Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1943-[1979] (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
16 volumes
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 Alzheimer's disease, the first effects of which she had attributed to writer's block. She died in 1999.
Repository
Archival history
GB 2108 KUAS129 1943-[1979] Collection (fonds) 16 volumes 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', 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.
Purchased for the Archives and Special Collections by the Iris Murdoch Archives Project.
Sixteen books formerly owned by Iris Murdoch- they either have dedications to her, or notes of her name written in the front. One book is partially annotated.
Original order.
Books are available to view by appointment in the Archives and Special Collections. Please email at least 24 hours before your visit at archives@kingston.ac.uk
Copying from the books might be restricted due to physical condition or copyright law. Please contact the Archive with copying requests.
English
French
Books currently awaiting cataloguing. Once catalogued listings will be available on our Library catalogue at http://icat.kingston.ac.uk
It is thought that the books might have been part of the Iris Murdoch London Library held in the Archive (ref number MLL). Other books owned by Iris Murdoch can be found in Iris Murdoch's Oxford Library (ref number IML).
01 Jul 2015 Literature Literary forms and genres Prose Novels Social scientists Philosophers Information sciences Communications media Publications Books Murdoch , Dame , Jean Iris , 1919-1999 , author x Murdoch , Iris
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Purchased for the Archives and Special Collections by the Iris Murdoch Archives Project.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Sixteen books formerly owned by Iris Murdoch- they either have dedications to her, or notes of her name written in the front. One book is partially annotated.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Original order.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Books are available to view by appointment in the Archives and Special Collections. Please email at least 24 hours before your visit at archives@kingston.ac.uk
Conditions governing reproduction
Copying from the books might be restricted due to physical condition or copyright law. Please contact the Archive with copying requests.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
French
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
It is thought that the books might have been part of the Iris Murdoch London Library held in the Archive (ref number MLL). Other books owned by Iris Murdoch can be found in Iris Murdoch's Oxford Library (ref number IML).
Finding aids
Books currently awaiting cataloguing. Once catalogued listings will be available on our Library catalogue at http://icat.kingston.ac.uk
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
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