About this title: In this dark comedy of errors, Iris Murdoch portrays the mischief wrought by Julius, a cynical intellectual who decides to demonstrate through a Machiavellian experiment how easily loving couples, caring friends, and devoted siblings can betray their loyalties. As puppet master, Julius artfully plays on the human tendency to embrace drama and intrigue and to prefer the distraction of confrontation to the difficult effort of communicating openly and honestly.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Viking Books
Date Published: 1970
ISBN-13:9780670305339ISBN:0670305332
Description: Good in good dust jacket. Good, In good dust jacket. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. With dust jacket. 436 p. Ex-Library expected imperfections. read more
Binding: Mass-market paperback
Publisher: Fawcett
Date Published: 1973
Description: Good. No dust jacket as issued. Nice soft cover, lightly read, shelf wear to cover, light creases on spine, light aging, stk #2195e6. 382 p. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Viking Press
Date Published: 1970
ISBN-13:9780670305339ISBN:0670305332
Description: Fair in good dust jacket. Ex-library. clear a used book but still a nice reading copy, DJ unclipped and well protected by library's mylar cover. 436 p. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: The Viking Press
Date Published: 1970
ISBN-13:9780670305339ISBN:0670305332
Description: A wonderful copy with some minor edgewear to the cover. Dust Jacket may have chips and close tears. A former library book with the usual identifiers in a protective glossy dust jacket covering. -, Hard Cover, Very Good / Good. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: The Viking Press
Date Published: 1970
ISBN-13:9780670305339ISBN:0670305332
Description: A good reading copy only. Dust Jacket may have chips and close tears. Book has tanning or browning due to normal aging process. Some lite staining down the lower right side page tips-, Hard Cover, Good / Good. read more
Description: Good. Former Library book. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Acceptable. Former Library book. Shows definite wear, and perhaps considerable marking on inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Date Published: 1979
ISBN-13:9780140033328ISBN:0140033327
Description: Acceptable. Well used. Still readable but not for the collector. All orders processed within 2 business days. Ships from Foxboro MA. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Viking Press
Date Published: 1970
ISBN-13:9780670305339ISBN:0670305332
Description: Good in Good dust jacket. 0670305332. Clean text. Name crossed out, back page stain; Includes a staged rendezvous in a museum, a transvestite Happening in a London flat, a pink teddy bear at an adult birthday party, a nightmare purisut of a pigeon in the Underground, and a battle royal in a swimming pool. read more
Binding: Cloth
Publisher: Viking, N. Y.
Date Published: 1970
Description: Good. No Jacket. Hard Back. 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall. The hard cover has a small crack on the back board and the bottom corner is bent...A few of the pages has the top corner creased........The book may have minor flaws that may have gone unnoticed.... read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Date Published: 2001
ISBN-13:9780141186177ISBN:0141186178
Description: Good. Used item may show library stamps, stickers and marks. Buy with confidence-your satisfaction is guaranteed at B-Logistics! Due to the large scale of our operation, we do not have access to the specific contents/condition of our items. Please note that Expedited shipping is not available at this time. read more
"Not Iris' best (The Sea, The Sea) but it moved me for a portrait of a gay relationship and for its warning of not playing God with other people's lives"
"Murdoch's characters are exquisitely developed, with all of the subtle nuances and complexities of real people. I love that about her writing. Another thing about Murdoch's work that I enjoy is the philosophical depth of the conversations and thoughts in which her characters engage."
"A dark and compelling tale of good and evil. Julius is a puppet master who skillfully manages to disrupt the lives of those around him. With cunning cynism he weaves around these previously happy people a drama that has them each acting to Julius's will. A real pager turner from Murdoch, this one. I though Julius was absolutley vile, and wanted to jump and down on his head"
"This book motivated me to post, something I haven't done in too longIt's addictive, almost a little soap opera-ish, but has such great themes and Murdoch's luscious writing. You find yourself swooning for the lifestyle of this comfy British couple, while having contempt for them and their pseudo-liberal ways of talking to each other and viewing the have-nots. In the end, there is justice, but not the kind anyone deserves. Made me want to drink lots of alcohol, in the way Mad Men does, but at the same time - reminded me why I don't. I'm off tomorrow to get another Murdoch book from the library."
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