Iris Murdoch’s unique beermat collection explained in University lecturer’s book
THE quirky history behind beloved author Iris Murdoch’s love of beermats acquired from pubs, in London and Oxford, has been revealed in a new book.
Supported by the publisher, Unbound, the book is a visual celebration of Iris Murdoch’s love of pubs which centres around her own unique collection of beermats.
After her death, the fascinating discovery was made. Amongst the many volumes, containing the wisdom of the world’s most esteemed writers and thinkers, was an old black netting shopping bag. This contained dozens of dazzling but well-worn beer mats: ‘Young’s Ram Rod Bitter’, ‘Royal Ancient Whiskey’, ‘Bass Pale Ale’, ‘Mackeson Stout’.
Co-writers, Miles Leeson, Director of the Iris Murdoch Research Centre and co-editor of the Iris Murdoch Today series with Palgrave MacMillan, and Visiting Professor, Emeritus Research fellow, Anne Rowe have shown a dedication to unearthing the literary genius’ life over many years of research work.
Co-author and Reader of English Literature, Dr Miles Leeson said: “The magical ambience and richness of humanity Murdoch found in pubs fuelled her creative imagination making her novels compulsive reading. These beer mats would prove invaluable to the creativity of one of the twentieth century’s greatest writers.”
Murdoch sought out pub atmospheres at every opportunity, not just to meet colleagues, friends, and lovers, but to sit quietly and people-watch, gathering fuel for the authenticity of her characters and the twists and turns of her plots.
The guest appearances of pubs in almost all of Murdoch’s twenty-six novels are not only as landmarks but crucial plot devices. Pubs may be the locations for characters to fall in love, quarrel, reflect, make plans, make fools of themselves, drown sorrows and ultimately get horribly drunk.
Co-author, Prof Anne Rowe, commented: “This book is an exciting exploration of some of the locations which influenced Murdoch’s work. The beermats are a visual representation of those inspirational settings where she spent time constructing her characters.”
Colour illustrations accompany maps of Iris Murdoch’s most loved and frequently visited pubs in London and Oxford, as well as, extracts from her private letters and journals.
The beermat project, launched by Unbound, is a collaboration between the Iris Murdoch Research Centre at the University of Chichester and the Iris Murdoch Archive Project at Kingston University.
Unbound’s head of publishing Mathew Clayton: “Sometimes the truth about a great artist is revealed in the details of their lives. Our appreciation of the playful philosophical novels of Iris Murdoch deepens when we learn that she loved pubs, liked a beer, and collected beer mats.”
