The Time of the Angels

The Time of the Angels follows Carel Fisher, an Anglican priest who has lost his faith and oversees a bomb-damaged London church in the aftermath of World War II. The remaining rectory houses a complex group of inhabitants, including Fisher's daughter Muriel, his invalid niece Elizabeth, a housekeeper named Pattie O'Driscoll, and a Russian émigré family. Set over several winter days, the story revolves around the isolated rectory where Fisher has withdrawn from his duties and refuses contact with the outside world. His brother Marcus, a headmaster working on a book about secular morality, attempts to maintain a connection to the household and his role as Elizabeth's co-guardian. Fisher's denial of God and rejection of traditional morality forms the philosophical core of this Gothic-tinged 1966 novel. The work explores questions of faith, isolation, and the possibility of finding meaning in a world without divine presence.

Readers describe this as one of Murdoch's darker and more challenging novels, with a gothic, claustrophobic atmosphere. Many note the philosophical themes around religion, morality and existence. Readers appreciated: - The atmospheric setting of an isolated rectory - Complex character psychology - Integration of philosophical ideas into the narrative - The build-up of tension and dread Common criticisms: - Too many subplots that don't connect - Characters make inexplicable decisions - The ending feels rushed and unsatisfying - Heavy-handed philosophical discussions Online Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (500+ ratings) Amazon: 3.8/5 (30+ ratings) From reader reviews: "Like being trapped in a fog-filled maze" - Goodreads reviewer "The characters float through the story like ghosts" - Amazon review "Murdoch excels at creating unease but the payoff isn't there" - LibraryThing review

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde The deconstruction of morality and religious faith unfolds in a Gothic Victorian setting where a man's isolation leads to philosophical questioning and darkness.

The Good Soldier by Ford Madox Ford A tale of moral decline set in pre-war Europe follows characters wrestling with faith, desire, and social obligations within confined domestic spaces.

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark The story explores power dynamics and moral corruption through a charismatic figure who creates an isolated world of warped beliefs.

The Rector's Wife by Joanna Trollope A novel centered on an Anglican community examines faith, duty, and personal freedom through the lens of a religious household.

The Sea, The Sea by Iris Murdoch Another Murdoch work that investigates isolation and self-deception through a protagonist who retreats from society to contemplate existence.

🔸 The novel was published in 1966, during a period of significant social and religious change in Britain, reflecting the era's growing secularization and questioning of traditional faith. 🔸 The Gothic elements in the book draw inspiration from Emily Brontë's "Wuthering Heights," particularly in its use of isolation and psychological intensity within a confined setting. 🔸 Iris Murdoch wrote this book while serving as a philosophy professor at Oxford University, incorporating her deep knowledge of existentialism and moral philosophy into the narrative. 🔸 The inclusion of a half-Jamaican character was notably progressive for 1960s British literature, addressing themes of race and identity during a period of increasing immigration to Britain. 🔸 The bombed-out church setting was inspired by the many London churches damaged during World War II, with over 30 of Christopher Wren's churches being severely damaged or destroyed in the Blitz.