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The Iris Murdoch Review
Edition 16, 2025
This special issue of the Iris Murdoch Review celebrates the flourishing work of North American and North American-related Iris Murdoch scholars and admirers. As J. Robert Bakerās account of the American beginnings and development of the Iris Murdoch Society itself makes clear, this keen engagement has been going on for decades. All Murdochians owe a debt of gratitude to the Societyās enterprising founder, the late Barbara Stevens Heusel. Her original invitation and challenge, āWonāt you join our society?ā, which Baker takes as his title, is one we still enthusiastically issue today.
Latest from the blog
Re-Reading Iris Murdoch’ s Early Fiction
17 November 2025The quest of Iris Murdoch to perceive some rays of light piercing through the mist of human confusion and folly will go on for 21 more novels. Iām looking forward to continue my exploration.
Welcome to the Iris Murdoch Society Website. The society exists to champion the work, and celebrate the life, of the novelist and philosopher Iris Murdoch: one of the most important writers and thinkers of the Twentieth Century.
Murdoch's work spans fiction (26 novels), philosophy, plays, poetry and thousands of letters. All of her work is still in print, and you can find recent books about her life and work in our online shop.
The Society is for all readers and enthusiasts with hundreds of members from accross the world. We organise regular events in the UK, and promote events worldwide. We organise a bienniel international conference alongside a bienniel Summer School.
Become a member
Join the Iris MurdochĀ Society to:
- Receive theĀ Iris Murdoch ReviewĀ on publication
- Keep up to date with scholarship, new publications, symposia and other information
- Be entitled to reduced rates for the biennial Iris Murdoch Conferences at Chichester University

Podcast
Events
Iris Murdoch Society Christmas Lecture
Monday 15 December @ 7:00 pm - 8:15 pm at ZoomWalking with The Black Prince: A Guided Tour
Saturday 18 April 2026 @ 11:00 am at British Museumš¼ļø Exhibition Launch (part of Twelfth International Iris Murdoch Conference)
Thursday 13 August 2026 @ 2:30 pm - 5:00 pm at Bishop Otter Campus, University of Chichester
Blog
Re-Reading Iris Murdoch’ s Early Fiction
17 November 2025The quest of Iris Murdoch to perceive some rays of light piercing through the mist of human confusion and folly will go on for 21 more novels. Iām looking forward to continue my exploration.
Iris Murdoch and Brussels
11 November 2025Iris Murdoch’s love of Europe began in Belgium in that short but powerfully influential sojourn in the city of Magritte and HergĆ©, in which, by serendipitous happenstance, she was living when Sartre visited and lectured.
Twelfth International Iris Murdoch Conference
4 November 2025The Twelfth International Conference on Iris Murdoch studies will take place at the University of Chichester in 2026. The conference will showcase ongoing, and published, Murdoch scholarship with a particular focus on āInfluences and Inspirationsā.
