4/6 points. This score indicates that the work has achieved a certain level of quality. The interesting well-drawn characters are a significant aspect that catches the reader's attention. Each character is likely to have unique traits and personalities that are vividly portrayed. Their actions, dialogues, and interactions add depth and complexity to the story. The artist or writer has put in the effort to make these characters come alive on the page or screen. Whether it's through their appearance, behavior, or the emotions they express, the well-drawn characters engage the audience and make them invested in the narrative. They may have flaws and strengths, which makes them more relatable and human. Overall, the interesting well-drawn characters contribute to the overall appeal and enjoyment of the work.
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An Unofficial Rose
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Widower Hugh Peronett becomes disturbed when he discovers that his married son is having an affair with his own former girlfriend
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1,1962
This edition
- Format
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288 pages, Paperback
- Published
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January 6, 1973 by Penguin Books Ltd
- ISBN
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9780140021547
- ASIN
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014002154X
- Language
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English
About the author
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Dame Jean Iris Murdoch
Irish-born British writer, university lecturer and prolific and highly professional novelist, Iris Murdoch dealt with everyday ethical or moral issues, sometimes in the light of myths. As a writer, she was a perfectionist who did not allow editors to change her text. Murdoch produced 26 novels in 40 years, the last written while she was suffering from Alzheimer disease.
"She wanted, through her novels, to reach all possible readers, in different ways and by different means: by the excitement of her story, its pace and its comedy, through its ideas and its philosophical implications, through the numinous atmosphere of her own original and created world--the world she must have glimpsed as she considered and planned her first steps in the art of fiction." (John Bayley in Elegy for Iris, 1998)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_Mur...
Irish-born British writer, university lecturer and prolific and highly professional novelist, Iris Murdoch dealt with everyday ethical or moral issues, sometimes in the light of myths. As a writer, she was a perfectionist who did not allow editors to change her text. Murdoch produced 26 novels in 40 years, the last written while she was suffering from Alzheimer disease.
"She wanted, through her novels, to reach all possible readers, in different ways and by different means: by the excitement of her story, its pace and its comedy, through its ideas and its philosophical implications, through the numinous atmosphere of her own original and created world--the world she must have glimpsed as she considered and planned her first steps in the art of fiction." (John Bayley in Elegy for Iris, 1998)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_Mur...
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Rating(3.9 / 5.0, 99 votes)
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The article seems to be quite brief and perhaps lacking in some details. However, we can expand on it as follows:
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It is inevitable that when reading an Iris Murdoch novel, especially if one has read several of her others, the tendency to compare them arises. This particular work had the typical incisive exploration into the human psyche, peeling back the layers to explain precisely what a person is feeling and the reasons behind it. It also had a sense of verisimilitude. Within the book, there were moments of beautiful prose and deep emotion. However, the predominant feeling was that of attending an autopsy of the various characters in the story. Perhaps it was just me, but the narrative did not flow as smoothly as I had hoped from one of her books. I also craved more roses, but that might simply be the desire to be immersed in more opulence, something that Murdoch was capable of but seemed to restrain in this instance. Overall, while the book had its strengths, it did not quite meet my expectations in terms of the seamless flow and the level of extravagance that I have come to associate with her works.
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Fanny Perronet was dead. Hugh's wife, Fanny, passed away after 40 years of marriage. At the funeral, his former lover, Emma, showed up. Hugh went wild, longing to win her love again. Meanwhile, neighbor Mildred, with the blessing of her gay husband Humphrey, had plans for Hugh. Hugh's son Randall was madly in love with Emma's companion/secretary Lindsey. It was unclear if Lindsey was having an affair with her employer. Randall's wife Ann yearned for Mildred's brother Felix, who, in turn, had always secretly adored her. But it was the scheming of Miranda, Randall and Ann's teenaged daughter, that ultimately determined the outcomes of their lives, both for the better and for the worse. The title, taken from Rupert Brooke's poem "The Old Vicarage, Grantchester", has a literal meaning related to the fact that Randall and Ann run a successful rose-growing business. However, there is more to it. In English literature, roses often have symbolic meanings. They can represent love, truth, beauty, transience, and Englishness. In Murdoch's novel, Brooke's unofficial rose becomes a complex symbol. All the elements mentioned above play a role in the book. All the major characters, connected by an intricate web of relationships, are seeking love, and some are also in search of truth and beauty. For instance, Hugh is an art connoisseur, and Randall is obsessed with breeding the perfect rose, aside from his love for Lindsay. The element of transience is emphasized as several characters, like Hugh, Emma, and Mildred, are elderly and face what might be their last chance at love and happiness. The book was written in the early sixties. Murdoch perhaps dealt with sexual matters less openly than a modern writer would. She hinted at a possible lesbian relationship between Emma and Lindsay, but it was never made clear. However, she was more explicit about Humphrey's homosexuality, which is why his marriage to Mildred is empty. Unlike some sixties writers, Murdoch was more concerned with emotional states of mind than with sexual relationships, and her ability to convey these is masterful. "An Unofficial Rose" clearly shows why she is regarded as one of the leading British novelists of the late twentieth century.
