GB 2108 IML - Iris Murdoch's Oxford Library

1122 volumes plus music sheets and objects

These books were compiled by Iris Murdoch throughout her lifetime. Some of them were gifts or belonged to friends and others she knew.

GB 2108 IML 1538-[1990] Collection (Fonds) 1122 volumes plus music sheets and objects Murdoch , Dame , Jean Iris , 1919-1999 , author

Iris Murdoch was born in Dublin, Ireland on 15 Jul 1919. When she was very young Iris and her parents moved to London, England, and Iris studied at Frobel and Badminton Schools. She followed this with studies in classics, ancient history and philosophy at Oxford, and further study at Cambridge. During the war years Iris worked for the Treasury in London, and then joined the UNRRA providing relief in formerly occupied countries in Europe. In 1948 she became a fellow of St Anne's College, Oxford, where she taught and researched philosophy.

Iris Murdoch wrote a number of tracts on philosophy, however it is for her novels that she is best known. She wrote 26 novels in total, her first being Under the Net published in 1954. Other notable works include The Bell and The Sea, the Sea,/i>, for which she won the Booker Prize. Her last novel, Jackson's Dilemma, was published in 1995.

In her youth Iris Murdoch had relationships with a number of individuals, including Elias Canetti. She met author and scholar John Bayley while at Oxford, and they married in 1956. She wrote to a great number of people and maintained friendships in this way.

Later in life Iris Murdoch was diagnosed with Alzheimers disease, the first effects of which she had attributed to writer's block. She died in 1999.

These books were compiled by Iris Murdoch throughout her lifetime. Some of them were gifts or belonged to friends and others she knew.

Purchased with help of a grant from the MLA/ V and A Purchase Grant Fund.

Iris Murdoch's library as held at her house in Oxford, and removed after her death. The books were collected by Iris Murdoch throughout her lifetime. The books predominately relate to her interests in philosophy, theology and psychology, with some on other subjects. Approximately half of the books were annotated by Iris Murdoch, some of them to great length and detail.

With the books a collection of music scores and sheets was acquired, with some song books dating back to the late 1800s. Many of these were inherited by Iris Murdoch from her mother, Irene. There is also a collection of beer coasters collected by the author, and some terracotta oil lamps.

The books have been ordered to represent the way they were held within Iris Murdoch's study.

Able to be viewed by appointment in the Kingston University Archives and Specia Collections search room.

Many of the texts are too fragile to allow any copying. No reproduction of the annotations is allowed.

English

French

German

Many of the books are old and fragile and require careful handling. The Roman oil lamps are extremely fragiles, gloves must be worn while handling.

Individual catalogue records can be found on the University's library catalogue at http://icat.kingston.ac.uk

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. 2014 Psychoanalysis Logic Information sciences Communications media Publications Books Atheism Psychologists Law Natural law Rationalism Religion Religious behaviour Philosophical schools Existentialism Music Performing arts Carols Vocal music Social scientists Philosophers Criticism (philosophy) Personal beliefs Clinical psychology Personal philosophical beliefs German philosophy Psychology Psychological schools Philosophy English philosophy Psychiatry Folk songs Murdoch , Dame , Jean Iris , 1919-1999 , author x Murdoch , Iris

Purchased with help of a grant from the MLA/ V and A Purchase Grant Fund.

Iris Murdoch's library as held at her house in Oxford, and removed after her death. The books were collected by Iris Murdoch throughout her lifetime. The books predominately relate to her interests in philosophy, theology and psychology, with some on other subjects. Approximately half of the books were annotated by Iris Murdoch, some of them to great length and detail.

With the books a collection of music scores and sheets was acquired, with some song books dating back to the late 1800s. Many of these were inherited by Iris Murdoch from her mother, Irene. There is also a collection of beer coasters collected by the author, and some terracotta oil lamps.

The books have been ordered to represent the way they were held within Iris Murdoch's study.

Able to be viewed by appointment in the Kingston University Archives and Specia Collections search room.

Many of the texts are too fragile to allow any copying. No reproduction of the annotations is allowed.

• anglais

• latin

English

French

German

Individual catalogue records can be found on the University's library catalogue at http://icat.kingston.ac.uk

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

• anglais