'The Bell' by Iris Murdoch is a novel set in a lay community attached to an abbey of reclusive nuns in 1950's Gloucestershire. The story follows Dora Greenfield, who returns to her husband living in the community after leaving an unhappy marriage. The book delves into themes of religion, marriage, homosexuality, and self-discovery, narrated through the perspectives of various characters like Dora, Toby, and Michael. Murdoch's writing style is described as dealing with big, serious issues in a way that is not over-serious or pompous, with a switching point of view allowing for an examination of values with irony.

Characters:

The characters are a mix of sympathetic and flawed individuals, each grappling with personal demons and societal expectations, particularly concerning sexuality and relationships.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is cultivated and unadorned, with a focus on descriptive, philosophical writing that highlights character introspection.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot follows a suspenseful exploration of a group of middle-class misfits in a lay community facing ethical questions, centered around the arrival of a new bell linked to a legendary tale.

Setting:

The setting is a lay community adjacent to a cloistered abbey in 1950s England, fostering themes of isolation and introspection.

Pacing:

The pacing varies, with periods of slow build-up leading to an engaging climax, though some readers find parts tedious.

Toby pushed open the door of the Lodge. There was ample time after the Service and before lunch to have a swim. When he had opened the door and stepped half inside he paused, as he always did, wonderi...

Notes:

Iris Murdoch's novel The Bell was published in 1958 and explores themes of sexuality, power, and ethics.

The story is set in a lay community near an Anglo-Catholic monastery, featuring characters who are mostly middle-class misfits.

The plot involves a legend about a bell that is said to ring when death approaches, creating suspense throughout the novel.

Murdoch's writing is described as cultivated, using unadorned English prose, making her accessible despite the complexity of her themes.

The novel includes characters grappling with issues of homosexual child abuse and marital infidelity, reflecting the societal attitudes of the 1950s.

Murdoch's characters are portrayed as flawed individuals, often struggling with their personal dilemmas in a context of religion and morality.

Unlike Virginia Woolf, Murdoch is not overtly Freudian in her exploration of characters' psyches.

Despite being a philosophical novelist, Murdoch's approach includes humor and a certain level of irony about her characters' predicaments.

One character, Michael, is a gay man dealing with the repercussions of his sexuality in a repressive society, which adds depth to the narrative.

The Bell is regarded as one of Murdoch's significant works, showcasing her ability to engage with complex ethical questions in everyday life.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include discussions of sexuality, infidelity, mental health issues, and themes of abuse.

Has Romance?

There is a medium level of romance, primarily rooted in complex relationships among the characters.

From The Publisher:

A motley assortment of characters seek peace and salvation in this early masterpiece by the Booker Prize-winning author of The Sea, The Sea

A lay community of thoroughly mixed-up people is encamped outside Imber Abbey, home of an order of sequestered nuns. A new bell is being installed when suddenly the old bell, a legendary symbol of religion and magic, is rediscovered. And then things begin to change. Meanwhile the wise old Abbess watches and prays and exercises discreet authority. And everyone, or almost everyone, hopes to be saved, whatever that may mean. Originally published in 1958, this funny, sad, and moving novel is about religion, sex, and the fight between good and evil.

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About the Author:

Iris Murdoch (1919-1999) was born in Dublin and brought up in London. She studied philosophy at Cambridge and was a philosophy fellow at St. Anne's College for 20 years. She published her first novel in 1954 and was instantly recognized as…

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The Bell

Iris Murdoch