“What a queer gamble our existence is. We decide to do A instead of B and then the two roads diverge utterly and may lead in the end to heaven and to hell. Only later one sees how much and how awfully the fates differ. Yet what were the reasons for the choice? They may have been forgotten. Did one know what one was choosing? Certainly not.”
This novel is a rich tapestry of interconnected narratives that delve into the complexities of human experience. Set in the early 20th century, it follows the lives of a group of individuals connected to a theater company. The story is characterized by its exploration of themes such as memory, art, and the fleeting nature of time. The author employs a unique narrative structure that intertwines the lives of these characters, creating a deeply moving and introspective work. more
Iris Murdoch was an Irish-Canadian philosopher and author, born on July 15, 1919, in Dublin, Ireland, and passed away on February 8, 1999. She is celebrated for her philosophical novels that intertwine moral and ethical dilemmas with complex narratives. Murdoch's work has left a lasting impact on the literary world, particularly in the latter half of the 20th century. more
“When you become stagnant and aren’t improving by the day, you are only moving toward your failure.”
“But more than anything, I wished for her happiness.”
“You can fail many times, but you're not a failure until you begin to blame somebody else.”
“Very little is needed for everything to be upset and ruined, only a slight lapse in reason.”
“There is no faster way to harden my determination than to assume I will fail at something.”
“I don't believe in failure. I'm perseverant - I believe in failing.”