The Unicorn (Vintage Classics)
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"Miss Murdoch has taken the stock elements of the Gothic novel and wrung hell out of them... a strange combination of fairy tale and blood-and-thunder." --"Books and Bookmen"
Book Description
Iris Murdoch's witty, atmospheric subversion of the Victorian Gothic novel
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Unicorn is seen by some as Iris Murdoch's most perfect novel - for the first half at least. Some favourite Iris Murdochian elements reoccur - an isolated house by the sea, a dangerous and unswimmable ocean, unrequited and obsessive lovers - and there are some lasting descriptions of the Irish coast. This book sits with those books of hers which seem more 'felt': sometimes the games she plays with her characters can seem intellectual but here this is not the case. The mixture of mythological and fairy tale touches in this setting fox any attempt to put the novel into a simple category, and if you enjoy that sense of mystification which arises from her books then experiment with this, one of her lesser known but utterly wonderful works.
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Okay, I'll admit it. I was influenced by all the hype about the film (something i'm not usually guilty of). What's the harm in giving a new author a go I said to myself. So I chose a short one to see what all the fuss was about. The Unicorn caught my eye because I like all things gothic, and I wasn't disappointed here. Murdoch's description in this book is excellent, but what really caught my attention was the pastiche of gothicism that she presents. At times the action is very over the top and difficult to take seriously making the whole book a very enjoyable romp through the cliches of the genre. I have to say I loved this book and would read Murdoch again if this is anything to go by!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
My measure for whether or not I appreciate a book is (usually) whether it stays with me once I close its covers. This book has certainly done that - in a disturbing, oppressive way. The characters and their relationships are dark and subtly frightening, and that's what I found myself contemplating after reading the book. Iris Murdoch manages to create this emotion gradually, sneakily. I wasn't aware at first that this is what I was beginning to feel. On one hand, that mirrors the main character's realisations, which means the writing works really well. On the other hand, however, there are stretches of painfully slow storytelling (including some philosophical discussions that simply bored me - but I hardly ever think this kind of fictional debate works).
If you enjoy character revelations and relationships in unique settings, then I can definitely recommend this book. The actual plot and substance of the story I found negligible.
If you enjoy character revelations and relationships in unique settings, then I can definitely recommend this book. The actual plot and substance of the story I found negligible.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Pure Murdoch: Gripping, darkly comic, tragic and downright bizarre
Only Iris Murdoch can conjure scintillating entertainment out of errant nonsense and she does just that in this curious mixture of Gothic romance, allegory and Shakespearean... Read more
Published on 16 Sep 2008 by Trevor Coote
I thoroughly enjoyed it! Fairytale meets gothic.
'Miss Murdoch has taken the stock elements of the gothic novel and wrung hell out of them.... a strange combination of fairy tale and blood-and-thunder"
"When Marian Taylor... Read more
Published on 7 July 2005 by A. Donovan
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