Iris Murdoch's paradoxical novels : thirty years of critical reception / Barbara Stevens Heusel.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Heusel, Barbara Stevens.

Series:

Studies in English and American literature, linguistics, and culture (Unnumbered). Literary criticism in perspective

Studies in English and American literature, linguistics, and culture. Literary criticism in perspective

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Murdoch, Iris--Criticism and interpretation--History.

Murdoch, Iris.

Women and literature--England--History--20th century.

Women and literature.

Postmodernism (Literature).

Criticism and interpretation.

History.

England.

Postmodernism (Literature)--England.

Philosophy in literature.

Paradox in literature.

Realism in literature.

Physical Description:

185 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Rochester, NY : Camden House, 2001.

Summary:

The first study of the literary criticism on Murdoch's novels.

Collecting the major critics who have described for the last third of a century the phenomena of Iris Murdoch's fiction, this study analyzes the stories her critics tell about her artistic processes. There are three major questions at the heart of this reception: to what extent is she a philosophical novelist, a realistic novelist, a postmodern novelist? These three questions form the structure of the present study. The book also deals with the question of the status of Murdoch's reputation in the literary world -- Murdoch's works have been compared to those of Shakespeare, and her name has been put forward for the Nobel Prize in literature. Her works have been translated into 29 languages, and Harold Bloom says of her: 'no other contemporary British novelist seems to me of Murdoch's eminence.'

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [173]-179) and index.

ISBN:

1571130896

OCLC:

46641851