This is the very first book that I have ever read by Murdoch. From the very first page, I was completely captivated by her vivid and personable writing style. She entraps you with meticulous detail, whether it be in the descriptions or the dialogues. Each paragraph seems to be tailor-made specifically for that particular person. And the allure of the tale being told in this instance commences with just one tiny white lie: "Don't tell _____ that _____ is back in town." This request, of course, comes from a person who generally doesn't tell falsehoods.

The characters are truly delightful and incredibly interesting. Especially remarkable is Murdoch's portrayal of a gay couple, presented in a very normal light. And indeed, they fit seamlessly into the plot as they are, ordinary people.

It is a truly great story, with a charming and almost symbolic touch of a hedgehog that appears to be a prophetic symbol of innocence being shattered by a lie.

These fictional characters have such a profound impact that they feel as if they will become an integral part of my memory, as if they had actually been real living people, acquaintances from the past, with a part of their souls touching mine.

A delicious, dialogue-driven novel that is inspired by Shakespeare! It delves deep into the themes of good and evil, love and lust, and the all-too-easy manipulation of others. This novel truly ticks every box. The story unfolds with captivating dialogues that bring the characters to life. You can feel the intense emotions of love and lust as they play out between the characters. The contrast between good and evil is鲜明, making you question the morality of the characters' actions. And the ease with which some characters manipulate others is both令人惊叹 and disturbing. It's a novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat, eagerly turning the pages to see what happens next.

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This novel presents the tales of three distinct couples and their frenemy Julius. Julius, a malevolent singleton, decides to disrupt their relationships out of boredom and petty revenge. It's a dark comedy that, while not uproariously funny, can be fairly characterized as zany.

I was initially rather lukewarm towards the book. Julius is extremely unpleasant, and the other characters, although sympathetic in some aspects, are exasperating. However, as the story progresses and Julius's plots become more intricate, I found the book increasingly compelling.

What made me truly like it is that Murdoch, as always, has something very interesting to convey. The book's narrative isn't simply that Julius is a terrible person and we should be shocked by his behavior. That's self-evident. Instead, Murdoch's perspective is that Julius is just one malevolent, uncontrollable force in a world filled with such forces. We see echoes of this throughout the novel, such as in the scene where thugs beat up a Jamaican man and in the revelation that Julius himself was in a concentration camp during the war. There are differences in scale, but it's certain that all humans will ultimately encounter some kind of evil. And when it comes down to it, Julius's ploys are actually rather flimsy. It's the other characters' own vanities and fears that enable them to be manipulated and ultimately lead to tragic consequences.

The greatest novelist ever,

Her works are truly remarkable, serving as another shining example of her brilliant and provocative investigations.

She delves deep into the characters, exploring their inner turmoil as they strain against the rhetorical expectations of modern middle-class life.

With her keen洞察力 and masterful writing skills, she brings these characters to life, making us feel their pain, their hopes, and their dreams.

Her novels are not only entertaining but also thought-provoking, challenging us to question our own assumptions and values.

She is a literary genius, and her works will continue to be studied and admired for generations to come.

Thoroughly convincing characters are a crucial aspect of any good story, even when the storyline may seem implausible. In this case, the characters were brought to life in a way that made them truly believable.

However, Rupert's suicide was a bit of a stretch for some viewers. It might have been a bit too much for some, which is why the review is missing a star. But of course, this is probably a matter of personal taste.

On the other hand, Simon was a character that I absolutely loved. The portrayal of Simon was so sensitive and nuanced, especially when it came to the gay relationship in the late 60s. It was a refreshing and honest look at a topic that was often overlooked or stigmatized during that time period.

Overall, while there were some aspects of the story that might not have been to everyone's liking, the convincing characters and sensitive portrayal of a gay relationship made this a worthwhile read or watch.

I truly love Iris Murdoch.

Although this particular work might not be my absolute favorite, I do have a great deal of affection for it.

If it were possible, I would have awarded it three and a half stars.

Since that option wasn't available, I let my admiration for Tallis and Simon influence my decision.

In many of Iris Murdoch's books, one often finds oneself disliking most of the characters.

However, this was one of the rare exceptions where I actually thought some of them were decent individuals.

The title was extremely apt, and I felt a strange sense of satisfaction at the end of this book, more so than I usually do with some of her other works.

She is an outstanding author, and it is a great shame that her work is not more widely recognized and acclaimed.

Her unique writing style and profound insights into human nature deserve to be celebrated on a much larger scale.

Hopefully, more people will discover and appreciate the beauty and depth of her literary contributions in the future.

I simply did not see the end of this one coming at all. It was such a pleasant surprise, and I always have a special love for that kind of element in a book. It keeps me on the edge of my seat and makes me eager to turn the pages.

