Product Description

Martin Lynch-Gibbon is serenely enjoying 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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #343636 in Books
• Published on: 1976-11-18
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

Review
?A power of intellect quite exceptional in a novelist.? ?Sunday Times

?She is incapable of writing without fascinating and beautiful colour.? ?The Times

From the Inside Flap
Martin Lynch-Gibbon is serenely enjoying 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.

From the Back Cover
“A power of intellect quite exceptional in a novelist.” –Sunday Times

“She is incapable of writing without fascinating and beautiful colour.” –The Times

Customer Reviews

If you like soap operas...
I had to read this for my Contemporary Lit class. I didn't like it, but it was well written. Basically, it's about this guy, Martin Lynch-Gibbon, who's cheating on his wife Antonia. When Antonia tells him she's leaving him for her psychoanalyst, chaos ensues. This book is like musical chairs, except with beds. There's only one character that doesn't have sex in the book. If you like soap operas or books about infidelity, check this one out. It's loaded with drama, lies, and betrayal.

Iris Murdoch has put a lot of irony intentioned to be humor, but I just found it odd. I don't like any of the characters, and Martin keeps making the same mistakes over and over. The ending was the weakest part.

Depth, Wit, and Language
After completing this read, I retrospectively notice three primary functions that make it worthy of five stars. First, the language flows together to construct a cohesive work that captures the reader and doesn't let go. Second, a sprinkling of wit can be found throughout the book, enlivening it and complimenting the language. Most importantly, these two facets enhance a certain intangible depth. It is the kind of depth that you can't really put your finger on but that you unmistakably feel is present. All in all, Iris Murdoch has managed to do in just 200 pages what most authors never accomplish: that is to create a truly great literary work.

Will definitely check out Murdoch's other books
I picked this up at a friend's house while catsitting, and confess that I had never even heard of Iris Murdoch before. I chose it because it was short enough that I could read it before my friend returned home in a few days.

I finished it last night, and felt compelled to review it here to encourage others to read it. I started the book thinking that it would be a slightly dark and dreary story about a man going mad with love. I had no idea that Murdoch would weave humor so finely throughout the entire book. The whole time, I was wracked with exasperation and anger for the main character, wondering if and when he was going to pop. At the same time, I simply had to laugh at the irony and sarcasm.

Murdoch really did a wonderful job, and I will be looking for her works again.