Iris Murdoch — The Sandcastle

London, Chatto & Windus, 1957 . First edition. Cloth. The second impression of Iris Murdoch's novel about a middle-aged teacher who becomes romantically entangled with a young artist. The first edition, second impression. Published in the same month as the first impression.In the publisher's original clipped second impression dust wrapper.The novel follows Bill Mor, a schoolteacher trapped in an unfulfilling marriage and career, who is drawn to a young artist hired to paint the school's former headmaster.As their relationship intensifies, Mor faces difficult choices that pit his sense of duty and personal desires against one another. With the inscription of Cecile Wishard to the front free endpaper. In the publisher's original cloth binding, with clipped dust wrapper. Light shelf wear to back strip tail, otherwise excellent. Dust wrapper back strip a touch sunned. Significant closed tear to tail of front wrap, and small closed tear to head of front wrap. Small chips to back strip head, closed tear to back strip tail. Significant tape repairs to dust wrapper reverse, at back strip head and tail, tail of front wrap, and fold at tail of front flyleaf. Offsetting to endpapers. Former owner's inscription to front free endpaper. Minor hole in paper at rear hinge. Internally, firmly bound. Pages clean and bright. Very Good . Ill.: None. Very Good/Good Only.