The Iris Murdoch Society podcast

George Steiner commented in Existentialists and Mystics that Iris Murdoch’s writings present ‘[l]uminous shades of Blake’s “holiness of the minute particular”’. This lecture explores some of the ways in which Murdoch engages with this oft-maligned Romantic visionary, whose works are referenced in her fiction, her letters and her philosophy. Blake and Murdoch share a dialectical moral vision that suggests the necessity for revolutionary violence, seeks an acknowledgement of evil, and invites the individual to attend to the world around them. Dr Daniel Read completed his doctoral studies at Kingston University. This lecture was given at the University of Chichester in February, 2018.

Joining Miles on the podcast are Peter J. Conradi FRSL, author of the authorised biography, 'Iris Murdoch: A Life', as well as his own memoir 'Family Business' (2019); the novelist Garth Greenwell, author of 'What Belongs to You' and 'Cleanness' (2020); and the literary critic and former Deputy Director of PEN, Catherine Taylor. Peter's Memoir: https://www.serenbooks.com/productdisplay/family-business-memoir Garth's New Novel: https://www.waterstones.com/book/cleanness/garth-greenwell/9781509874637 Catherine's Latest work in the Times Literary Supplement: https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/reduced-to-body-parts/

This recording from 2019 features Miles Leeson and Anne Rowe, both from the Iris Murdoch Research Centre at the University of Chichester, discussing Murdoch's novel 'The Unicorn'.

In this episode, Miles is joined by Ian D'Alton (Trinity College, Dublin), Gillian Dooley (Flinders University Australia) and Frances White (IMRC, Chichester) to discuss Iris' Irishness. Areas covered include her biography and links with Irish culture, along with the novels 'The Unicorn', 'The Red and the Green', and her only short story 'Something Special'. Ian's article on her Irishness: https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/in-praise-of-iris-murdoch-by-ian-d-alton-1.2235736 Gillian's New work: https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9783030189662 Frances' biography: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Becoming-Iris-Murdoch-Frances-White/dp/1899999604/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=white+iris+murdoch&qid=1602192322&sr=8-2

Joining me to present a general introduction to Murdoch's life and work are Prof. Cheryl Bove (Ball State University, USA), Prof. Avril Horner (Kingston University, UK), and Kieran Setiya (MIT, USA). In this podcast we introduce each facet of Murdoch's life and work - her biography, fiction, philosophy, life writing, her love of London, and more. You can discover more via these links: Avril's Co-edited collection of Murdoch's letters: https://www.psbooks.co.uk/Living-on-Paper-9780701187057 Cheryl's book 'Understanding Iris Murdoch': https://www.bookfinder.com/search/?ac=sl&st=sl&ref=bf_s2_a1_t1_1&qi=cw5b7Q6.xXFowro,ke3OyG,UAjs_1497963026_1:3:9&bq=author%3Dcheryl%2520browning%2520bove%26title%3Dunderstanding%2520iris%2520murdoch Kieran's Website: http://www.ksetiya.net/ with a link to his own '5 Questions' Podcast

Maureen reflects on her time studying with Iris Murdoch (and others) at St Anne's College Oxford in the late 1950s, and reflects on the effect that it had on her later career as an academic. Interviewed by Miles Leeson from the IMRC, Chichester.

In this interview, first broadcast on the BBC in 1977, Murdoch discusses her work in both philosophy and literature with Bryan Magee. An excellent companion piece, by the Murdochian scholar Gillian Dooley, can be found here: https://www.abc.net.au/religion/iris-murdoch-and-her-philosophy-of-fiction/11889672

Joining me to discuss Iris and Swimming are Natasha Alden from the University of Aberystwyth, Hannah Marije from St Mary's University of London, and Lucy Oulton from the research Centre at Chichester. We discuss her life writing, no-fiction, philosophy, and of course her fiction including: Under the Net The Bell The Sea, The Sea The Unicorn A Fairly Honourable Defeat The Philosopher's Pupil

Joining Miles to discuss 'A Word Child' are Professor Rob Hardy from Henan Normal University, China; Dr Daniel read from Kingston University, and Maria Peacock from the Research Centre at Chichester.

Join me and my guest Anne Rowe as she guides us around London's National Gallery! We'll be stopping off at four paintings that appear in her novels: Gainsborough's portrait of his two daughters from 'The Bell' https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/thomas-gainsborough-the-painters-daughters-chasing-a-butterfly Bronzino's 'Allegory with Venus and Cupid' from 'The Nice and the Good'. https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/bronzino-an-allegory-with-venus-and-cupid Giorgione's 'Il Tramonto' from 'The Sacred and Profane Love Machine' https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/giorgione-il-tramonto-the-sunset Titian's 'The Death of Acteon' from 'Henry and Cato' https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/titian-the-death-of-actaeon Anne is the world's leading Murdoch scholar, and her particular interest is Murdoch and the Visual Arts. Her books mentioned in the podcast can be found here: 'Iris Murdoch' https://www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/books/id/51725/ 'Sacred Space, Beloved City' https://www.cambridgescholars.com/sacred-space-beloved-city-15 Take a virtual tour here: https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/visiting/virtual-tours