Iris Murdoch

Iris Murdoch was an Irish and British published author, who also went by the name Dame Jean Iris Murdoch. She was not only a novelist but also a philosopher and lecturer. Murdoch was known for dealing with everyday ethical or moral issues in her writings, often shedding light on these matters through the lens of myths. As a writer, Murdoch was a perfectionist who did not allow editors to make changes to her text. She wrote 26 novels over the course of 40 years, with her final novel penned while she was already suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

Murdoch's writing was aimed at reaching a wide range of readers through various means. Her novels offered excitement and comedy, as well as ideas and philosophical implications. Additionally, her unique and original storytelling created a numinous atmosphere that captivated readers. John Bayley, Murdoch's husband, described her writing as "the world she must have glimpsed as she considered and planned her first steps in the art of fiction." Murdoch's dedication to her craft and her commitment to exploring complex ethical issues made her one of the most influential British writers of the twentieth century.

Throughout her career, Murdoch received numerous accolades for her work. In 1978, she won the prestigious Booker Prize for her novel The Sea, The Sea. She also received the Royal Society Literary Award in 1987 and was made a Dame of the British Empire in the same year by Queen Elizabeth. Despite her many accomplishments, Murdoch's final years were marked by a difficult struggle with Alzheimer's disease, which eventually led to her passing in 1999. Nonetheless, her contributions to literature and her exploration of ethical issues continue to resonate with readers and scholars to this day.