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Iris Murdoch: A Life

peter j. conradi

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Drawing on hundreds of interviews, letters, and diaries, an authorized biography of the critically acclaimed philosopher and novelist traces her personal life and literary and philosophical career, from her student days at Oxford, through her marriage to John Bayley, to Murdoch's remarkable influence on literary England, from 1940 to the present day.

512 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1,2001

This edition

Format
512 pages, Hardcover
Published
January 1, 2001 by Norton
ISBN
9780393048759
ASIN
0393048756
Language
English

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About the author

Profile Image for peter j. conradi

peter j. conradi

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See also Sunday Times journalist Peter Conradi

Peter J. Conradi FRSL (born 8 May 1945) is a British author and academic, best known for his studies of writer and philosopher, Iris Murdoch, who was a close friend. He is a Professor Emeritus of English at the University of Kingston and has been Visiting Fellow at Magdalen College Oxford and Research Fellow at University College London.

Conradi was educated at Oundle School, before going on to study English Literature at the University of East Anglia (BA, 1967), the University of Sussex (MA, 1969) and University College London (PhD, 1983).

Conradi has taught at South Bank Polytechnic, University of Colorado, Boulder (Exchange Professor), University of East Anglia, Kingston University and the Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland (British Council Professor). In 1997 Conradi left Kingston University, where he is now Emeritus Professor, to write freelance; and in 2010 was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

Conradi has written a number of books, including studies of John Fowles, Fyodor Dostoevsky and Angus Wilson, but he is best known for his work on the life and work of Iris Murdoch. His authorised biography of Murdoch was widely chosen as a book of the year on its publication in 2001.

Peter Conradi lives in London and Radnorshire with his civil partner Jim O'Neill. He is a practising Buddhist. He is a Trustee of the Bleddfa Centre for the Creative Spirit and has been co-editor (2007-2018) of the Transactions of the Radnorshire Society.

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Community Reviews

Rating(3.9 / 5.0, 19 votes)
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19 reviews All reviews
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xwinax
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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What a horrible biography!

It contains far too much backstory and mundane information that seems to drag on and on.

I was really hoping to gain a better understanding of the writer through this biography, but unfortunately, it did not help me at all.

The excessive details about the writer's early life and ordinary events made it difficult for me to focus on the aspects that truly mattered.

I felt as if I was reading a never-ending list of facts and figures rather than a captivating story about the writer's life and experiences.

Perhaps if the author had been more selective in including only the most relevant and interesting details, this biography could have been a more engaging and useful read.

As it stands, however, it has left me disappointed and still in search of a more enlightening account of the writer's life.
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Youngvwaves
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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A superb biography indeed! It delves deep into the life of the subject, presenting a comprehensive and detailed account. However, at times, it can feel a bit dense, perhaps overly so. But despite this minor drawback, it manages to create a strong and vivid portrait of the woman. We get to know not just her as a person, but also as a thinker and a novelist. Her thoughts, her ideas, and her creative process are all laid out before us. It's a fascinating read that offers valuable insights into her life and work. Whether you're a fan of her novels or simply interested in learning more about this remarkable woman, this biography is well worth your time.

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Narmuzz
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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I'm an Iris Murdoch nut, and this biography was completely engrossing.

The author had a very respectful and clear understanding of her novels and her philosophy. It was a joy to read about Murdoch's life and work, and to see how her ideas developed over time.

The biography was well-written and engaging, with a good balance between personal details and analysis of her literary and philosophical contributions.

I especially liked the way the author explored the themes and motifs that ran through Murdoch's novels, and how she related them to her own life experiences.

Overall, this is a must-read for anyone interested in Iris Murdoch or in 20th-century literature and philosophy. It provides a fascinating insight into the life and work of one of the most important and influential figures of the era.
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Ryuzaki_34
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Conradi's Murdoch bio is truly a letdown and a tiresome read. He does write with a certain level of proficiency. Even though he is a friend of Murdoch and Bayley, the book is not a glorified hagiography. However, the proportion is completely off, seriously askew indeed. In the 600 pages of text (followed by over 100 pages of notes and index), Murdoch finally publishes her first novel, Under the Net, on page 384. Then, she first becomes seriously ill on page 588 and is dead by page 592. The text is jumpy and choppy. Conradi never fails to be reminded of Elias Canetti and jumps back to musings about the 1950s. There is way more information about names in and around Oxford than one would want to know, often causing the reader to lose track of Iris herself in the midst of all the shuffling.

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melzi
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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When you read a biography,

you are doing so with the intention to understand a person better.

However, in the case of reading about Iris Murdoch,

I think it probably makes you understand her less.

I'm not entirely sure why the author didn't do a better job.

Perhaps there was too much deference shown,

or maybe it was simply outside his skill set.

It's a pity because Iris Murdoch was such an interesting and complex figure.

Her works and life experiences could have been explored in much greater depth.

With a more comprehensive and insightful biography,

readers would have been able to gain a better understanding of her as a person,

her beliefs, and her contributions to literature and philosophy.

As it stands,

the current biography leaves much to be desired.

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nenestar
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Monumental and brilliant, this life focuses on the period from the early years to the mid-1950s.

It offers valuable clues regarding what her novels were centered around and who served as the models for her characters. This information will be of utmost importance for anyone desiring to study her work.

However, I encountered difficulties with the chapters that delved into her philosophical life and ideas.

In fact, the entire book presumes a certain level of knowledge about her work, which I unfortunately did not possess.

Nevertheless, it has definitely piqued my interest and encouraged me to give her novels a try.

I am now eager to explore her fictional worlds and gain a deeper understanding of her creative vision.

Perhaps through reading her novels, I will be able to better appreciate the significance of the details presented in this life.

Overall, despite the initial challenges, this book has left a lasting impression on me and has motivated me to further engage with her literary contributions.
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MTunaaa
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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A Tedious Read


I have a passion for literary biographies. However, in this particular book by Conradi, it was not until much later that he delved into Murdoch's writing. The extensive details provided about the lives, words, and experiences of others seemed rather tangential. To be honest, even though I couldn't make it past page 200, I still didn't have a clear understanding of who Murdoch was.


The early part of the book seemed to focus more on peripheral aspects rather than the central figure, Murdoch. It left me feeling somewhat frustrated and disengaged. I was eager to learn about Murdoch's literary journey, his creative process, and the essence of his works. But unfortunately, that crucial information was not forthcoming in the initial pages.


Perhaps if the author had structured the book differently and introduced Murdoch's writing earlier on, it would have been a more captivating read. As it stands, I was left with a sense of dissatisfaction and a lack of knowledge about the subject I was most interested in.

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SolarFox
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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You might think I'm an easygoing person when it comes to reading, but in reality, I usually only complete books that I'm initially inclined to like. And that's precisely why I adored this book. I finished it in the early hours of this morning. I simply couldn't sleep. I was wide awake throughout the night. Could it potentially have anything to do with the Cortisone shot I received in my hip yesterday morning? Maybe.

I'm determined to read more of Conradi's works. He was a friend of Iris. He stands up for her and loves her. However, I believe he also provides an honest perspective of her.

I think Iris is a cult figure. Her personality is intertwined with her work. Some art is infused with the artist's personality, while some isn't. For example, Sinatra's music and Pollock's paintings both have a strong sense of personality. Can I think of some examples where the art doesn't seem to have much personality? That would be more challenging for me, and I don't want to commit myself.

In this book, you get a glimpse of her sex life. That seems rather necessary when it comes to Iris. But I guess it's not the case for all artists.
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