An Accidental Man by Iris Murdoch (1971)
8.5 out of 10
We bought this from some charity shop somewhere, sometime ago. I love reading books that have been read by other people, and that are a bit yellowed round the edges of the pages. When we go away on the canals, or in the campervan, we visit small towns and head for the charity shops to get more books.
I can't believe that I've read a book published in 1971 and I have been thinking of it as a modern book. Is it?
I really like Iris Murdoch. But how does she do it?! She creates these characters who are enmeshed in all kinds of tangled relationships, having personal crises, and tipping each other over the edge. I find none of them likeable - mostly they are tragic, sad or hopeless, and yet they sometimes say or do things, and you think - 'oh yes - I recognise that - it is so true to life'. She is a mistress of her art - an accomplished story-teller.
In this book I definitely didn't like anyone, but I did feel irritated that people were interfering in each other's lives, and not just walking away and leaving them to it. Did Iris want me to sympathise with anyone? No, I don't think so.
The best bits were 3 or 4 chapters in which the text was all based on either letters written between characters or mindless chatter at cocktail parties.
Anyway, I'm glad they didn't get married. I'm sorry that Ludwig went back to America only to face being sent to fight in Vietnam, and I can't believe that Mavis could be so stupid as to be kind to Austin!
She lost 1.5 marks for going on about fine philosophical points just a little too much.
Next I'm reading Brendan Behan.
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