London itself

Under the Net 

by Iris Murdoch

"...I like the women in novels by James and Conrad who are so peculiarly flower-like and who are described as 'guileless, profound, confident, and trustful.' That 'profound' is good: fluttering white hands and as deep as the sea..." (p. 28)

Despite its wonderful cast of writers, eccentrics, and a glamorous actress, Iris Murdoch's debut novel, Under the Net, has a distinct feel that comes from London itself. The book has a picaresque format, with James Donaghue (Jake) narrating a series of events in the first person. Furthermore, the main character's adventures are primarily set in London, particularly in the financial districts and Holborn. Paris, another great and enigmatic city, is the setting for a few important but short scenes. Philosophical contexts are among the many other contexts in which London is depicted. She wrote, "Some parts of London are necessary, while others are contingent."

 But Murdoch's book centers on her writer-hero, Jake Donaghue, and it tells the story of London as a whole. The dedication was given to Raymond Queneau. Jake mentions taking two books in Chapter 1 when he leaves Madge's apartment: Murphy by Samuel Beckett and Pierrot mon Ami by Queneau, both of which are mentioned again in this story. Hugo Belfounder, another character, is largely based on Yorick Smythies, a student of Wittgenstein's. The epigraph from Secular Masque by John Dryden explains how the protagonist's misunderstandings cause him to relocate. Angus Wilson summed it up as "wine, women, and Wittgenstein." When all is said and done, the book is an exciting beginning to what would become a successful writing career.