Iris Murdoch — The Bell

London, Chatto & Windus and The Book Society, 1958 . First edition. Cloth. The first Book Society edition of Iris Murdoch's celebrated novel about a lay religious community in Gloucestershire. The first Book Society edition of this work, published in the same year as the true first edition.In the publisher's original price clipped dust wrapper.This novel is set in a lay religious community situated next to a community of Benedictine nuns in Gloucestershire.A contemporary review in The Times praised the work as 'a story which is running over with purpose and intelligence' and as 'a joy to read&apos. In the publisher's original cloth binding, with clipped dust wrapper. Light shelf wear to back strip tail, otherwise externally excellent. Dust wrapper back strip lightly age toned. Significant tide marks to fore edges of wraps, and folds of flyleaves. Closed tears to folds at head and tail of front flyleaf. Spotting to dust wrapper reverse. Minor closed tears to back strip head. Internally, firmly bound. Pages clean and bright. Near Fine . Ill.: None. Near Fine/Very Good.