Product Description

Set in London and in the South of France, this brilliantly structured novel centers on two women: Gertrude Openshaw, bereft from the recent death of her husband, yet awakening to passion; and Anne Cavidge, who has returned in doubt from many years in a nunnery, only to encounter her personal Christ. A fascinating array of men and women hover in urgent orbit around them: the "Count," a lonely Pole obsessively reliving his émigré father's patriotic anguish; Tim Reede, a seedy yet appealing artist, and Daisy, his mistress; the manipulative Mrs. Mount; and many other magically drawn characters moving between desire and obligation, guilt and joy. This edition of Nuns and Soldiers includes a new introduction by renowned religious historian Karen Armstrong.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #773325 in Books
• Published on: 2002-07-30
• Released on: 2002-07-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 512 pages

About the Author
Iris Murdoch (1919-1999) was born in Dublin, grew up in London, and received her university education at Oxford and Cambridge. She was the author of twenty-six novels and also wrote several works of philosophy, criticism, and drama. Her novel The Sea, the Sea won the Booker Prize in 1978.

Karen Armstrong is one of the most renowned historians of religion at work today. A former Catholic nun and a bestselling author, her books include The Battle for God; A History of God; Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths; and her Penguin Lives biography, Buddha.

Customer Reviews

Memorable characters, masterful plotting
"Nuns and Soldiers" was the first Iris Murdoch novel I read. I've since read many others, but it remains one of the most memorable, from the very first scene when an important character is on his deathbed. (A visitor considers whether to mention to the dying man that it's raining, but then reflects on how irrelevant that would be . . . "There would be no more weather for Gerald.") In addition to the side trips into philosphy that are typical in Murdoch's novels, you have memorable characters for whom she's created detailed and interesting pasts -- this really draws you into their lives as they veer from one life-changing crisis to the next. Murdoch's plotting is amazing, as well: masterfully done. She'd be worthy of a college course in writing, for sure. I "held back" a star because the ending was a bit "happily ever after" for my taste, but it's an excellent book.

Reading pleasure
Whenever I read an Iris Murdoch novel, I am reminded how much I enjoy and appreciate her work. Her books are always a pleasure to read, and a pleasure that I would be sincerely sorry to miss.

At the moment of the death of her husband, Gertrude is reunited with her best friend from University-- Anne. Anne and Gertrude had been separated when Anne had joined the nunnery, and it is this occasion of great loss for both of them (Anne has lost the solace of the nunnery) that brings them together. Nuns and Soldiers questions both the notion of great love and the morality of the expression of love.

My book club was not overly fond of Nuns and Soldiers because they found the character of Gertrude so utterly unsympathetic. I must admit that she is truly atypical for Murdoch-- her feminine passivity and self-centeredness are not normal characteristics for Murdoch characters. However, her traits make her a good fit for the novel, even if she would make a grating person to know in real life.

Like most Murdoch novels, this is one that I would recommend.

Lengthy and irritating
This is one of three Iris Murdoch books I have read, as a good friend of mine is a big fan. I have yet to see why. I found Nuns and Soldiers silly and overwrought, an extended but inexplicable love story filled with improbable and self conscious conversations. Do people experiencing a coup de foudre really sit around and dissect their feelings? I don't find the philosophical or moral underpinnings of the story to be compelling, either. Social requirements versus individual desire, I guess.