Fonds GB 2108 KUAS210 - Murdoch, Iris (1919-1999): Letters from Iris Murdoch to Rolando Pieraccini

Identity area

Reference code

GB 2108 KUAS210

Title

Murdoch, Iris (1919-1999): Letters from Iris Murdoch to Rolando Pieraccini

Date(s)

  • 1990-1991 (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

32 items

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.

Rolando Pieraccini is an Italian born publisher now based in Finland, proprietor of the Eurographica Press based in Helsinki.

Archival history

GB 2108 KUAS210 1990-1991 Fonds 32 items Murdoch , Dame , Jean Iris , 1919-1999 , author

Pieraccini , Rolando , fl. 1970- , publisher

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.

Rolando Pieraccini is an Italian born publisher now based in Finland, proprietor of the Eurographica Press based in Helsinki.

Purchased for Kingston University Archives and Special Collections.

16 letters with envelopes plus contract letters from Iris Murdoch to the publisher Rolando Pieracinni, regarding his publication of the book 'Something Special' featuring Murdoch's poems.

Original order

Available to view by appointment in the Kingston University Archives and Special Collections search room.

Some copying available. Please contact Kingston University Archives and Special Collections for more information.

English

Please see Kingston University Archives and Special Collections online catalogue.

December 2017 Books Literature Literary forms and genres Poetry Poems People People by occupation Personnel Communication personnel Publishers Publishing industry Publishing Information sources Records and correspondence Letters (documents) Publications Communications media Information sciences Contract law Civil law Legal systems Law Murdoch , Dame , Jean Iris , 1919-1999 , author x Murdoch , Iris

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Purchased for Kingston University Archives and Special Collections.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

16 letters with envelopes plus contract letters from Iris Murdoch to the publisher Rolando Pieracinni, regarding his publication of the book 'Something Special' featuring Murdoch's poems.

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 available. Please contact Kingston University Archives and Special Collections for more information.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

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Finding aids

Please see Kingston University Archives and Special Collections online catalogue.

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Institution identifier

Kingston University

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Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

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