The Philosopher’s Pupil – Iris Murdoch

Amazon Editorial Review In the English town of Ennistone hot springs bubble up from deep beneath the earth. In these healing waters the townspeople seek health and regeneration, rightousness and ritual cleansing. To this town steeped in ancient lore and subterranean inspiration the Philosopher returns. He exerts an almost magical influence over a host of Ennistonians, and especially over George McCaffrey, the host of Ennistonians, and especially over George McCaffrey, the Philosophers old pupil, a demonic man desperate for redemption. Of all the Iris murdoch novels I have tackled during our murdoch a month challenge, this is one of only about 3 or 4 I had read before – although I had absolutely no memory of it either before or while I read it this time. I can't say it is my favourite – or anyway near to being a favourite Murdoch, but it was enjoyable, and at times, really quite a page turner. I thought John Robert to be absolutely the vilest of her characters so far – except for maybe Julius in A Fairy Honourable defeat – there was just something so utterly repelent about him, and his odd relationship with his granddaughter. Many typical Murdoch themes – a good deal of philosophical chunterings which is no surprise given the title, but I did get a bit fed up with the constant inward exammination of everyone's motives and preoccupations. I really liked the character of Gabriel – she is just mad enough to be likeable – and also Adam and his adorbale dog – the dog was my favourite character – much more likeable than most Murdoch humans who are all just a bit peculiar -even the nice ones. As always there were serveral characters developing unlikely passions for one of the other characters, amazing how often IM has some repellently ugly bully being mooned over by at least two other seemingly sane normal people. Brian was vile, and George pathetic, but then there has to be at least one really pathetic male in an Iris Murdoch novel.