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Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.<br /><small><span class="plainlinks"><i>Find sources:</i> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?as_eq=wikipedia&q=%22The+Italian+Girl%22">"The Italian Girl"</a> – <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?tbm=nws&q=%22The+Italian+Girl%22+-wikipedia&tbs=ar:1">news</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?&q=%22The+Italian+Girl%22&tbs=bkt:s&tbm=bks">newspapers</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?tbs=bks:1&q=%22The+Italian+Girl%22+-wikipedia">books</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=%22The+Italian+Girl%22">scholar</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/action/doBasicSearch?Query=%22The+Italian+Girl%22&acc=on&wc=on">JSTOR</a></span></small></span> <span class="date-container"><i>(<span class="date">November 2014</span>)</i></span><span class="hide-when-compact"><i> (<small><a href="/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal" title="Help:Maintenance template removal">Learn how and when to remove this message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1257001546">.mw-parser-output .infobox-subbox{padding:0;border:none;margin:-3px;width:auto;min-width:100%;font-size:100%;clear:none;float:none;background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .infobox-3cols-child{margin:auto}.mw-parser-output .infobox .navbar{font-size:100%}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme)>div:not(.notheme)[style]{background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme) div:not(.notheme){background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media(min-width:640px){body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table{display:table!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>caption{display:table-caption!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>tbody{display:table-row-group}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table tr{display:table-row!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table th,body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table td{padding-left:inherit;padding-right:inherit}}</style><table class="infobox vcard"><caption class="infobox-title" style="font-size:125%; font-style:italic; padding-bottom:0.2em;">The Italian Girl <span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Italian+Girl&rft.author=Iris+Murdoch&rft.date=1964&rft.pub=%5B%5BChatto+and+Windus%5D%5D&rft.place=United+Kingdom&rft.pages=224+pp&rft_id=info:oclcnum/2206219"></span></caption><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-image"><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Frameless"><a href="/wiki/File:ItalianGirl.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fe/ItalianGirl.png" decoding="async" width="208" height="316" class="mw-file-element" data-file-width="208" data-file-height="316" /></a></span><div class="infobox-caption">Cover of the first edition</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Author</th><td class="infobox-data">Iris Murdoch</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Cover artist</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Reynolds_Stone" title="Reynolds Stone">Reynolds Stone</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Language</th><td class="infobox-data">English</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Publisher</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Chatto_and_Windus" class="mw-redirect" title="Chatto and Windus">Chatto and Windus</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><div style="display: inline-block; line-height: 1.2em; padding: .1em 0;">Publication date</div></th><td class="infobox-data">1964</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Publication place</th><td class="infobox-data">United Kingdom</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Media type</th><td class="infobox-data">Print (<a href="/wiki/Hardcover" title="Hardcover">Hardcover</a> and <a href="/wiki/Paperback" title="Paperback">Paperback</a>)</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Pages</th><td class="infobox-data">224 pp</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/OCLC_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="OCLC (identifier)"><abbr title="Online Computer Library Center number">OCLC</abbr></a></th><td class="infobox-data"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/2206219">2206219</a></td></tr></tbody></table> <p><i><b>The Italian Girl</b></i> is a 1964 novel by <a href="/wiki/Iris_Murdoch" title="Iris Murdoch">Iris Murdoch</a>. