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The idea that someone has the power to free another soul from the bonds of captivity? Oh, that is but the illusory dream of the youthful.

Young hearts, filled with idealism and a sense of justice, often envision themselves as the heroes who can rescue those in need. They believe that with their passion and determination, they can break through the chains that hold others captive.

However, as one matures and gains more experience in life, they come to realize that the liberation of a soul is a far more complex and arduous task. It is not something that can be achieved easily or quickly.

Sometimes, the captor may be an external force, such as society, circumstances, or other people. But more often than not, the true captor is within the soul itself – fear, doubt, self-limiting beliefs, and past traumas.

Liberating a soul requires a deep understanding of oneself and others, as well as the courage to face one's own demons. It is a journey of self-discovery and growth that takes time, patience, and perseverance.

So, while the notion of liberating another soul may be a beautiful and inspiring thought, it is important to approach it with a realistic and practical mindset. We must be prepared to do the hard work and face the challenges that come our way. Only then can we hope to make a real difference in the lives of others and in the world around us.

I am an ardent devotee of nearly every audiobook that is narrated by Robin Sachs. And truly, he did not let me down in this audio edition of The Flight from the Enchanter.

This happened to be my very first encounter with Murdoch's work. I must confess that I found it to be more than a little perplexing. I will refrain from detailing the plot here. Suffice it to say that I still do not fully comprehend the denouement.

I believe this particular audio version is exclusively available from audible.com. I have no regrets whatsoever about using one of my "credits" on it. In fact, I might even listen to it again, if only for the sake of having 11 hours of Sachs's incredibly soothing voice to listen to.

His narration has a certain charm and allure that keeps me engaged throughout the entire listening experience. Despite the confusion I had with the story, Sachs's voice makes it all worthwhile.

I look forward to exploring more of Murdoch's works, especially if they are narrated by Robin Sachs.

I don't really know what the point of this book was/is.

I felt no connection to any of the characters, and none of them developed in any way throughout the plot.

I was hoping they'd all end up killing each other so that something interesting would happen. One character does commit suicide by jumping out a window, but the way this book is written, I can't take it seriously. I'm left thinking to myself, "I hope it hurt" so I can feel something resembling sympathy/an emotion from the character's action.

I couldn't even tell you what the plot was. Even if I wanted to spoil the book for my worst enemy, I couldn't! I was expecting Mischa Fox to have some sort of horrible sinister plan that tied all the characters together, but he didn't. I thought the Polish brothers would also become more sinister, but really, they didn't - apart from one forcibly moving himself into Rosa's house for a few days.

I read The Bell and thought it was okay, but this has put me off reading anything else from the author. I only finished it because I hate to not finish a book I've started, but trust me, I've been through the hell for you. Don't touch this with a shitty stick.

As well as attempting to read all of Margaret Atwood’s novels, I will also be tackling Iris Murdoch’s 26 works of fiction.

Both projects will take a long time. Although I must admit that Murdoch’s novels constantly go in and out of print, so there could be problems. But we’ll see. (I am kicking myself for not investing in her back catalogue in 2001 when Vintage reissued it, with pretty covers.)

The Flight of the Enchanter is her second novel. And although it is better than her first, Under the Net, there are still bugs. I’ll get into that later.

The plot circulates around a group of people. 19-year-old Annette, who escapes school and wants to experience life. Rosa, an ex-journalist who works in a factory, and her brother Hunter. Both siblings run a surfragette magazine and are in the process of selling it. They also are looking after Annette. At the same time, Rosa is seeing two Polish brothers. There’s also John Rainborough, who is being usurped by his typist Miss Casement, Nina, a foreign dressmaker, and Peter Saward, a man who Rosa actually loves and devotes his life to decoding foreign languages. All the characters are under the spell of Mischa Fox (aka the enchanter of the title), who is connected to these characters. He also has an agent called Calvin Blick who wants to buy out the Surfragette magazine for Mischa. To say that Mischa is a person of influence is an understatement. In their own way, the characters know this and try to break free from him.

The novel details these characters’ lives intersecting with each other. The main highlight being a party that Mischa holds, which ends in a disaster but is one of the more memorable scenes in the book. Murdoch always had a cinematic touch to her writing and I could see this scene being executed brilliantly on film.

The main theme is immigration. Both Nina and the Polish Brothers are first-generation immigrants. However, Annette and Mischa hail from different countries as well. But the first three characters are treated differently and later on in the book, their status is threatened. In one case, the results are quite tragic. On one hand, this can be seen as how post-war Britain saw immigrants. But on the other hand, one can see how Britain was seen as a haven for people in war-torn countries.

The other theme is liberation. All characters want to break free from controlling Mischa. This includes the Surfragette magazine as just before it is sold to Mischa, a group of surfragettes save it. Annette also wants to break free from her bond with the brothers and Annette thinks freedom is learning without the need of education. Do the characters break free by the end? That’s questionable.

The Flight from the Enchanter contains some trademarks which occur in later Murdoch novels. Mainly a large cast, who are interconnected, some elements that are mystical, and well-rounded characters. As this is a second novel, this doesn’t really work out too well. Actually, due to the amount of characters, Flight.. is pretty messy. I do understand that this was a first attempt and it definitely was perfected. But it also does suffer from superfluous scenes: the bit in Italy, some of the chapters in the brothers’ house, John’s visit to Peter. There’s also an assault scene which would not sit very well in 2021.

