The Black Prince is a 1973 novel by Iris Murdoch. I've enjoyed all the books I've read by this author. This one is a particular shocker, a stunning book.
favorite quotes:
"Only stories and magic really endure."
"Let those smile who have endured as long."from the back of the book:
A story about being in love The Black Prince is also a remarkable intellectual thriller with a superbly involuted plot, and a meditation on the nature of art and love and the deity who rules over both.The Toronto Review of Books has a review. The New York Times closes with this:
Bradley Pearson, its narrator and hero, is an elderly writer with a "block". Encompassed by predatory friends and relations -his ex-wife, her delinquent brother and a younger, deplorably successful writer, Arnold Baffin, together with Baffin's restless wife and youthful daughter- Bradley attempts escape.
His failure and its aftermath lead to a violent climax; and to a coda which casts a shifting perspective on all that has gone before.
But, all in all, fertile invention is put to the service of an expansive sense of character; and since "The Black Prince" also has Miss Murdoch's usual narrative energy and intellectual weight, it is the best novel she has written in years.
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Thanks for the tip! I have been meaning to try Murdoch for years, I just didn´t know where to start. This sounds excellent! and I have added it to my wishlist on amazon.
ReplyDeletei do really love the way she writes. they don't usually shock me, though, and this one did.
Deletemy daughter just got back from visiting sweden. everybody else was wearing shorts and going swimming, and she stayed cold lol. she got to go to that nobel prize museum and was very impressed. she got to see the town wallender is from, but she says they pronounced his name differently. she loved her visit.
I´m glad she enjoyed herself. Yes, the English can´t pronounce Wallander at all!
DeleteWe started this summer with a heatwave in May, which convinced everyone we are having a really great summer. But in the local paper Friday, they said this July has been the coldest in 15 years LOL! I guess once we get the summer kit out, we stick to it. And we are used to moderate summer temperatures. My sister lived in Phoenix for 1½ years, and said summers were unbearable. I remember Iowa being pretty hot, too.
we had highs in the 90s when she left here, and they had highs in the 60s i think she said. here, 60s is too cold for swimming lol. she passed on the swimming activities and took pictures instead.
Deleteshe learned how to say "tea break" in swedish ;) along with a few other things. she was proud of herself that she already knew about the moomins and pippi longstocking. she says it's beautiful over there. she's glad she went in the summer!
Yes, temperatures in the 60´s would be considered normal summer, and 70´s would be "nice" weather. I don´t think I have ever experienced anything over 90 in Sweden, ever. Winters are nice too if you go up north where we are, but you really must be prepared!
DeleteWill add this one to my list. I recently purchased The Sea, The Sea but haven't read it yet.
ReplyDeletei read that one, too. is it in the 1001 books you must read before you die book? i think i need to look into that book. i'm finding the similarly titled one on film to be helpful.
DeleteI just got The Green Knight at a book sale, haven't read it yet. I've always wanted to read Iris Murdoch, so thanks for this!
ReplyDeletei have that one on my shelf, but i don't think i've read it. the title sounds interesting.
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