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Plot_introduction">Plot introduction</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=The_Italian_Girl&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Plot introduction"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Edmund has escaped from his family into a lonely life. Returning for his mother's funeral he finds himself involved in the same awful problems, together with some new ones. He also rediscovers the eternal family servant, the ever-changing "Italian girl". </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Plot_summary">Plot summary</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=The_Italian_Girl&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Plot summary"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Edmund Narraway returns to his family home, an old rectory in the north of England, for the cremation of his mother, Lydia. His brother, Otto, probably drunk, starts giggling during the service, and has to be taken outside. Edmund is disgusted rather than scandalised, yet he immediately finds himself fascinated by Otto's daughter, his own niece, who is now a teenager and, for the first time since Edmund last saw her, sexually mature. After the service Isabel, Otto's apparently neurotic wife, attempts to involve Edmund in her small and frustrated life. He at first refuses. When Edmund later talks to his self-pitying brother, he detects evidence of a sexual tension between Otto and his apprentice David Levkin. Isabel, Otto and Flora all implore Edmund to stay and help them, each for a different reason. In each case, Edmund seems at first untempted, reluctant to get involved, and aware of his own impotence against their troubles. It is finally Flora who gives Edmund a real reason, or excuse, to stay. She confides in him that she is pregnant by another student, and has only him to rely on for assistance. One by one, each character in the house manages to enveigle Edmund in a series of confessions, exposés and almost farcical <a href="/wiki/In_flagrante_delicto" title="In flagrante delicto">in flagrante delicto</a> discoveries. Edmund, though sexually aloof and anodyne now seems, somewhat contradictorily, highly prone to getting involved and seeing himself as an integral part of everyone else's problem, if not the means to a solution. He cuts a slightly preposterous and contemptible figure, ever more so as each character, led by David Levkin and Flora, respectively devilish and vituperative, make evident their disgust for him. </p><p>Midway through the story we have learnt that Otto is having an affair with Elsa, David's sister; Isabel and her daughter Flora have both had affairs with David, and it is he who made Flora pregnant; 'Maggie', the Italian girl, whose actual name is Maria Magistretti and who was <a href="/wiki/Nursemaid" title="Nursemaid">nursemaid</a> to Otto and Edmund, had been having a lesbian affair with Lydia, their recently deceased mother and, it transpires, she is the sole beneficiary of Lydia's will. </p><p>After all these 'secret' relationships have been revealed, Otto's response is to send David and Elsa Levkin packing. Elsa, in despair, reacts by setting fire to herself and the house. She dies, the house survives. At this surprising turn of events Otto and Edmund now seem reconciled, perhaps in misery, perhaps in astonishment. Similarly, Otto and David act civilised towards each other, and Edmund and David begin to talk honestly and respectfully to each other for the first time. David departs, leaving instructions for Elsa's funeral. </p><p>The fire and Elsa's death seem to have had a cathartic effect on everyone. Isabel finds her independence and leaves Otto. She joyfully announces that she too is pregnant by David. Flora, who ran away from home at the climax now returns to look after her rather helpless father Otto. Maggie generously agrees to split the inheritance equally with Edmund and Otto, and allows Otto to keep the house. The fire damage, incidentally, is all covered by insurance. </p><p>To crest this unexpected wave of redemption Edmund discovers that he has always actually been in love with Maria and she, conveniently, has always been in love with him. The book closes with them preparing to travel by car to Rome. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Characters_in_"The_Italian_Girl""><span id="Characters_in_.22The_Italian_Girl.22"></span>Characters in "The Italian Girl"</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=The_Italian_Girl&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Characters in "The Italian Girl""><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li>Edmund Narraway – (the narrator) abstemious, puritan, fastidious and bloodless. Edmund is an engraver who lives alone in a flat somewhere in the south of England. He has had moderate success in his career, but has not come close to rivalling his more famous and more talented father, John Narraway, who has been dead for several years when the story begins. At the end of the book he awakens to long-concealed emotions.</li> <li>Otto Narraway – (Edmund's brother) self-pitying, dissolute, desolate and addictive. Otto is a sculptor and stonemason whose self-destructive tendencies have probably helped to ruin his career. He is now dependent on the income he derives from carving gravestones for the local village, though even this is not enough to sustain him. He lives in tense counterpoise with his mother, wife and daughter in the family home.</li> <li>Isabel Narraway – (Otto's wife) desperate, neurotic, depressed and <a href="/wiki/Psychological_manipulation" class="mw-redirect" title="Psychological manipulation">manipulative</a>. Isabel was resented and psychologically tortured by Lydia Narraway, her mother-in-law, and appears to have been beaten senseless by the punishment. She eventually overcomes this, regains independence and is infused by optimism.