Accidents and fate, which suggest a chaotic universe, assume personal moral responsibility in this overly long and complex narrative of middle-class English society during the Vietnam War era.

Murdoch might have disavowed Existentialism, yet there are numerous blissfully inauthentic and comedic characters present here. These characters often attempt to "help," while others, like the hapless young American, struggle. He is torn between returning to the US to confront the consequences of his opposition to the War and remaining in England. In England, he could marry a dim-witted wealthy English girl and secure a teaching position of his dreams at Oxford. Presumably, if he were to return to America, he would face the threat of prison.

This story delves into the moral dilemmas and the often humorous and inauthentic nature of the characters within the context of a specific time and place. It shows how the choices and actions of individuals are influenced by external forces such as accidents and fate, as well as their own personal moral compasses.

What a doozy!

This novel really caught my attention and I found myself liking it a great deal more than "The Sea, the Sea", although the reasons for this are rather hard to precisely define.

For starters, there are numerous parts of this book that are simply more enjoyable to read. The prose flows smoothly in those sections, captivating the reader's interest. However, it must be said that there are also other parts that are a bit on the ponderous side, perhaps requiring a bit more effort from the reader to get through.

I'll also admit that towards the end, I was taken aback when I suddenly realized that I was supposed to be taking certain elements of the plot seriously that I hadn't been up until that point. This added an unexpected layer of depth to the story.

All in all, there is a lot to chew on in this book. It's not a light read by any means and definitely not for everyone. But for those who are willing to invest the time and effort, it can be a very interesting and rewarding read.

I have just completed rereading this novel after several years. It was an absolute delight.

Murdoch presents us with a captivating assortment of characters. There's the unfortunate Austin Gibson Grey, a man dogged by misfortunes throughout his life. Starting with an injury that cripples his dominant right hand, an accident he blames on his older brother. Then there's Austin Leferier, an American studying history at Oxford, engaged to a young English girl, but whose family insists he return to America and face the draft during the Vietnam War. Austin's elfin wife Dorian, from whom he is estranged, seems to wallow in a kind of nebulous depression. Austin's older brother Matthew, on the other hand, always seems to land on his feet. He has amassed a fortune in the Far East and acquired a priceless collection of oriental porcelain. Sir Matthew has a portly, avuncular aura that commands awe from all but his brother. There are also the pre-suicidal soliloquies of secondary characters that vividly depict the dark depths of depression.

Murdoch employs the epistolary approach for lengthy sections of the novel, and a staccato of unascribed dialogue during gatherings. All of these techniques provide the reader with valuable insights into the characters' minds. The plot and subplots are intricately woven and lead to a satisfying conclusion. It is truly a worthwhile book to read and reread.

Compared to the other books of Murdoch's that I have read, especially its closest parallel 'The Book and the Brotherhood', this one wasn't outstanding.

There were so many characters that each couldn't be as fully realised as Murdoch is otherwise capable of. The plot was sometimes overly repetitious, with a few too many deaths and suicide attempts.

'The Book and the Brotherhood' always guessed (or perfectly controlled) my interest. When I wondered about a certain character, I'd find out within a few pages. Enough loops were opened to keep my interest until the end. 'An Accidental Man' fell a little flat in this respect. I found it easier to put down than her previous novels.

The experiments in writing sections as letters or disembodied dialogues were interesting. I was impressed to realise that some characters I thought I knew only existed peripherally. However, these sections could easily lose my focus by making the voice more disembodied.

The saving grace of this book was the treatment of decision-making. Ludwig's decision about returning to America to face the draft consequences runs throughout. He approaches it from different angles with different conversation partners. Seeing this process from the outside was elucidatory.

Sartre discusses decisions as moments of total aloneness in 'Being and Nothingness'. Ludwig grapples with this, but Murdoch takes it further. She emphasises that though premade values become transparent, there are still reasons some decisions are harder. In the final conversation, Ludwig's interlocutor concludes he has two pure things, implying two pure considerations. Though he's alone to decide, there's virtue in seeing the situation as it is. Perhaps this is the best we can do after realising our aloneness at the point of decision.

Well. That was bleak.

It was a situation that seemed almost devoid of hope. The surroundings were dull and lifeless, as if all the color and vitality had been drained away.

The air was heavy with a sense of gloom, and every step forward felt like a struggle against an unseen force.

There was no sign of anything good on the horizon, and the future looked just as dark and dismal as the present.

It was a moment when one might have felt completely defeated, but somehow, deep within, there was still a glimmer of something that refused to be extinguished.

Perhaps it was the human spirit's innate ability to find hope in even the most desperate of circumstances.

Or maybe it was just a stubborn refusal to give up, no matter how bleak the outlook might be.

Whatever the reason, that tiny spark of hope was enough to keep one going, to take one more step, and to believe that, somehow, things might just get better.