An Accidental Man

Description

'Of the novelists who have made their bow since the war she seems to me to be the most remarkable' Raymond Mortimer This is the story of the comic, relentless struggle for survival of Austin Gibson Grey, the accidental man. Austin is one of those people who thrives through the destruction of others. The others, in Austin's case, include his successful elder brother, Matthew, and the women who, one after the other, are convinced that they can 'save' him. In this role we meet Dorina, Austin's estranged wife, Mitzi, his alcoholic landlady, and a selection of other women who involve themselves in Austin's fate, with hilarious and appalling results.

Iris Murdoch was born in Dublin in 1919. She read Classics at Somerville College, Oxford, and after working in the Treasury and abroad, was awarded a research studentship in Philosophy at Newnham College, Cambridge. In 1948 she returned to Oxford as fellow and tutor at St Anne's College and later taught at the Royal College of Art. Until her death in 1999, she lived in Oxford with her husband, the academic and critic, John Bayley. She was made a Dame of the British Empire in 1987 and in the 1997 PEN Awards received the Gold Pen for Distinguished Service to Literature.

Iris Murdoch is incapable of writing without fascinating and beautiful colour * The Times * Iris Murdoch was one of the best and most influential writers of the twentieth century -- Peter Conradi * Guardian * A distinguished novelist of a rare kind -- Kingsley Amis Behind her books one feels a power of intellect quite exceptional in a novelist * Sunday Times * Iris Murdoch really knows how to write, can tell a story, delineate a character, catch an atmosphere with deadly accuracy -- John Betjemen