</li> <li>Flora Narraway – (Otto's daughter) tempestuous, erotic, haughty and vicious. Flora has recently started attending a local technical college, studying textile design, for which she has 'a small talent'. She matures and learns to accept responsibility for both herself and others.</li> <li>Maria Magistretti 'Maggie' – watchful, cagy, removed and circumspect. Maggie is the last in a long line of interchangeable and unrecognised Italian <a href="/wiki/Nursemaid" title="Nursemaid">nursemaids</a> who were tasked with bringing up Otto and Edmund. She has stayed on, apparently sacrificing herself to the family. She harbours a secret yearning, sublimated for years, but which is finally satisfied.</li> <li>David Levkin – (Otto's apprentice) puckish, devious, amoral and provocateur. David, like Maggie, is the last in a line, in his case of thieving and untalented apprentices to Otto. He has first seduced Isabel and then, to torture her, done the same to her daughter Flora. He deceives for his own perverse sense of pleasure, but finally is shocked into maturity.</li> <li>Elsa Levkin – (David's sister) promiscuous, earthy, and apparently insane and delusional. Elsa appears to be an irrational being driven by sensuous appetites and curiously intense and imaginative self-delusions. Much of this is David's manipulation of others' perceptions of her. We never quite know what drives Elsa, other than a profound despair at the loss of Otto.</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Major_themes">Major themes</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=The_Italian_Girl&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Major themes"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The major theme of <i>The Italian Girl</i> is that of resolution and redemption. The final chapters of the book are so heavily steeped in this theme that they have the flavour of a morality play. Good replaces evil. Solutions appear to be problems, and characters develop extra dimensions that enable them to cope, perhaps even to thrive. Secrets are revealed, honesty pervades. A claustrophobic convergence is replaced by divergence and optimism. Characters even set off to romantic or familiar destinations. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Adaptations">Adaptations</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=The_Italian_Girl&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Adaptations"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><i>The Italian Girl</i> was adapted for the stage by <a href="/wiki/James_Saunders_(playwright)" title="James Saunders (playwright)">James Saunders</a>, in collaboration with Iris Murdoch.<sup id="cite_ref-Rose_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Rose-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It was first performed at the <a href="/wiki/Bristol_Old_Vic" title="Bristol Old Vic">Bristol Old Vic</a> on 29 November 1967, directed by <a href="/wiki/Val_May" title="Val May">Val May</a>. The same production opened on 1 February 1968 at <a href="/wiki/Wyndham%27s_Theatre" title="Wyndham's Theatre">Wyndham's Theatre</a> in London's <a href="/wiki/West_End_of_London" title="West End of London">West End</a>, where it ran for 315 performances.<sup id="cite_ref-IGplay_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-IGplay-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In March 2019, the London-based production company Rebel Republic Films announced that it had optioned <i>The Italian Girl</i> and was developing a screenplay based on the book.<sup id="cite_ref-rebel_4-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-rebel-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=The_Italian_Girl&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-Rose-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Rose_1-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFRose1968" class="citation news cs1">Rose, W. K. (1 June 1968). "Iris Murdoch, informally". <i>London Magazine</i>. Vol. 8, no. 3. pp. 59–73.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=London+Magazine&rft.atitle=Iris+Murdoch%2C+informally&rft.volume=8&rft.issue=3&rft.pages=59-73&rft.date=1968-06-01&rft.aulast=Rose&rft.aufirst=W.+K.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AThe+Italian+Girl" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-IGplay-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-IGplay_2-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.jamessaunders.org/jstheig.htm">"The Italian Girl - a play by James Saunders and Iris Murdoch (1967)"</a>. <i>James Saunders - English playwright</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">29 October</span> 2014</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=James+Saunders+-+English+playwright&rft.atitle=The+Italian+Girl+-+a+play+by+James+Saunders+and+Iris+Murdoch+%281967%29&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamessaunders.org%2Fjstheig.