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The Black Prince

Vintage Classics Murdoch Series

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The Black Prince

By: Iris Murdoch, Sophie Hannah
Narrated by: Anthony Howell
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Vintage Classics Murdoch: Funny, subversive, fearless and fiercely intelligent, Iris Murdoch was one of the great writers of the 20th century. To celebrate her centenary, Vintage Classics presents special editions of her greatest and most timeless novels.

Every artist is an unhappy lover. And unhappy lovers want to tell their story.

Ex-tax collector and author of two unpopular novels, Bradley Pearson wishes to devote his retirement to writing a masterpiece. But the doorbell and the phone keep ringing and every ring brings with it an ex-wife, a friend in need, a sister in trouble or a young woman seeking a teacher and so dusty, selfish Bradley is plunged into the muddles and mysteries which will end in his doom.

Winner of the James Tait Black Memorial Prize 1973.

©1973 Iris Murdoch (P)2020 Penguin Audio Classics Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Thriller & Suspense Fiction Funny
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This book is like a time capsule from early 1970's middle-class literally life which is interesting. It's structure is unusual (to me at least) and contains a really complex dislikable central character who has difficulty and sometimes hard to believe relationships with everyone in this life, particularly females. I found it very tough to get through to times as its hard to root or empathise with any characters. My conclusion is that Murdoch is a bit too highbrow for me, its clever but too close to smug and pretentious in the same way Martin Amis can be. Just tell us a good story...

Brilliant narration btw

Challenging, fascinating and disturbing

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i loved hearing it its a Pagen turner while also poetic and analysing art

Story in Story the truth is not clear but probably

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I loved the way the story kept me interested to know what happened next, whilst at the same time I was struggling to keep myself from throwing my listening device at the wall out of frustration with the characters who at times, in fact most of the time, portrayed self centred and egocentric misery. Perhaps this was because I recognise these traits in my own shadow side? But this is the type of work it is and what makes me say that although this is my first experience of Iris Murdoch's work, it will certainly not be the last.

Intriguing and thought-provoking

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As well as the book, this was supposed to have an introduction, read by Sophie Hannah. She’s on the credits but does not appear in the recording. The printed book’s introduction is thus entirely missing. I wonder if the sound people were confused by the fact that the novel itself has a number of paratexts, including a (fictional) editorial introduction. That is present but the actual (real) introduction is omitted.

Where is Sophie Hannah’s bit—missing?

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Excellent narrator. Quality of writing mostly great but a little overblown and heavy at times

Fantastic ending.

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