Iris Murdoch has gained most publicity in recent times for her
descent into Alzheimer's, chronicled by her husband John Bayley and
the subsequent film. The welcome republication of this, her first
novel, serves as a timely reminder of exactly why she originally
became a household name. Under the Net works brilliantly on three
levels: as a superb evocation of time and place (London in the
1950s); as an entertaining, well-plotted romp among the demi-monde
of the time; and, more seriously, as an exploration of the power of
language and philosophy. Jake Donaghue is a likeable, feckless
young intellectual whose talent for translating obscure French
authors is matched only by his ability to live rent-free, mainly at
the expense of a succession of girlfriends. When his current
'landlady' accepts a proposal of marriage from a wealthy bookmaker,
Jake renews his acquaintance with an old flame, a glamorous but
melancholy actress, Anna, and her film-star sister. Their contacts
soon plunge him into an absurd sequence of adventures, mainly
involving an elderly canine movie star, but all the while he is
haunted by his memories of an old friend, whose musings he once
passed off as his own, achieving minor fame as the author of a slim
volume of philosophy. His quest for forgiveness coincides with his
resolution to make his own way in the world, and so Jake achieves
redemption - of a kind. This is more than just a charming period
piece: it is a sharp, well-crafted and affectionate novel that
serves as the perfect introduction to the work of one of our
greatest modern writers. (Kirkus UK)
This is real life, Jake,' she said. 'You'd better wake up.'
Jake is clever, lazy and scraping by in London as a hack translator.
Jake loves Anna. Anna is an elusive and lovely singer. Anna loves Hugo.
Hugo is a fireworks manufacturer turned movie producer and majestic
philosopher. Hugo loves Sadie. Sadie is a glossy and dazzling film
starlet. Of course, Sadie loves Jake. Then there's Marvellous Mister
Mars, the famous hound, who might or might not be Jake's ticket up and
out of this mess.
WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY CHARLOTTE MENDELSON
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