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AThe+Italian+Girl" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFViagas2014" class="citation news cs1">Viagas, Robert (1 February 2014). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.playbill.com/news/article/playbill-vaults-today-in-theatre-history-february-1-329412">"Playbill's vaults: Today in theatre history February 1"</a>. <i>Playbill</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">29 October</span> 2014</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Playbill&rft.atitle=Playbill%27s+vaults%3A+Today+in+theatre+history+February+1&rft.date=2014-02-01&rft.aulast=Viagas&rft.aufirst=Robert&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.playbill.com%2Fnews%2Farticle%2Fplaybill-vaults-today-in-theatre-history-february-1-329412&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AThe+Italian+Girl" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-rebel-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-rebel_4-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://rebelrepublicfilms.com/we-have-optioned-iris-murdochs-the-italian-girl/">"We have optioned Iris Murdoch's <i>The Italian Girl</i>"</a>. <i>Rebel Republic Films</i>. 4 March 2019<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">14 June</span> 2024</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Rebel+Republic+Films&rft.atitle=We+have+optioned+Iris+Murdoch%27s+The+Italian+Girl&rft.date=2019-03-04&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Frebelrepublicfilms.com%2Fwe-have-optioned-iris-murdochs-the-italian-girl%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AThe+Italian+Girl" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output 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.mw-parser-output .navbox{display:none!important}}</style></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Works_by_Iris_Murdoch" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239400231">.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:inline;font-size:88%;font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .navbar-collapse{float:left;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .navbar-boxtext{word-spacing:0}.mw-parser-output .navbar ul{display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;line-height:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::before{margin-right:-0.125em;content:"[ "}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::after{margin-left:-0.125em;content:" ]"}.mw-parser-output .navbar li{word-spacing:-0.125em}.mw-parser-output .navbar a>span,.mw-parser-output .navbar a>abbr{text-decoration:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-mini abbr{font-variant:small-caps;border-bottom:none;text-decoration:none;cursor:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-full{font-size:114%;margin:0 7em}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-mini{font-size:114%;margin:0 4em}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}@media(prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}}@media print{.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:none!important}}</style><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Iris_Murdoch" title="Template:Iris Murdoch"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Iris_Murdoch" title="Template talk:Iris Murdoch"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Iris_Murdoch" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Iris Murdoch"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Works_by_Iris_Murdoch" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">Works by <a href="/wiki/Iris_Murdoch" title="Iris Murdoch">Iris Murdoch</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Novels</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Under_the_Net" title="Under the Net">Under the Net</a></i> (1954)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/The_Flight_from_the_Enchanter" title="The Flight from the Enchanter">The Flight from the Enchanter</a></i> (1956)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/The_Sandcastle_(novel)" title="The Sandcastle (novel)">The Sandcastle</a></i> (1957)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/The_Bell_(novel)" title="The Bell (novel)">The Bell</a></i> (1958)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/A_Severed_Head" title="A Severed Head">A Severed Head</a></i> (1961)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/An_Unofficial_Rose" title="An Unofficial Rose">An Unofficial Rose</a></i> (1962)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/The_Unicorn_(novel)" title="The Unicorn (novel)">The Unicorn</a></i> (1963)</li> <li><i><a class="mw-selflink selflink">The Italian Girl</a></i> (1964)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/The_Red_and_the_Green" title="The Red and the Green">The Red and the Green</a></i> (1965)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/The_Time_of_the_Angels" title="The Time of the Angels">The Time of the Angels</a></i> (1966)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/The_Nice_and_the_Good" title="The Nice and the Good">The Nice and the Good</a></i> (1968)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Bruno%27s_Dream" title="Bruno's