Murdoch's writing has truly captivated me. I am now extremely excited to read more of her works. I can only imagine what other wonderful stories and unexpected twists she has in store for me.

I have a feeling that each book will be a new adventure, filled with mystery, drama, and perhaps a touch of the unexpected. I can't wait to delve deeper into her literary world and explore all that it has to offer.

Overall, this experience has left me with a great anticipation for more Murdoch. I know that I am in for a treat with each new book I pick up.

A Fairly Honourable Defeat had a truly great premise. A university professor named Julius decides to put his friends' relationships to the test by planting ideas and meddling with their lives in various ways. He firmly believes that there is no such thing as true love or emotional bonds. In his view, relationships are always selfish, and people will abandon their partners in an instant if the situation is favorable enough.

The characters in this book are not particularly likable. We have Robert and his wife Hilda, Robert's brother Simon, Simon's partner and Robert's old friend Axel, Hilda's sister Morgan, Morgan's husband Thallis, and finally Julius King, who is Axel and Robert's friend from college. The only ones I found even remotely likable were Thallis, Hilda, and Simon. The others act selfishly throughout the entire book, and at times, I found myself despising them. Morgan, who is completely absorbed in herself and constantly searching for something huge and life-defining, is the worst of the lot. She is immature and has never learned that her actions have consequences. She rushes through her decisions and ideas, expecting everyone else to change or adjust accordingly. For instance, she cheats on her husband, then comes back and throws her dislike of him in his face, yet doesn't want a divorce. I really loathe that kind of character.

Axel also got on my nerves on many occasions.

However, the point is that we are supposed to dislike these characters to some extent. None of them, except Thallis, is in touch with reality. Thallis, on the other hand, tries his best to occupy his mind and time with other things to escape from life. In many ways, he is the complete opposite of the rest of the characters. He is "a man of action," while the others do nothing but talk about doing the right thing (the restaurant scene and the ending come to mind).

Overall, I liked the book. The first half is a bit dry, and not much happens for a while. But once the book picks up the plot, it gets really good.

It is not a good choice to finish reading this book on Christmas Eve! Murdoch mercilessly skewers her seemingly moral and appealing characters, resulting in terrifying and demoralizing consequences. In a book that makes references to the Holocaust, Murdoch still manages to present a convincing argument that there is no greater evil than human vanity. I can imagine that Julius, having endured the worst of human cruelty and justifiably cynical, is driven to disrupt the comfortable and self-satisfied lives of his acquaintances and test their pompous and easy virtue. Rupert is writing a book about living an ethical life without even considering or reflecting on the very recent attempts to exterminate the Jews and the nature of human cruelty. Julius systematically and gleefully destroys him. Is it the end because Rupert has ruined his marriage or because he realizes he is an intellectual failure? Julius is Jewish, and his character is heartless, calculating, and cruel, without any regard for the suffering he has caused. I hope Murdoch is using Julius as a contrast to the petty satisfaction and self-absorption of her wealthy London characters, but the accusations of anti-Semitism are not entirely unfounded. Fortunately, the gay characters fare much better in this story.

I truly love Iris Murdoch. Her works have always held a special place in my heart.

However, this particular piece just seemed to go on and on. The long dialogues within it really weren't to my taste.

I understand that some people might enjoy the in-depth exploration of characters and their conversations through extensive dialogues. But for me, it felt a bit overwhelming and at times, dragged the story down.

I prefer a more balanced approach where the narrative is enhanced by both dialogue and descriptive prose.

Despite this, I still have a great deal of respect for Iris Murdoch and her body of work. Maybe this particular piece just wasn't the right fit for me, but I'm sure there are many others who would find it captivating and engaging.

I'll continue to explore her other works, hoping to find that perfect combination of elements that will truly resonate with me.

It’s so dark that it makes me extremely uncomfortable. Julius, an evil intellectual, holds a rather deplorable view of humanity. He deems people idiotic for cherishing their beloved “relationships” when they can so easily be torn apart. To amuse himself, he devises a plan to demonstrate the fragility of relationships within his group of high society “friends” by setting up traps of misunderstanding, which ultimately lead to countless betrayals. He manages to prove that given the right circumstances, most people will act selfishly, going against the interests of their lovers. So, the question remains: how deep or strong can your love or relationship really be? His argument is indeed compelling, but it also makes me feel rather icky.

Can you truly trust anyone? I believe in love, damn it!...Well, I think I do. I have always loved Murdoch’s hoity toity English intellectual characters and their ridiculous philosophical conversations. However, what I loved most about this book was undoubtedly her writing style. My next book will be by her as well, but this time it’s non-fiction. I need to find my center again. Oh, this filth has got to stop.