I've delved into a significant portion of Iris Murdoch's fictional works, and without a doubt, this particular piece stands out as one of her absolute best.

Her unique writing style, which combines profound philosophical insights with captivating storytelling, is on full display here. The characters are vividly drawn, each with their own complex motives and inner turmoil.

The plot unfolds in a way that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish, filled with unexpected twists and turns that add to the overall allure.

Murdoch's ability to explore the human condition and the nature of love, morality, and identity is truly remarkable. This novel is not just a work of fiction; it's a thought-provoking exploration of some of the most fundamental aspects of our existence.

In conclusion, I highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates great literature and wants to be challenged and inspired by a masterful storyteller.

SUMMARY - Faith in love may be dead, but the multiplicity of storylines are still well told.

Even if in typical Murdoch style it sags towards the end. Murdoch's previous novel, 'A Fairly Honourable Defeat' (1970), started strong.

It sagged concave-style due to implausible plotting but powered out with pacy prose and a suspenseful ending.

'An Accidental Man' (1971) felt like a convex novel, building up to a midpoint and then sagging to unlikely endings.

Ludwig is the closest to a protagonist, but for all the wrong reasons. Selfishness and self-deception are rampant.

Murdoch is good on religion, war, and the lies we tell. The poisoned pen letter sequences were effective.

However, her middle-class mafiosa can be overdone. Her late 1960s and early 1970s work is more consistent.

The cynicism can be appealing, but the philosophical dialogues can be arid. Some of it feels plausible, but the crying mouth imagery gets tiresome.

Despite frustrations, there are many strengths. Her writing is fluid, the lives and loves are intricate, and the interest in characters is sustained.

The reader's sympathy may depend on their emotional circumstances. I didn't entirely match, but I still appreciate the quality of her writing.

The England that I managed to escape from, and the war that some of my American friends fortunately survived.

It's a complex and somewhat harrowing situation. The England I left behind was filled with its own set of challenges and difficulties.

And for my American friends, the war was a terrifying ordeal that they had to endure.

While I do have an appreciation for the writing that describes these experiences, I am finding it rather hard to read a significant amount at one time.

This is mainly due to the cultural context that surrounds it.

The differences in our upbringings, our values, and our ways of life make it a bit of a struggle to fully immerse myself in the text.

However, I am determined to persevere and try to understand as much as I can about these different worlds.

Maybe through this reading, I can gain a deeper appreciation for both the England I left and the experiences of my American friends.

This is the book that truly made me give up on Iris Murdoch.

Right around page thirty, I completely lost track of the never-ending parade of characters. And I simply didn't bother to try and sort them out because I found every single one of them to be absolutely loathsome.

The title character is an obnoxious oaf, and his young wife is a pathetic whiner. The list just goes on and on.

Who in their right mind could warm to any of these people and their tedious, pointless interactions?

I had the distinct feeling that we were somehow supposed to be amused by their goings-on. But then, the oaf, in a fit of drunken recklessness, kills a little girl. This is an unforgivable outrage in a novel such as this.

I almost gave up right then and there, but I stubbornly continued to the bitter end, knowing full well that this would be the very last Murdoch novel I would ever read.

It's an utterly tedious 446-page examination of character self-absorption and self-pity. I would rate it zero stars.

Now, I'm off to read Margaret Drabble or Barbara Kingsolver to try and get this terrible taste out of my mouth.

A masterful contemplation of class through a wide range of characters.

This novel is truly a masterpiece as it delves deep into the complex and often overlooked aspects of class.

The author has skillfully crafted a diverse cast of characters, each representing different social strata and experiences.

From the wealthy and privileged to the struggling working class, we are given a vivid and detailed look at how class shapes their lives, dreams, and interactions.

The story unfolds with a series of engaging plotlines that keep the reader hooked from start to finish.

We witness the characters' joys and sorrows, their successes and failures, and through it all, we gain a profound understanding of the impact of class in society.

The writing is superb, with beautiful prose and a keen eye for detail.

The author's ability to bring the characters to life and make us care about them is truly remarkable.

Overall, this is a novel that not only entertains but also makes us think and reflect on the world around us.

It is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the themes of class, social inequality, and the human condition.

Too many characters! Mitzi, Maisie, Clarice, Caroline... I just can't keep them or their houses straight. It's truly overwhelming. This was my very first encounter with Iris Murdoch. I have to admit that I think she's a bit too overwrought for my taste. Her writing seems to be filled with a plethora of complex characters and convoluted storylines that are difficult to untangle. While I understand that some people may appreciate this level of intricacy, for me, it makes it hard to fully engage with the narrative. I find myself getting lost in the sea of characters and their various relationships. Maybe I just need to give her more time and effort to truly understand and appreciate her work, but for now, I'm left with a sense of confusion and a bit of disappointment.

“Dimly she learnt one of the most important of all lessons, how art can console.” This profound statement sets the tone for a story that delves into the complex lives and emotions of its characters.

“Things that were relative once are absolute now. One feels it’s the end of the line. Politics and war used to retain some decencies….” The world has changed, and with it, the values and beliefs of the people.

“It’s amazing what a lick of paint and some Regency wall-paper can do.” This simple observation highlights the power of transformation, both in the physical and emotional sense.

“Love is not time’s fool, it takes no account of locks - or of Locke” Love, it seems, is an eternal force that cannot be tamed or controlled.

* * * * *

Mitzi Ricardo exclaims, “I hate men!” And who can blame her when faced with Austin Gibson Grey, the accidental man of the title. Murdoch’s male characters may not be as richly portrayed as her female ones, but they are no less complex. The women in her novels are often in charge, unless they are bedazzled by an aura of intellectualism.