One reason why I like reading an author, with a sizable bibliography from the beginning, is that I get a snapshot of how the writer developed. It also is proof that style, plots are not fully formed from the first novel, rather it’s a slow process. The next Iris Murdoch novel I will be reading is The Sandcastle and I’m curious to see what it will be like.

The mystery was displaced, but it remained suspended in Annette's vision of the future, like an opaque cloud, luminous with lightning.

It was as if this enigma, though shifted from its original position, continued to haunt her thoughts, casting an eerie glow over her expectations.

The present moment, on the other hand, was narrowed down into a single point of fire. She looked into the heart of it, as if seeking answers or perhaps a moment of clarity in the intense blaze.

Yet, whenever she tried to think, she just day-dreamed. Her mind would wander, lost in a world of幻想 and imagination.

This combination of mystery, the intense present, and the tendency to day-dream creates a beautiful language and philosophy. It speaks to the complexity of the human experience, the allure of the unknown, and the power of the mind to create its own realities.

It is a reminder that sometimes, the most profound insights and understandings come not from rational thought, but from the spaces in between, where dreams and reality intersect.

I have read it for the third time.

It still remains a great writer.

This person's works have always had a unique charm that attracts me deeply.

Each time I read, I can discover new details and gain a deeper understanding.

The writer's writing style is vivid and engaging, making the stories come alive in my mind.

I am truly amazed by the talent and creativity of this writer.

It is no wonder that their works are widely loved and respected.

I look forward to reading more of their works in the future and continuing to be inspired by their words.

I so desperately wanted this to be 5 stars because it is definitely a new favourite.

I can't even remember the last time I absolutely devoured a book the way I did this one (aside from short guilty pleasure reads).

Up until the last thirty pages or so, this could've been five stars, and it kinda still is in my heart. Murdoch was such a delightfully witty author and had me audibly laughing on my travels today. This, paired with the social commentary on politics, class, and sex in the 50s, made for an (almost) perfect read for me.

That being said, despite the pacing towards the end, I can safely say I'll be reading a lot more Murdoch in the future.

The story had me hooked from the very beginning. The characters were well-developed and the plot was engaging. I found myself completely immersed in the world that Murdoch had created.

The social commentary was both thought-provoking and entertaining. It made me think about the values and attitudes of that time period and how they compare to our own.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good read with a bit of depth and humour.

"Flight from the enchanter" (1956)

This is one of the most experimental narrative forms I've come across from Iris Murdoch. The act of reading this book is truly a form of enchantment. It's a rare and highly unique literary work, where the medium nearly becomes the message, as Marshal McLuhan might have put it.

It features a diverse cast of characters, each lost in their own worlds of dwelling, whether it's in the realm of emotion or in the exploration of new paths to understand purpose. The story poses profound questions about existence, love, and the absurdity of the direction our thoughts take.

I had the distinct feeling of being pulled into a wormhole and then being spun out, completely losing track of time. This can only mean one of two things: either I must return to that wormhole to get to know these characters better, or perhaps it's because I simply loved being under the author's spell.

I hope Annette enjoys the real world, a complex concoction of pain, joy, and love. It's truly the School of Life.

When I encounter the characters within an Iris Murdoch novel, it instantly brings to my mind a quote from Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness: “. . . The fascination of the abomination.”

It truly seems nearly impossible to better express how I feel when delving into a Murdoch novel.

In every single one of her novels, there appears to be a character who has elevated the art of manipulation to unprecedented levels.

The mere thought that she perceives people in this particular light (or perhaps darkness) terrifies me to an extreme degree.

However, despite this, she manages to bring these characters to life on the page and completely captivate me with their stories.

This particular book was no different.

Saying that I loved it would be a far too simplistic and cheerful description.

Rather, I cherished being reminded of the sheer power of a truly brilliant storyteller and the promise that is always delivered by a masterful writer.

Undoubtedly, she firmly remains on my list as one of the finest novelists of the 20th century.

Both sex scenes that I witnessed already have seemed like rape to me.

It was an extremely upsetting experience. The way the actions were portrayed and the lack of clear consent made it difficult for me to watch.

The power dynamics involved were disturbing, and it felt as if one party was being forced into a situation against their will.

This kind of depiction can have a significant impact on the viewer, especially if they have had personal experiences related to sexual violence.

It is important for filmmakers and content creators to be more sensitive and responsible when dealing with such themes.

Proper consent and respectful portrayals should be the norm to avoid causing unnecessary distress and harm.

Hopefully, in the future, there will be more awareness and effort put into creating content that is both engaging and respectful of the audience's emotions and well-being.

The story seems to be almost a jumble of characters and circumstances, which makes it a bit of a muddle. However, within this chaos, there is one aspect that really stood out to me. That is the skewering of workplace sexual politics.

It is fascinating to see how the author has explored this topic. The portrayal of the power dynamics, the inappropriate behavior, and the consequences that follow is both realistic and eye-opening.

Through the characters and their experiences, we are able to gain a deeper understanding of the complex and often murky world of workplace sexual politics.

It makes us question the norms and values that govern our workplaces and forces us to think about how we can create a more equal and respectful environment for everyone.

Overall, while the story may be a bit of a muddle in terms of its characters and circumstances, the skewering of workplace sexual politics is a powerful and thought-provoking element that adds depth and significance to the narrative.