THE BOOK AND THE BROTHERHOOD : A Story about Love and Friendship and Marxism (Penguin Fiction)

London, UK: Penguin Books, 1988. First Edition, 6th Printing . Paperback. Near Fine/None as Issued. Text/BRAND NEW. Softcover/NF w/faint creasing to front corner tips. 23rd novel by Dame Jean Iris Murdoch (1919 - 1999). First published 1987; this is a Penguin reprint. Story of frienships. formed at Oxford, living in politically questioning England of the 1980s. As a "brotherhood", they support David Crimond's endeavor to write a revolutionary, utopian tract on Marxism (which explains the title), and, that the tale is a leftist love story bespeaks of England's mood of the decade. The novel (in which women feature prominently) traces a group of intelligent, and somewhat confused and intellectual lazy, fellows from university days through middle age, who share a fascination with Crimond. Crimond, not part of this inner group, has trouble in producing, Nevertheless, cemented in a sense of duty, the Brotherhood pays out a continuous annual stipend. The narrative opens with Crimond resurfacing with the book near finished. His sudden show sets off a chain of far reaching consequences, not excluding sexual encounters and even death. The fascinating Crimond is a classic Murdoch "enchanter" archetype --- a powerful, charismatic man who inspires devotion from others of more ordinary persuasions for reasons apparent to none. Strong copy w/light shelfwear.