There's a lot of philosophy, as with all Murdoch's work, but in this case it serves as more of an underpinning to the storyline and less of a series of thinky interludes—there's a satan and a Christ character, lots of Shakespearean machinations and crossed signals and some intensely evocative (and very deliberately doled out) settings. Though I was rather shocked to discover the explanation for his lack of affect.I read Iris Murdoch and then I wonder why I ever read anything else. The effect of this is to stimulate in Julius a great desire for Morgan's departure. and the plot would collapse; but unasked questions join Peter moves in with Tallis and Rupert's brother Simon and his partner Axel enter the melee as Julius slowly embroils them all in his deceitful meddling.Julius makes a pact with the obsessive Morgan that he can destroy Axel and Simon's relationship - what he does not tell her is that he will also set out to destroy Hilda and Rupert's marriage, using Morgan as his weapon. to formulate an ethical system which excludes all metaphysical ideas. The straight-up bleakness of 'A Fairly Honorable Defeat' was immensely disappointing.
"A Fairly Honorable Defeat", while not one of her best known novels, still provides a rich reading experience. Murdoch is known for liming complex human beings. Hilda's troubles begin when she trusts a slippery fellow named Julius King, who can destroy a happy relationship The plot is awfully innovative, intelligent and captivating. Julius is the prime example of one who transmits evil in this manner: after he has made his friends suffer he feels relief, not remorse.The chain of evil can be broken only by one who is willing to sacrifice himself in Christlike fashion, to absorb the evil and suffering into himself without yielding to the temptation of causing others to suffer. Get this from a library! One must know oneself sufficiently to know what is the next thing.
as an author and teacher, Tallis sits in a kitchen as filthy as Job's dungheap and permits his friends to console him with clichés. Pure character development!Reading Iris Murdoch is like being in the company of a very intelligent friend.
One of the best of these scenes occurs when Morgan, Julius's Let’s face it, 2020 is making us long for other timelines.
Enter me into the draw please. A fairly honourable defeat by Iris Murdoch, unknown edition, "One of Iris Murdoch’s more successful novels, A Fairly Honourable Defeat combines elements of realism and allegory to create a commentary on the moral shortcomings of the individual and society. One of the best novels ever. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account.
to emphasize the philosophical themes, like a scribe who erased an earlier inscription on a palimpsest in favor of a seemingly more important text. Cut up that dress! anyone who wants something different from the New York Times best seller listWhat an amazing classic!
Evil perhaps is not just something achieved through actions but also through irresponsibility. In a dark comedy of errors, Iris Murdoch portrays the mischief wrought by Julius, a cynical intellectual who decides to demonstrate through a Machiavellian experiment how easily loving couples, caring friends, and devoted siblings can betray their loyalties. : ) Please enter me in the drawing.This is quite simply one of the best books I have ever read.
Sort of a high-brow Hannibal Lecter-lite, as it were.
As puppet master, Julius artfully plays on the human tendency to embrace drama and intrigue and to prefer the distraIn a dark comedy of errors, Iris Murdoch portrays the mischief wrought by Julius, a cynical intellectual who decides to demonstrate through a Machiavellian experiment how easily loving couples, caring friends, and devoted siblings can betray their loyalties. Feels warm, exciting and productive!Reading Iris Murdoch is like being in the company of a very intelligent friend. Bereft of a sister whom he adored, deserted by his wife, a failure It was great to revisit it through your review. Miss Murdoch dares the reader to take the apparent defects in her work a face value because she has other, grander, objectives in mind. The dialogue, the philosophy and the plot can be a bit clunky, but everything is forgiven because it is so dramatic and the characters so charming.I first read this book in graduate school in the 70's and I've re-read it several times over the years. Love and the search for self-identity are twin themes in many of Murdoch’s novels, including A Fairly Honourable Defeat. A bit fanciful, but that's what fiction is.
Murdock was a brilliant woman and her writing and philosophizing is proof of that.
All this goes into my TBR pile. And it is, in a word, magnificent. He proves that given the right circumstances most will selfishly act outside of their lover’s interest so how deep or strong can your love or relationship really be? Of course I've never not liked one of her books, but this one ranks near the top. If she can get through to her husband in London and tell him what she has just learned, a major tragedy will be prevented. Kay GuestI really loved "The Green Knight", and I would love to read this one, too. As a philosophy graduate whose read her philosophical works I should read more of her fiction.Please enter me in your book giveaway. The title was pretty dead-on, and I felt strangely better at the end of this one than I often do with some her books.
I shall read Iris soon, I promise! Brilliant characters, fabulous set pieces.
“Moralists are far too timid, especially now when they feel they have to placate the logical positivists and the psychologists and the sociologists and the computerologists and God knows who else.