Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- [1990-2010] (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 box
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
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 Alzheimers disease, the first effects of which she had attributed to writer's block. She died in 1999.
Anne Rowe is a scholar with expertise in Iris Murdoch. She was the head of the Iris Murdoch Archives Project at Kingston University and is the author of several books on Iris Murdoch.
Repository
Archival history
Items collected by Anne Rowe during the course of her work on Iris Murdoch.
GB 2108 KUAS195 [1990-2010] Fonds 1 box Murdoch , Dame , Jean Iris , 1919-1999 , author
Rowe , Anne , fl. 1985- , scholar
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 Alzheimers disease, the first effects of which she had attributed to writer's block. She died in 1999.
Anne Rowe is a scholar with expertise in Iris Murdoch. She was the head of the Iris Murdoch Archives Project at Kingston University and is the author of several books on Iris Murdoch.
Items collected by Anne Rowe during the course of her work on Iris Murdoch.
Kindly presented by Anne Rowe.
Items relating to Iris Murdoch presented to the archives by Anne Rowe. Includes:
1) Papers on a proposed Festschrift on Iris Murdoch collated by Peter Conradi
2) Copies of the newsletter for the Iris Murdoch Society of Japan
3) Press articles on Iris Murdoch
4) Letters written to Anne Rowe and Peter Conradi regarding Iris Murdoch
5) Original text copies of the Iris Murdoch Society Newsletters Nos 1-19
6) Unpublished essay by Rachel Cusk on Iris Murdoch
Original order.
Available to view by appointment in the Kingston University Archives and Special Collections search room.
Some copying may be possible. Please contact Kingston University Archives and Special Collections for more information.
English
Japanese
Please see Kingston University Archives and Special Collections online catalogue.
December 2017 Records and correspondence Letters (documents) Essays Communication process Communication skills Writing Novelists Literature Prose Literary forms and genres Novels Authors Writers Publication formats Newspaper article Information sciences Communications media Publications Periodicals Newsletters Information sources Clippings Documents Newscutting Newspapers Articles Conradi , Peter , fl 1980s , writer Murdoch , Dame , Jean Iris , 1919-1999 , author x Murdoch , Iris
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Kindly presented by Anne Rowe.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Items relating to Iris Murdoch presented to the archives by Anne Rowe. Includes:
1) Papers on a proposed Festschrift on Iris Murdoch collated by Peter Conradi
2) Copies of the newsletter for the Iris Murdoch Society of Japan
3) Press articles on Iris Murdoch
4) Letters written to Anne Rowe and Peter Conradi regarding Iris Murdoch
5) Original text copies of the Iris Murdoch Society Newsletters Nos 1-19
6) Unpublished essay by Rachel Cusk on Iris Murdoch
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Original order.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Available to view by appointment in the Kingston University Archives and Special Collections search room.
Conditions governing reproduction
Some copying may be possible. Please contact Kingston University Archives and Special Collections for more information.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Japanese
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Please see Kingston University Archives and Special Collections online catalogue.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
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Subject access points
- Literary forms and genres » Prose » Essays
- Communication process
- Communication process » Communication skills
- Communication process » Communication skills » Writing
- Literature
- Literary forms and genres » Prose
- Literary forms and genres
- Literary forms and genres » Prose » Novels
- Authors
- Authors » Writers
- Information sciences
- Periodicals
- Periodicals » Newsletters
- Information sources
- Documents
- Periodicals » Newspapers
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English