I think I read this a long time ago, but have picked up this copy in a second hand book shop to re read.

Synopsis
Martin Lynch-Gibbon believes he can possess both a beautiful wife and a delightful lover. But when his wife, Antonia, suddenly leaves him for her psychoanalyst, Martin is plunged into an intensive emotional re-education. He attempts to behave beautifully and sensibly. Then he meets a woman whose demonic splendour at first repels him and later arouses a consuming and monstrous passion. As his Medusa informs him, 'this is nothing to do with happiness'.

Well I am now not sure if I did read this one years ago - but at any rate I thouroughly enjoyed this novel. It is a darkly comic book, in which we see the central characters swapping partners, lying to one another, and behaving with hilarious civility. A '60's comedy of manners - all very wryly observed and tounge in cheek. Brilliant - I will be revisting more Iris Murdoch soon I am sure.

RELEASE NOTES:

Will be released amoung the other books at the meet up today. Afterwards, if it doesn't find a new home it will available on the shelf in the rear of the shop.

Picked up at Birmingham Meetup

An unforgettable dark comedy about a series of farcical relationships. The dialogue is so well written, despite the almost unrelaistic behaviour of the characters nothing ever feels false.

I am passing this back to Heaven-Ali for her 'Murdoch a Month' challenge.

It's back with me again. Thanks for passing it back megmac - this is now rejoining TBR waititng to be read for the Murdoch a month project. This is scheduled to be read May 2008. I am looking forward to reading it again even if I did only read it in August.

I read this for the first time at the end of August - before we had decided upon this Murdoch a month project. Oddly - I liked it better the first time I read it - maybe it was just too soon for a re- read - however it was intresting how many things I picked up I hadn't the first time. It is a strange little book, packed with metaphor, and very farcical, with a real dream like quality - it amuses me how characters manage to appear in one anothers houses with little explanation.

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

If you have found this book, thank you for taking the time to look it up on the internet. Now please tell us what you thought of the book and what your plans for it are.

Picked up at the monthly bccov meet.