Murdoch , Dame , Jean Iris , 1919-1999 , author Brophy , Brigid , Lady Levey , 1929-1995 , author

Murdoch , Dame , Jean Iris , 1919-1999 , author Brophy , Brigid , Lady Levey , 1929-1995 , 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', 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 Alzheimer's disease, the first effects of which she had attributed to writer's block. She died in 1999.

Brigid Brophy was a well known author of several novels, non-fiction books and plays. She also led, alongside Maureen Duffy, the campaign for the introduction of Public Lending Rights for authors, and also campaigned for human and animal rights. Brophy was married to Michael Levey, director of the National Gallery. Later in life Brophy suffered from multiple sclerosis, and she passed away in 1995.