num_pages: 296
description: 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 has themes of religion, the fight between good and evil, and the terrible accidents of human frailty.
language: English
title: The Bell
titlecomplete: The Bell
characters: Father Bob Joyce, Margaret Stafford, Mark Stafford, Dora Greenfield, James Tayper Pace, Sister Ursula, Noel Spens, Catherine Fawley, Michael Meade, Nick Fawley, Peter Topglass, Toby Gashe, Mother Clare, Patchway, Paul Greenfield
genres: 20th Century, Religion, Philosophy, Literary Fiction, Novels, LGBT, Literature, Classics, British Literature, Fiction
ratings_count: 8520
places: England, Imber Court, Gloucestershire, England, Gloucestershire, England
publisher: Penguin