Dream">Bruno's Dream</a></i> (1969)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/A_Fairly_Honourable_Defeat" title="A Fairly Honourable Defeat">A Fairly Honourable Defeat</a></i> (1970)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/An_Accidental_Man" title="An Accidental Man">An Accidental Man</a></i> (1971)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/The_Black_Prince_(novel)" title="The Black Prince (novel)">The Black Prince</a></i> (1973)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/The_Sacred_and_Profane_Love_Machine" title="The Sacred and Profane Love Machine">The Sacred and Profane Love Machine</a></i> (1974)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/A_Word_Child" title="A Word Child">A Word Child</a></i> (1975)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Henry_and_Cato" title="Henry and Cato">Henry and Cato</a></i> (1976)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/The_Sea,_the_Sea" title="The Sea, the Sea">The Sea, The Sea</a></i> (1978)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Nuns_and_Soldiers" title="Nuns and Soldiers">Nuns and Soldiers</a></i> (1980)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/The_Philosopher%27s_Pupil" title="The Philosopher's Pupil">The Philosopher's Pupil</a></i> (1983)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/The_Good_Apprentice" title="The Good Apprentice">The Good Apprentice</a></i> (1985)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/The_Book_and_the_Brotherhood" title="The Book and the Brotherhood">The Book and the Brotherhood</a></i> (1987)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/The_Message_to_the_Planet" title="The Message to the Planet">The Message to the Planet</a></i> (1989)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/The_Green_Knight_(novel)" title="The Green Knight (novel)">The Green Knight</a></i> (1993)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Jackson%27s_Dilemma" title="Jackson's Dilemma">Jackson's Dilemma</a></i> (1995)</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Short stories</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>"<a href="/wiki/Something_Special_(short_story)" title="Something Special (short story)">Something Special</a>" (1957)</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Plays</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/A_Severed_Head" title="A Severed Head">A Severed Head</a></i> (with J. B. Priestley, 1964)</li> <li><i><a class="mw-selflink selflink">The Italian Girl</a></i> (with James Saunders, 1969)</li> <li><i><a href="/w/index.php?title=The_Three_Arrows_%26_the_Servants_and_the_Snow&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="The Three Arrows & the Servants and the Snow (page does not exist)">The Three Arrows & the Servants and the Snow</a></i> (1973)</li> <li><i><a href="/w/index.php?title=The_Servants_(play)&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="The Servants (play) (page does not exist)">The Servants</a></i> (1980)</li> <li><i><a href="/w/index.php?title=Acastos:_Two_Platonic_Dialogues&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Acastos: Two Platonic Dialogues (page does not exist)">Acastos: Two Platonic Dialogues</a></i> (1986)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/The_Black_Prince_(novel)" title="The Black Prince (novel)">The Black Prince</a></i> (1987)</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Poetry</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a href="/w/index.php?title=A_Year_of_Birds&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="A Year of Birds (page does not exist)">A Year of Birds</a></i> (1978, rev. 1984)</li> <li><i><a href="/w/index.php?title=Poems_by_Iris_Murdoch&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Poems by Iris Murdoch (page does not exist)">Poems by Iris Murdoch</a></i> (1997)</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Philosophy</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Sartre:_Romantic_Rationalist" title="Sartre: Romantic Rationalist">Sartre: Romantic Rationalist</a></i> (1953)</li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/The_Sovereignty_of_Good" title="The Sovereignty of Good">The Sovereignty of Good</a></i> (1970)</li> <li><i><a href="/w/index.php?title=The_Fire_and_the_Sun&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="The Fire and the Sun (page does not exist)">The Fire and the Sun</a></i> (1977)</li> <li><i><a href="/w/index.php?title=Metaphysics_as_a_Guide_to_Morals&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Metaphysics as a Guide to Morals (page does not exist)">Metaphysics as a Guide to Morals</a></i> (1992)</li> <li><i><a href="/w/index.php?title=Existentialists_and_Mystics&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Existentialists and Mystics (page does not exist)">Existentialists and Mystics</a></i> (1997)</li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>    </div><noscript><img src="https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?useformat=desktop&type=1x1&usesul3=0" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; 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