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The Sandcastle (Vintage Classics Murdoch Series)

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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

VINTAGE CLASSICS MURDOCH: Funny, subversive, fearless and fiercely intelligent, Iris Murdoch was one of the great writers of the twentieth century. To celebrate her centenary Vintage Classics presents special editions of her greatest and most timeless novels.

‘It’s all dry sand running through the fingers.’

When Bill Mor falls in love with Rain Carter he discovers a new way of being and a new joy in the world and his surroundings. To be with Rain he must abandon his prosaic life as a schoolmaster, his domineering wife Nan and his troubled teenaged children. He must draw on the powers of selfishness, hatred and anger in order to make the final break. But what love could survive all that violence?

©1957 Iris Murdoch (P)2020 Penguin Audio Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Funny

Critic reviews

How bloody good her novels are – how intelligent, how lucent, how divinely crazy. They’re fun – I’d forgotten that. (Sarah Waters)
One of her most haunting works... She is spectacularly enigmatic (Philippa Gregory)
All stars
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what a heautifuk and elegant reading. these renditions are always a joy. thank you 😊

super super Iris

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My parents have lived this life almost exactly, but not quite. Nan is less sympathetic. Mor believable, except for very little mention of actual school work. Rain not quite so believable.

Very accurate portrayal of the family of a public schoolmaster’s family.

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Beautifully descriptive but a weak story line and a disappointing end.
Not one of her better books

Not one of her better books I am afraid.

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I love Juliet Aubrey's reading of novel. I also listened to her reading The Glass Maker and it was equally good. Iris Murdoch is such a great writer.

A wonderful book beautifully read

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The reading was excellent. The different characters were voiced very well, and the narrative was read well, and unobtrusively.

The story was insightful and gripping. Interesting discussions about art, in particular, painting.

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