Murdoch, Iris (1919-1999): Sixteen Books Previously Owned by Iris Murdoch

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 2108 KUAS129
Held at	: Kingston University   Click here to find out how to view this collection at http://www.kingston.ac.uk/informationservices/archives/archives_index.html ›
Full title	: Murdoch, Iris (1919-1999): Sixteen Books Previously Owned by Iris Murdoch
Date(s)	: 1943-[1979]
Level of description	: Collection (fonds)
Extent	: 16 volumes
Name of creator(s)	: Murdoch | Dame | Jean Iris | 1919-1999 | author

Context

Administrative/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 Alzheimer's disease, the first effects of which she had attributed to writer's block. She died in 1999.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Sixteen books formerly owned by Iris Murdoch- they either have dedications to her, or notes of her name written in the front. One book is partially annotated.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English
French

System of arrangement:

Original order.

Conditions governing access:

Books are available to view by appointment in the Archives and Special Collections. Please email at least 24 hours before your visit at archives@kingston.ac.uk

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copying from the books might be restricted due to physical condition or copyright law. Please contact the Archive with copying requests.

Finding aids:

Books currently awaiting cataloguing. Once catalogued listings will be available on our Library catalogue at http://icat.kingston.ac.uk

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Purchased for the Archives and Special Collections by the Iris Murdoch Archives Project.

Allied Materials

Related material:

It is thought that the books might have been part of the Iris Murdoch London Library held in the Archive (ref number MLL). Other books owned by Iris Murdoch can be found in Iris Murdoch's Oxford Library (ref number IML).

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:

Rules or conventions:

Date(s) of descriptions:
01 Jul 2015