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A Severed Head

byIris Murdoch, Miranda Seymour (Introducer)

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Martin believes he can possess both a beautiful wife and a delightful lover. But when his wife, Antonia, suddenly leaves him for her psychoanalyst, Martin is plunged into an intensive emotional re-education. He attempts to behave beautifully and sensibly. Then he meets a woman whose demonic splendour at first repels him and later arouses a consuming and monstrous passion. How will he survive it?

This is a comedy with that touch of ferocity about it which makes for excitement

Elizabeth Jane Howard

About Iris Murdoch

Iris Murdoch was born in Dublin in 1919. She read Classics at Somerville College, Oxford, and after working in the Treasury and abroad, was awarded a research studentship in Philosophy at Newnham College, Cambridge. In 1948 she returned to Oxford as fellow and tutor at St Anne's College and later taught at the Royal College of Art. Until her death in 1999, she lived in Oxford with her husband, the academic and critic, John Bayley. She was made a Dame of the British Empire in 1987 and in the 1997 PEN Awards received the Gold Pen for Distinguished Service to Literature.
Details
  • Imprint: Vintage Classics
  • ISBN: 9780099285366
  • Length: 224 pages
  • Dimensions: 197mm x 15mm x 131mm
  • Weight: 162g
  • Price: £10.99
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