Iris: A Memoir Of Iris Murdoch (1998) - Plot & Excerpts
Having seen the film adaptation, albeit a while ago, I was surprised to find I enjoyed this book as much as I did. Bayley has a nice conversational style and this is very much a memoir and not a biography although, of course, the book is full of biographical details. It is also a far from objective assessment of his wife and her achievements; he’s happy to leave others to do that. No, this is a record of a flawed man’s love for a flawed woman. His love though was not flawed and it was certainly not blinkered (from the very start he was well aware of her limitations) but it was total; he was devoted to her from the very start. So if you’re looking to learn more about Iris Murdoch’s body of work or wanting to learn more about Alzheimer’s this really isn’t the book for you and it never pretends to be, in fact, as regards her dementia, in a single sentence he skips a whole eighteen months of the disease which I thought was a lost opportunity. Although the book is called Iris it could just as easily—more so in fact—have been called John because he really is the central figure here; this is his story even more than it’s his wife’s and so I suppose that might be another reason for it to disappoint but all of it comes down to the expectation of the reader as opposed to the intention of the author. I’ve no doubt that he achieved what he set out to do and was pleased with the results. Oh, and I know my edition was promoting the film but did we really need a photo of Judi Dench on the cover; a subtitle ‘Now a major motion picture starring Judi Dench’ would’ve been quite sufficient.
Not being a fan of Murdoch’s novels, I picked up this book merely by chance, after having read a blog article about the “great Murdoch-Bayley love story”. I am not sure what I missed, but it did not seem such a great love story to me. So, I looked for more information about this couple and found that Mr. Bayley’s took care of Murdoch during her final years, while she was stricken by Alzheimer.It is indeed admirable what any caregiver can do for their loved ones, once they are reduced to helplessness by illness. But this does not necessarily translate into “great love story”.While I can sympathize with Mr. Bayley’s, I found his prose clumsy and unengaging. His reasons to publish this book (which is part of a trilogy) are even murkier. While going on about how much he loved Iris, Bayley takes his time to describe her unfaithfulness and her fall into Alzheimer. That must have been terrible for such an independent woman, but I could not help feeling a certain gloating in Bayley’s words, as if to say :“You used to fool around and to be a darling of literary critics, but now you are just a slightly disgusting old woman. I finally got the upper hand and the last word”.Perhaps I misread that, but it still left a bitter after taste. Definitely not reading the other two books.
What do You think about Iris: A Memoir Of Iris Murdoch (1998)?
I can't decide about this book. I felt uneasy with some parts--that Bayley kept on saying that Iris' greatness as an author was like Shakespeare's, for one. There were some elements of puffing IM at her height in an oddly self-serving way ("I am after all the spouse of a 'great' writer.) I never found her books particularly readable, though I suppose I should try again, and I do rather doubt that she was one of the 'greats'.Some parts of the narrative were searingly honest, though. What a hard, hard life poor Bayley led, and there was no escape till she died. I might try to read the sequel. . . .
—Sull
Oh my I did enjoy this lovely, touching memoir. A wonderful picture of a remarkable relationship. John Bayley is obviously the person who knew Iris Murdoch best - and I found this book to be such a lovely affectionate and truthful account of their lives together. There are times when I couldn't help but smile at their small funny little ways - their love of swimming and water (no wonder there is so much in IM's novels) their rather cluttered, and dare I say grubby houses, their own made up words that became so much a part of their langauge. Iris Murdoch's descent into Alzheimer's is told by the man who had to live with it, and it is beautifully and touchingly told. I must say the image of Iris Murdoch and John Bayley settling down at 10.00 o'clock every morning to watch teletubbies is a sad one indeed. The last section of the book is very poignant and I did have a very little tear in my eye as I finished it.
—Ali
A beautiful, at times mystical, and painful insight into the marriage of two wonderfully odd academics. Once Alzheimer's comes along it shifts the dynamic, but displays the strength of John Bayley's love for Iris.The first half is filled with references to art, literature, philosophy and academia, as a way of introducing you to characters. Brilliant technique but becomes hard to follow if you get lost amidst the references and need to keep reaching for Google. The second half is formed as diary entries and this more predictable, routined style reflects a change in the lifestyle of John and Iris.A rare insight into the complexities of marriage.
—Helen
