Sea, the Sea

Charles Arrowby has determined to spend the rest of his days in hermit-like contemplation.

He buys a mysteriously damp house on the coast, far from the heady world of the theatre where he made his name, and there he swims in the sea, eats revolting meals and writes his memoirs. But then he meets his childhood sweetheart Hartley, and memories of her lovely, younger self crowd in - along with more recent lovers and friends - to disrupt his self-imposed exile. So instead of 'learning to be good', Charles proceeds to demonstrate how very bad he can be.

'It isn't all brainy fantasising in Murdochland; there's wild swimming, appalling sandwiches, death, madness and sex' Guardian

'Dazzlingly entertaining and inventive' The Times

WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY DAISY JOHNSON

**WINNER OF THE BOOKER PRIZE**

Review: Dazzlingly entertaining and inventive * The Times *
One of the most ambitious tours de force in many years... There are pages one races through to see what happens. She is a virtuoso at description * Daily Mail *
She was a brilliantly clever woman
There is no doubt in my mind that Iris Murdoch is one of the most important novelists now writing in English...The power of her imaginative vision, her intelligence and her awareness and revelation of human truth are quite remarkable * The Times *
A fabulous novel...funny and poignant and is arguably Murdoch's finest hour * Daily Express *
An enjoyable, thought-provoking and unforgettable novel * Daily Mail *
A fantastic feat of imagination as well as a marvellous sustained piece of writing * Vogue *
My favourite novel * The Week *
I love the novels of Iris Murdoch
Absolutely exquisite * Daily Express *

Prizes: Winner of Man Booker Prize for Fiction 1978 (UK).