The story vividly depicts the significant role that fate plays in our lives.

It shows how Austin's life is constantly influenced by forces beyond his control. At times, I truly pitied him. He seemed to be at the mercy of fate, facing one difficult situation after another.

However, there were also moments when I found myself hating him. Maybe it was because of his decisions or actions that led to certain consequences.

But in the end, I realized that his story was a complex one, and there were many factors at play.

The story makes us think about how much of our lives is determined by fate and how much we have control over.

It also shows us that even in the face of adversity, we can still make choices that shape our future.

Overall, the story of Austin is a powerful reminder of the role that fate plays in our lives and the importance of making the most of the opportunities we are given.

The original article seems to be very short and positive. Here is an expanded version:

The experience was truly too good. It was like a dream come true. Every moment was filled with joy and excitement. The scenery was breathtaking, and the people were friendly and warm. I couldn't help but smile from ear to ear. It felt as if all my worries and troubles had simply vanished into thin air. I was completely immersed in the moment, enjoying every single detail. It was a memory that I would cherish forever. :)

This expansion adds more details and descriptions to convey the positive nature of the experience more vividly.

This is one of Murdoch's odder novels, and it's not an easy one to love, although for the most part it's easy enough to read.

It has a large cast of characters, none of whom is entirely likeable, and it mixes farce and tragedy.

At its centre is Austin Gibson Grey, the Accidental Man of the title. Austin is the archetypal useless middle-aged man. At the start of the book, we see him losing his office job. His second wife Dorina has already taken refuge with her sister, and he decides to save money by letting his flat and moving in with Mitzi, a lonely alcoholic. Mitzi is one of several women in the book who can't help loving him and mothering him. Austin has a complicated relationship with his brother Matthew, who has just returned to London from a lucrative career in the Far East.

Another strand concerns Ludwig Leferrier, a young American philosopher who is avoiding the Vietnam draft by remaining in England, where he was born. Ludwig is offered a job at an Oxford college and is engaged to Gracie, a young girl he has little in common with. Gracie's aunt Charlotte has been looking after her ailing mother, but when she dies, she leaves her considerable fortune to Gracie, bypassing Charlotte and Grace's mother Clara.

The book is full of bizarre accidents and characters who fail various moral tests, and the ending is not really a resolution.

There are a couple of stylistic quirks that distinguish the book from Murdoch's other works. Although it is mostly related by an omniscient narrator, there are several sections in which a number of letters between different members of the cast move the plot on and provide entertainment. There are also two set piece party scenes in which conversations are reported without any attribution of comments to characters, which works surprisingly well.

Overall, it's an interesting book, but probably not one of Murdoch's best.

I absolutely loved this book, and it's obvious why. Murdoch is truly an all-time great for me. This particular work is one of her soap-opera-ish ensemble pieces. The large cast, as usual, finds themselves in various crises, at a crucial point where they need to make some sort of change in their lives, whether for better or worse. And, as always, they're all completely ridiculous. The book often reaches the level of black comedy due to its near comedy of errors approach to plotting. For instance, one character dies by having a small radiator accidentally fall into her bath. And two more try to commit suicide by sleeping pills within a couple of pages of each other, then meet and maybe fall in love at the hospital.

What really struck me was how miserable everyone is. Basically, every character here is deeply sad or living in desperate circumstances, both emotionally and/or financially. Those in love are, of course, the worst off. They all feel like failures in various ways, and when various tests come their way, they believe they've failed. Maybe they have. I wasn't sure how this was all going to resolve. Murdoch isn't averse to an all-things-wrapped-up sort of happy ending at times, but this one basically goes in the opposite direction. A few things dovetail, but ultimately life moves in a deranged corkscrew shape.

There are also a couple of new devices in this book. As an extension of her usual trick of long sections of unattributed dialogue, there are party scenes here that are complete chaos. There are dozen-page stretches of just dialogue, with no tags at all, where 90% of who's talking cannot be ascertained. But that's the point. It perfectly conveys the sensations of being trapped in a small, hot room with an endless array of intolerable people who won't shut up. Also, we have multiple sections of letters sent back and forth, dropping into the epistolary format a few times. These are delightful and used to great effect, as what people tell each other about their lives is often, as we the readers know, complete nonsense.

I haven't even touched on how Austin, our titular accidental man, is responsible for the deaths of two people and sends a third into a coma. It's all so tragic and yet so laughable at the same time. I have no idea what I'm going to do when I run out of Murdoch books to read. Maybe I'll start again at the beginning.

An engrossing book indeed! I am truly captivated by Murdoch's writing. It is both very funny and simultaneously very disturbing. 'An Accidental Man' takes us on a journey through a web of upper-class characters, all based in London. Half of these characters are manipulators who seem to leech off the more angelic ones in the group.

The book could very well be titled 'The Good and the Bad'. The story mainly follows women who unfortunately fall victim to abusive men. There are also men who are either seeking or refusing redemption, and we get a glimpse into the troubles (and of course, all is relative) of the upper class.

It is a cross between a gentle satire and an indulgence of the upper classes. Murdoch also subtly comments on the relationships between siblings, friends, and mainly lovers. In this book, love is presented in a twisted way.

I would highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy psychological, observant, or comical books. It offers a unique and thought-provoking perspective on various aspects of human nature and relationships.

Bizarre and beautifully complex, Murdoch's novels are truly a wonder to behold.

The way she weaves her stories is nothing short of brilliant. The plots are magnificent, filled with twists and turns that keep the reader on the edge of their seat.

