Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1945-c.1990 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 file
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.
Repository
Archival history
GB 2108 KUAS78 1945-c.1990 Collection (Fonds) 1 file 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 Alzheimers disease, the first effects of which she had attributed to writer's block. She died in 1999.
Being held on permanent loan.
Letters from Iris Murdoch to Hal Lidderdale dating from 1945 to 1990s. Lidderdale was a friend of Murdoch's from Oxford where they were students together, and they remained in touch until Lidderdale's death. Topics covered in the letters include Murdoch's work following the Second World War with the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA), meeting with Jean Paul Sartre, her brief engagement to David Hicks, and her later work and travels.
Original order.
The letters are available to view by appointment in the Kingston University Archives and Special Collections search room.
Copying from the letters is not allowed at this time.
English
Some of the early letters are on very acidic paper which has deteriorated with age. Very careful handling required.
An item list is available to view within the Archive. Full catalogue descriptions will eventually be added to our Archives catalogue at http://adlib.kingston.ac.uk.
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. 2014 Letter writing Wars (events) World wars (events) World War Two (1939-1945) Travel Travel abroad Philosophers Social scientists Universities Higher education institutions People by roles People Friends Interpersonal relations Relationships Friendship Writing Communication skills Murdoch , Dame , Jean Iris , 1919-1999 , author x Murdoch , Iris Sartre , Jean-Paul , 1905-1980 , French philosopher, playwright and novelist Lidderdale , Hal , 1911-1992 , editor United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration x UNRRA Communication process Social interaction Educational institutions
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Being held on permanent loan.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Letters from Iris Murdoch to Hal Lidderdale dating from 1945 to 1990s. Lidderdale was a friend of Murdoch's from Oxford where they were students together, and they remained in touch until Lidderdale's death. Topics covered in the letters include Murdoch's work following the Second World War with the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA), meeting with Jean Paul Sartre, her brief engagement to David Hicks, and her later work and travels.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Original order.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
The letters are available to view by appointment in the Kingston University Archives and Special Collections search room.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copying from the letters is not allowed at this time.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
An item list is available to view within the Archive. Full catalogue descriptions will eventually be added to our Archives catalogue at http://adlib.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
Subject access points
- Travel
- Travel » Travel abroad
- Social scientists » Philosophers
- Social scientists
- Higher education institutions » Universities
- Higher education institutions
- Social interaction » Interpersonal relations
- Communication process » Communication skills » Writing
- Communication process » Communication skills
- Communication process
- Social interaction
- Educational institutions
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English