In general, you can lump Iris Murdoch novels into three categories. One, a trickster or devil figure plays with others’ emotions in horrifying ways for various amusements: the novels that I’ve read in this category are The Black Prince, The Sea, the Sea, A Fairly Honourable Defeat, Under the Net. Another category involves her creating a messianic or influential “enchanter” figure generally based on her relationship with Elias Canetti — whether she’s writing earnestly or ironically: The Philosopher’s Apprentice, Flight from the Enchanter, A Message […]