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I picked up this book mainly because of the film "Iris", which presented Murdoch's life through the perspective of her companion and husband Baley. Additionally, I was intrigued by the assertion that her novels vividly depicted the "inner life" of human beings, delving deep into issues such as morality, kindness, charity, and freedom. This story commences with a rather prosaic setting of an English village, where the lives of numerous individuals suddenly unfold during an ordinary funeral. The narrative is presented within a realistic time-space framework, lacking the time and space shifts characteristic of Virginia Woolf's works. With a few exceptions, the inner lives of the main characters are predominantly narrated in their own individual voices. Apart from Hugh, Emma, and Mildred, the rest of the characters are rather dull, hesitant, uninteresting, or even exasperating. The shallowness of their souls and the trivial nature of their lives, despite the fine writing and philosophical musings, are disappointingly irredeemable. The younger characters, especially Miranda, are particularly disturbing and destructive. (I suspect she might be similar to Mildred in Maugham's "Of Human Bondage"). I hold no prejudice against novels that explore the quiet life and its struggles. However, one should be able to catch a glimpse of something beyond the physical limitations and lack of vivid color to illuminate human consciousness. Regrettably, in this case, most of the main characters' consciousnesses are of second-rate or worn-out quality. Eventually, one ceases to care at all.
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An Unofficial Rose: An Inappropriate Title
I rated this book a 'three' as it presents a rather mediocre story. Reading through it felt like a waste of precious time. The characters within the pages seem to be in a distant realm, lacking the depth and relatability that would draw the reader in. Their destiny holds little significance to me as I simply couldn't invest myself in their outcome. There were only a few passing references to the act of growing roses, but this occupation was by no means a central focus of the story. It left me wondering, what or who exactly was the 'unofficial rose'? Was it a symbol that was meant to carry more weight but was lost in the mediocre narrative? Or perhaps it was a misnomer, an inappropriate title that failed to accurately represent the essence of the book.
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As long as it took me to finish this book, because I kept putting it off time and time again. I found that I didn't really care for any of the characters and their fates. However, despite all of that, I must admit that I thoroughly enjoyed Murdoch's excellent writing. Her prose was so engaging and captivating that it pulled me in and made me want to keep reading, even when I wasn't particularly interested in the story or the characters. She has a way of using words that makes the simplest of scenes seem vivid and alive, and her descriptions are so detailed that you can almost picture everything in your mind's eye. It's truly a testament to her talent as a writer that I could enjoy the book so much, even when I had such mixed feelings about other aspects of it. Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates good writing, regardless of whether or not they are interested in the subject matter or the characters.
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A Mixed ReviewThis book presents a rather mixed bag. On one hand, the writing is truly lovely, filled with lapidary insights into the characters that offer a unique and often profound understanding of their natures. However, on the other hand, the characters themselves are largely unlikable, which can make it difficult for the reader to fully engage with the story. Additionally, the seemingly endless travails of romantic love, which are almost entirely heterosexual, can become dull and repetitive after a while. It feels as if the author is beating a dead horse with this particular theme. Thankfully, there are some bright spots in the book. The opening and closing chapters with Hugh are particularly well-written and engaging. These chapters manage to capture the reader's attention and hold it until the very end. Overall, while this book has its flaws, it also has some redeeming qualities that make it worth reading.
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Iris Murdoch is indeed one of my all-time favorite authors. Each year, I make it a point to read at least one of her remarkable novels. "Unofficial Rose" is a captivating exploration of love in all its forms. Every character in the story is deeply in love, and in their pursuit of that love, they are willing to go to great lengths. Some become cruel, using devious tactics to obtain what they desire. Others turn cunning and manipulative,不惜 sacrificing other precious loves along the way. Take Tintoretto, for example. Despite their efforts, however, nobody in the book is truly happy in their love. Murdoch has a unique talent for beautifully unfolding the diverse and complex aspects of this most human emotion. She manages to maintain a perfect structural balance throughout the story, making it a truly engaging read. I thoroughly enjoyed "Unofficial Rose" and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in exploring the intricacies of love.
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