A Word Child

Oh, Iris, how I miss you. I first began reading Iris Murdoch in college, for a Philosophy in Lit. class, and was immediately captivated by "A Severed Head", which remains high on my list of favorites. But it is "A Word Child" to which I return most often. Iris Murdoch's breathtakingly simple and yet piercing prose is at its best in this novel. Her theme is obsession, as always, and while we cannot approve of Hilary, the narrator, we find ourselves liking him for his honesty and his uncompromising view of himself. At first I was disappointed with the outcome of this brilliant novel, then I realized it truly was redemptive. Anyone who adores stellar writing and an eye that sees straight into the human heart must own this novel.

This is one of those books that you simply cannot put down once you begin. Murdoch does such an excellent job of creating a most complex and entertaining character (Hilary) -- I laughed while reading it so much I think my husband will be reading it next. An amazingly developed character, a plot that will keep you turning the page, and sorrow so palpable you will want to weep on poor Hilary's behalf.

The plot concerns a deeply unappealing and uncivil servant called Hilary whose current angst has arisen from, as the blurb puts it, "a tragic love tangle". I found the first third the book a little difficult to get through but what kept me turning pages was Murdoch's remarkable insight into human action. Once the reason for Hilary's abominable behavior becomes clear, you can't help but share Murdoch's empathy for him and, thereafter, the novel blooms and rips along with all the key relationships intertwining in increasingly intense ways. The conclusion is deeply satisfying on every level: dramatically, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually. This was my first sampling of Murdoch. She is a stunning writer and I'm very glad to have "discovered" her for myself.

This is a deeply satisfying novel, surpassed in my affection only by The Black Prince. Like The Black Prince, it seems to be from Murdoch's "middle period," when she communicated to us what it was like to be her. She was interesting. When I read these two novels I feel similar emotions to those I feel about Shakespeare when I read Hamlet, or Joyce when I read Ulysses.

Iris Murdoch's A Word Child is the kind of book you want all your friends to read. It's a dark comedy, a tragedy, and a romance all in one, written with an engaging combination of sarky wit and sad resignation. Since it's out of print and is one of Murdoch's lesser known novels, it's rather hard to find -- which makes it all the more special! I've read several other Murdoch novels, but A Word Child remains my favorite.