And the characterisation is spectacular. Each character is fully realised, with their own unique personalities, motives, and flaws.

I just can't get enough of Murdoch's superb novels. They are a joy to read, and I find myself constantly coming back to them for more.

Whether you're a fan of literary fiction or just looking for a good read, Murdoch's novels are definitely worth checking out. You won't be disappointed.

Austin had once said to her, "I am an accidental man." She had asked, "What do you mean, Austin?" After all, weren't they all accidental? Wasn't conception accidental? But he had replied, "With me it's gone on and on."

Alright, she had just finished it. It was certainly a brimming cast. When she started reading "The Sea, the Sea" (yet in transitu - put it away) right after "A Word Child", she thought these ridiculous names. They bugged her at first. But then she thought, Hillary Burde? Thomasina Uhlmeister? She just hadn't really been aware, but in a new setting they seemed crazy. And too, Ludwig Leferrier, Mitzi Ricardo. Well, the author has fun with it and that's alright. It's nice and funny to see the little pleasures she takes. One feels connected. ("It's so easy to have a little fun" says Charlie.) But here, there are themes of love, responsibility, normalcy, habitude, tragedy, fullness, comfort, the drama of the little and the large - from party prep to fine bone china to death and death - sitting in silence - nakedness - lots and lots and lots of whisky. She is a huge fan of the author: her humour and seriousness and "Sophy". Her observation: in all 6 books she's read or begun (sea and severed head alack unfinished), there are consistently 2 characters who sit and discuss philosophy, or discuss philosophically. The author stuffs it into fiction somehow anyway (great). And there is always a character who comments on another character's poor taste in interior design or decoration. Super!

Another good bit: "God, how I think one should leave other people's things alone and not crawl all over them. I see our dear Ps as two giant snails with waggling inquisitive eyes leaving long slimy trails behind. Do not let us be like them." Patrick is totally amazing - she wants more page time for him!

This book has now become one of my absolute favourite books of all time. Iris Murdoch, without a doubt, is one of my most beloved writers.

The characters in this book are extremely well constructed. They are just quirky enough to seem completely believable, which makes the reading experience all the more engaging.

Moreover, the dialogue in the book is fantastically written. It flows smoothly and adds a great deal of depth to the story.

I am simply unable to contain my excitement and can't wait to explore her other literary works. I have a feeling that each one of them will be just as captivating and wonderful as this one.

Iris Murdoch's talent as a writer is truly remarkable, and I feel very fortunate to have discovered her books.

It is truly remarkable how Iris manages to keep me captivated with a seemingly weak plot. I firmly believe that her strength lies in the remarkable character presentation and the subtelty she employs.

The accidental man is a fascinating character. He is the kind of man who makes mistakes, yet does not wallow in guilt and regret for an overly long period. He is a modern man, quite content to live and draw sustenance from the women in his life once again, without much sense of shame attached. Iris masterfully shows how people have the ability to create an imagination in which they are never held accountable for their own mistakes.

I have a profound love for this book, as I saw an uncanny resemblance to myself in the accidental man.

Austin played a significant role in helping Mitzi by revealing that it was possible to live simply by egoism. Austin, despite having nothing particularly outstanding to boast about, never seemed to doubt his own absolute importance. Just because he was himself, he believed the world owed him everything. And even though the world paid him very little, he remained a sturdy and vociferous creditor. Misery simply could not crush Austin. Merely being Austin was enough to enable him to carry on with his life.

I really enjoyed it. However, throughout the entire process of reading it, my mind was constantly filled with thoughts of Eddie Izzard's skit on British films, Sebastian, and the act of arranging matches, etc.

It's quite strange how these thoughts kept popping up. Maybe it's because there was something in what I was reading that triggered these associations.

Eddie Izzard's skit is known for its unique humor and creativity, and it seems to have left a lasting impression on me.

As I continued to read, I found myself comparing certain aspects of the text to the skit, which added an interesting layer of complexity to my reading experience.

It's amazing how our minds can make such unexpected connections and how they can enhance or alter our perception of something.

In any case, despite the distractions, I still managed to get a lot out of the reading, and I look forward to exploring more in the future.

Here is the link to the skit: http://youtu.be/TjC3R6jOtUo

Maybe you should check it out and see if it also triggers any interesting thoughts or associations for you.

I must say that I initially found this book a little challenging to engage with. I have perused other works penned by Murdoch, and those were relatively easier to read compared to this one. The story is set in the sixties in London and delves into the lives of a rather dysfunctional bunch of characters. There's an American draft dodger and his fiancé, her parents, her aunt, and a collection of friends and acquaintances. They are all attempting to navigate through lives that have not been kind to them. Despite the initial hurdle, the book is amusing, and once you manage to get into it, it becomes quite compelling. It offers a unique glimpse into a particular time and place, with characters that are both flawed and fascinating. The author's descriptive writing brings the setting and the characters to life, making it a worthwhile read for those who are willing to persevere.

Murdoch is perhaps my favorite author. There is something truly remarkable about her unsentimental respect for ageing characters. The way she portrays how they are capable of sudden moral improvement strikes me as being very hopeful. In her works, nothing is presented as easy, yet everything is as it needs to be. We are reminded that we should care deeply about how we behave, but it should all be in an impersonal way, free of any false notion that we have complete control over everything. This concept is both beautiful and difficult to truly realize. It feels quite Buddhist to me. In life, you can sometimes feel somewhat infuriated with people, but that doesn't mean you should give up on them. At the same time, you don't necessarily have to pursue them either. What needs to happen will happen, and this realization is very freeing.