GB 2108 KUAS134 - Murdoch, Iris (1919-1999): Letters from Iris Murdoch to Leo Pliatzky

2 files

GB 2108 KUAS134 1943-1978 Collection (fonds) 2 files Murdoch , Dame , Jean Iris , 1919-1999 , author

Pliatzky , Leo , 1919-1999 , civil servant

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.

Leo Pliatzky was a senior civil servant who spent much of his career working for the Treasury. He became friends with Iris Murdoch at the University of Oxford and they remained in contact for many years afterwards.

Purchased for the Archives and Special Collections with the assistance of the Friends of the National Libraries.

Letters from Iris Murdoch to her friend, civil servant Leo Pliatzky dating from 1943 to 1978. Some of the letters are from the Second World War when Pliatzky was serving in the army and Murdoch was based at the Treasury, and then later at the UNRRA. Many of the later letters are confirming arrangements to meet up. With some accompanying documents including a photograph and press cuttings.

Original order.

Letters are available to view by appointment in the Archives and Special Collections. Please contact us at least 24 hours in advance of your appointment by emailing archives@kingston.ac.uk

Letters can not be copied at present.

English

Letters are not currently catalogued. Once catalogued listings will be available on our online catalogue at http://adlib.kingston.ac.uk

30 Jun 2015 Wars (events) World wars (events) World War Two (1939-1945) Government Public administration Central government Civil service Civil servants Migrants Refugees Information sources Records and correspondence Letters (documents) People People by occupation Letter writing Writing Communication skills Communication process Murdoch , Dame , Jean Iris , 1919-1999 , author x Murdoch , Iris Treasury United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration x UNRRA

Purchased for the Archives and Special Collections with the assistance of the Friends of the National Libraries.

Letters from Iris Murdoch to her friend, civil servant Leo Pliatzky dating from 1943 to 1978. Some of the letters are from the Second World War when Pliatzky was serving in the army and Murdoch was based at the Treasury, and then later at the UNRRA. Many of the later letters are confirming arrangements to meet up. With some accompanying documents including a photograph and press cuttings.

Original order.

Letters are available to view by appointment in the Archives and Special Collections. Please contact us at least 24 hours in advance of your appointment by emailing archives@kingston.ac.uk

Letters can not be copied at present.

• English

• Latin

English

Letters are not currently catalogued. Once catalogued listings will be available on our online catalogue at http://adlib.kingston.ac.uk

• English