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The Bell
The Bell
Nov 4, 2025 6:10 PM

Author:Iris Murdoch,A. S. Byatt,Miriam Margoyles

The Bell

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

A lay community of thoroughly mixed-up people is encamped outside Imber Abbey, home of an enclosed order of nuns. A new bell, legendary symbol of religion and magic, is rediscovered. Dora Greenfield, erring wife, returns to her husband. Michael Mead, leader of the community, is confronted by Nick Fawley, with whom he had disastrous homosexual relations, while the wise old Abbess watches and prays and exercises discreet authority. And everyone, or almost everyone, hopes to be saved whatever that may mean... Iris Murdoch's funny and sad novel is about religion, the fight between good and evil and the terrible accidents of human frailty.

(C) Iris Murdoch 1958 (P) Penguin Audio 2011

Reviews

Hopelessly addictive...definitely the season's guilty pleasure

—— Time Out

Incubus is a fabulous mixture of classic Gothic themes, paranormal romance and urban fantasy. Hugely enjoyable and highly recommended, Incubus gets the Fairwick Chronicles off to a great start - leaving this reviewer already looking forward to the next instalment of this series

—— www.lovevampires.com

successfully bringing together a welcome injection of gothic mystery back into a supernatural romance story. I very much enjoyed reading this book and without a doubt can say that Goodman's Fairwick Chronicles have a lot of potential for future reading

—— Fantasy Book Review

Love the Twilight series? Then read Carol Goodman's new vampire thriller, Incubus

—— Stylist

This is a wonderfully clever and inventive tale of magic, yet still contemporary and believable. The author's subtle yet very effective use of foreshadowing keeps the reader engaged, and the surprising ending has a lovely dose of bittersweet romance and a good dash of optimism

—— Romantic Times

This book pulled me in and wouldn't let go. I'm pleased to have found another paranormal series to get myself hooked on and am already looking forward to the next installment of The Fairwick Chronicles. Paranormal romance fans will certainly get their fix

—— onemorepage.co.uk

An original novel which combines elements of gothic romance with the current trend for supernatural fiction.

—— quillsandzebras.wordpress.com

This is a fabulous book. It's intriguing, well-written and a real page turner.

—— blogcritics.org

An enjoyable, solid, gothic fantasy offering

—— fantasybookreviews.co.uk

Hugely enjoyable and highly recommended.

—— lovevampires.com

a literal fairytale romance which keeps you gripped until the very end.

—— xrebelangelx.blogspot.com

A lovely book, beautiful to look at and a captivating story. Goodman has a superb way of drawing you into her world, the magic within is subtle, enchanting enough to weave a spell over the reader without causing you to suspend belief.

—— wordandpiece.wordpress.com
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