academic and critic, John Bayley. She was made a Dame of the British Empire in 1987 and in the 1997 PEN Awards received the Gold Pen for Distinguished Service to Literature.
WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY STEPHEN MEDCALF 'Every novel is imprinted with the same distinctive, magical and wonderfully inventive imagination' Guardian When Marian Taylor takes the post of governess at Gaze castle, a remote house on a beautiful but desolate coast, she finds herself confronted with many strange mysteries. What kind of crime or catastrophe in the past still keeps the house under a brooding spell? And is her employer Hannah an innocent victim, a guilty woman, a lunatic, or a witch? See also: The Black Prince
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