There are other disappointed women in this tale as well. Mavis Argyll, after a Catholic period, has taken up social work, stricken with guilt over something unspecified. Her half-sister, Dorina, is a resident in Mavis’s hostel for troubled girls, attracting poltergeists and having already married and left Austin Gibson Grey. Charlotte Ledgard is a haughty old maid, regretting that she missed her one opportunity and resigned to looking after a disagreeable dying mother.

Clara Tisbourne, on the other hand, is a complacent bourgeoise, charming as long as things go her way. Her daughter, Gracie, is a nineteen-year-old who has already snared a young American with aspirations to be an Oxford history don. Ludwig, the fiancé, is having doubts about how a frivolous and extravagant wife might hamper his scholarly career.

George (Pinkie) Tisbourne is another stock character, amiably overlooking his wife’s and daughter’s foibles for the sake of an easy life. All of these characters come together in a story that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.

As the story progresses, two other characters take the stage. Sir Matthew, Austin’s older brother, returns from the East seeking a reconciliation with his long-estranged brother. Garth, Austin’s son, also returns after a muddled attempt at philosophy in an American university, espousing a sort of nihilistic amorality.

The three are forcibly united when Austin, drunk, runs over and kills a child. A campaign of blackmail ensues, leading to an unholy alliance between the three. Meanwhile, Gracie Tisbourne emerges as a remarkable figure, using her inheritance to assert her independence and reject the fake sentimentalism of the world around her.

The story is a bit of a shambles, with too much happening at times. But it is also filled with memorable quotes and moments that will stay with the reader long after the book is finished. Murdoch’s ability to create complex and believable characters, and to explore the themes of love, loss, and redemption, is truly remarkable.

This is one of Murdoch’s more worldly novels, but she remains a chameleon, never quite within reach. She never takes sides, but gives all of her characters their due, even while pointing out their failings. It is a morality tale without moralizing, a story that will make you think and feel, and perhaps even learn something about yourself.

The original article: The importance of recycling cannot be overemphasized. It helps to conserve natural resources, reduce waste, and protect the environment. Recycling also has economic benefits as it creates jobs and reduces the need for raw materials.

Expanded article:
The importance of recycling simply cannot be overemphasized.

Recycling plays a crucial role in our society. It is a key factor in conserving our precious natural resources. By recycling materials such as paper, plastic, metal, and glass, we can reduce the need to extract and process new raw materials.

This not only helps to protect the environment but also reduces waste. When we recycle, we are diverting waste from landfills and incinerators, which in turn helps to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Moreover, recycling has significant economic benefits. It creates jobs in the recycling industry, from collection and sorting to processing and manufacturing. Additionally, by reducing the need for raw materials, recycling can also help to lower production costs and increase profits for businesses.

In conclusion, recycling is essential for a sustainable future. We all have a responsibility to recycle and do our part to protect the environment and conserve natural resources.

This is not my favorite Iris Murdoch book, but it is still a good one.

The author has crafted it brilliantly. It takes the readers to many different places, both in terms of the story's setting and the emotional and psychological landscapes of the characters.

The large cast of flawed characters is built and explored quite well. Each character has their own unique traits, desires, and flaws, which make them seem real and relatable.

However, in the end, it slightly missed the mark for me. Maybe it was because my expectations were too high, or maybe there was something that didn't quite click with me.

Nevertheless, it is still a worthy read, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys Iris Murdoch's work or is interested in exploring complex characters and deep themes.

I could not finish this one.

After carefully reading through the text, I found that despite the author's convoluted attempts, the characters never reached their full "epaisseur".

The author seemed to be trying hard to develop the characters in a complex and multi-faceted way. However, it felt as if the efforts were somewhat misdirected or not fully realized.

The characters remained rather flat and one-dimensional, lacking the depth and richness that would have made them truly engaging and memorable.

It was disappointing to see that even with the author's elaborate writing style and detailed descriptions, the characters failed to come alive on the page.

Perhaps with more focused character development and a deeper exploration of their inner thoughts and emotions, the story could have been more successful in bringing the characters to their full potential.

The best I can say about this book which is made up of secondary characters is that it was truly an interesting experiment.

None of these characters are particularly likeable. They lack the charm and appeal that would make the reader instantly root for them.

However, what saves the book is the fact that there are enough "accidents" sprinkled throughout the narrative. These unexpected events serve as the driving force that keeps the story moving along at a decent pace.

Despite the unlikable nature of the characters, the reader is still compelled to turn the pages to see what will happen next due to these surprising twists and turns.

Overall, while the book may not be a masterpiece in terms of character development, it does manage to hold the reader's attention through its engaging and unpredictable storyline.

Unfortunately, this regrettably marks the second consecutive book that I have been unable to complete.

With this particular book, I did manage to persevere until the halfway point before ultimately giving up on it. However, there were several rather blatant issues that I had with this novel, which I simply could not overlook.

Iris Murdoch is indeed a highly accomplished writer, as I had previously experienced with her book, Under The Net. And even within this novel, there is very little that is amiss with the line-by-line writing. The problem that I had with An Accidental Man was that I simply had no emotional connection to the characters whatsoever. This is a novel that places a great deal of emphasis on the characters, yet I found them all to be rather cliched bourgeois individuals who failed to evoke any sort of emotion within me. There were a couple of moments where it seemed as though something interesting might occur, such as the accidental deaths of the child and her father. However, even these plot lines failed to hold my attention for an extended period of time.

Overall, it is fair to say that I was left feeling disappointed with this book. Even though I only paid a few pounds for it from an Oxfam, I believe that those funds would have been better invested in another novel. Perhaps I may revisit this book in the future, but I highly doubt it.