The Sea, The SeaIris Murdochs extraordinary exploration of human nature shines with intricate detail. When Charles Arrowby retires from his glittering career in the London theatre, he buys a remote house on the rocks by the sea. He hopes to escape from his tumultuous love affairs but unexpectedly bumps into his childhood sweetheart and sets his heart on destroying her marriage. His equilibrium is further disturbed when his friends all decide to come and keep him

Elsas incredible journey is a story of survival

And when a brutal fate pulls them into its shadows

She whispers "You are such a good girl

the daughter is kidnapped and a chilling message received with a lock of hair

Stick to the rules and you'll succeed

'A sweeping Dickensian tour de force of a novel

I was dazzled by this novel

Lying in wait

This is the story of Penelope of Ithaca

and what it might hold

infanticide

Ordered by the emperor to find the killer