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Details
MURDOCH, Dame Iris (1919-1999). Two autograph manuscript notebooks, each entitled 'Notes for Novel', one signed ('Iris Murdoch'), the first, numbered 'IX', containing notes for The Nice and the Good, comprising 'Plan V' and a series of 'Questions' (in fact drafts in note form) numbered 1-12, followed by (ff.26-80) an extensive section of the continuous draft, Steeple Aston, some sections dated 22 January - 20 February 1966, the second containing notes for Henry and Cato, the majority comprising unstructured memoranda, on a number of occasions revising 'Characters so far' or 'Possible story so far' (later simply 'Story'), as well as 'Problems' and other headings, Cedar Lodge, Steeple Aston, and Little Cheney, some sections dated 12 April - 10 August 1974, 80 + 80 leaves, 4to (252 x 200mm), in exercise books, stiff paper covers. Provenance: sold by Murdoch to the present proprietor as part of the contents of her house in Steeple Aston.
Iris Murdoch's compositional method has been described thus: 'A new novel gestated for between nine months and one year, a time she would describe as tormented, with a terrifying, dizzying sense of myriad possibilities and of floating unrelated fragments, after whose resolution she would announce triumphantly to John Bayley: "I've finished it!". At this point she had blocked out an elaborate scene-by-scene plan detailing each successive conversation and piece of action. All that then remained was the pleasurable part, the mere writing of the novel itself ... ' (Peter J. Conradi, ODNB). NO MURDOCH MANUSCRIPT OF COMPARABLE SIGNIFICANCE HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN OFFERED AT AUCTION (ABPC-online): Murdoch's literary papers are chiefly divided between the University of Iowa and her estate. (2)
Iris Murdoch's compositional method has been described thus: 'A new novel gestated for between nine months and one year, a time she would describe as tormented, with a terrifying, dizzying sense of myriad possibilities and of floating unrelated fragments, after whose resolution she would announce triumphantly to John Bayley: "I've finished it!". At this point she had blocked out an elaborate scene-by-scene plan detailing each successive conversation and piece of action. All that then remained was the pleasurable part, the mere writing of the novel itself ... ' (Peter J. Conradi, ODNB). NO MURDOCH MANUSCRIPT OF COMPARABLE SIGNIFICANCE HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN OFFERED AT AUCTION (ABPC-online): Murdoch's literary papers are chiefly divided between the University of Iowa and her estate. (2)
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