The Sea, The Sea

The first section of this novel, "Prehistory," seems interminable at times. The British director Charles Arrowby has retired to a drafty old house by the sea to write his memoirs. He begins in diary form, relating his daily regime, detailing his fastidiously prepared meals, recalling with fondness (and condescension) people in his life, dismissing others who have crossed him, and reminiscing about the one "true love" of his... Read Full Review

The Sea, The Sea has become one of my top five favorite books and Iris Murdoch one of my favorite authors.In The Sea, The Sea, we meet arrogant, snobbish Charles Arrowby, a retired London theatre director. Charles has recently bought a house by the sea where he hopes to finish his pretentious autobiography. Many things happen, however, to disrupt this enterprise.First, Charles discovers that one of the small town's inhabitants... Read Full Review

I read "The Sea, The Sea" during my Christmas break. I started out of a sense of duty. I had never read Murdoch, but knew that one ought to. A friend bought me a box set of Booker prize winners and, lured by a front cover that featured a moody, brooding seascape, I launched into the opening chapters. I had to work hard at first. As with so many "worthy" writers, Murdoch doesn't molly coddle the reader with early gratification... Read Full Review

I started reading The Sea, The Sea, and halfway through, my boyfriend left it on a plane. I couldn't find another copy for almost a year, but meanwhile I read some of Murdoch's other novels, which I enjoyed. I've now read about 10 of her books, and The Sea, The Sea was by far the best-written and most moving. Murdoch closely scrutinized the minutiae of everyday life and managed to make it beautiful and worthy of consideration... Read Full Review