Under the Net

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)