The Black Prince
Vintage Classics Murdoch Series
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The Black Prince
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Narrated by:
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Anthony Howell
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By:
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Iris Murdoch
About this listen
Brought to you by Penguin.
Vintage Classics Murdoch: Funny, subversive, fearless and fiercely intelligent, Iris Murdoch was one of the great writers of the 20th century. To celebrate her centenary, Vintage Classics presents special editions of her greatest and most timeless novels.
Every artist is an unhappy lover. And unhappy lovers want to tell their story.
Ex-tax collector and author of two unpopular novels, Bradley Pearson wishes to devote his retirement to writing a masterpiece. But the doorbell and the phone keep ringing and every ring brings with it an ex-wife, a friend in need, a sister in trouble or a young woman seeking a teacher and so dusty, selfish Bradley is plunged into the muddles and mysteries which will end in his doom.
Winner of the James Tait Black Memorial Prize 1973.
©1973 Iris Murdoch (P)2020 Penguin AudioListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about The Black Prince
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Linda
- 07-08-22
Fantastic ending.
Excellent narrator. Quality of writing mostly great but a little overblown and heavy at times
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- P. Baguley
- 17-01-24
Intriguing and thought-provoking
I loved the way the story kept me interested to know what happened next, whilst at the same time I was struggling to keep myself from throwing my listening device at the wall out of frustration with the characters who at times, in fact most of the time, portrayed self centred and egocentric misery. Perhaps this was because I recognise these traits in my own shadow side? But this is the type of work it is and what makes me say that although this is my first experience of Iris Murdoch's work, it will certainly not be the last.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- GalenSolon
- 29-04-20
Great
Thanks Excellent narration and a great book With a unique structure. I strongly recommend it.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mrs. H. E. Bacon
- 14-05-21
well read, in every sense, thanks to the narrator.
the reading conveys a wonderful sense of the characters, by a versatile and sympathetic actor
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mon
- 29-11-21
Story in Story the truth is not clear but probably
i loved hearing it its a Pagen turner while also poetic and analysing art
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- richard W
- 07-02-21
Challenging, fascinating and disturbing
This book is like a time capsule from early 1970's middle-class literally life which is interesting. It's structure is unusual (to me at least) and contains a really complex dislikable central character who has difficulty and sometimes hard to believe relationships with everyone in this life, particularly females. I found it very tough to get through to times as its hard to root or empathise with any characters. My conclusion is that Murdoch is a bit too highbrow for me, its clever but too close to smug and pretentious in the same way Martin Amis can be. Just tell us a good story...
Brilliant narration btw
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 30-05-24
What a superb story
I loved this ..magnificently read with real characters who’s every word I believed and with who’s every action I sympathised with
It’s my best discovery almost ever
Listen now!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 19-12-22
worked surprisingly well in audio
I’m not sure why the narrator has attracted flack in other reviews, I’ve also heard Grant’s The Sea, The Sea which is wonderful, but I thought this one was great - the narration I think is spot on for the book’s narrator’s voice… this is a story (like TSTS) of a man too wrapped up in his own self-narration to understand what he is doing, and I thought the audiobook narrator played this the way Murdoch would have wanted, although I can see how that could in places come across as an annoying style in other contexts… I’m no Murdoch expert but I feel like if you need to get along well with your narrators (audio or fictional) then she’s probably not for you. Anyway, this is one of her best and really nicely delivered.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- D. Oxford
- 07-12-24
A Confederacy of Dunces
I’m sorry everyone, but really…
Here we have a cast of pseudo-intellectuals spouting highbrow ideas but without an ounce of gumption between them; oh how Bradley Pearson infuriated me with his febrile bipolar behaviour, along with most of the rest - other than Frances: such a limp biscuit!
Finally, was there no such thing in the early 70’s
as blood spatter? Or the examination of telephone records?
Audible, we need The Book and the Brotherhood and The Philosopher’s Pupil - please. We already have The Good Apprentice, The Sea, the Sea and The Bell - all of which I recommend, but this baffling concoction, along with it’s wordy ‘postscripts’, which only succeed in muddying the water, does the memory of Iris Murdoch no favours.
But don’t let this put you off; give The Black Prince a go…then print YOUR conclusions - you may find it’s right up your street.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Arty1
- 25-09-20
Reliability of the narrator
Enjoyed this fifth audio Murdoch novel for Murdoch's usual scathing insight into the human condition and philosophical enquiry. However, I found my enjoyment marred by the audio narration by Anthony Howell. He narrated as if he was a coach tour guide giving information about the interesting sights. Perhaps his tone of voice was not to my personal taste, but his deep burr felt out of keeping with the story. His rendering of the dialogue was a lot better and I was able to imagine the characters. But I was somewhat glad to reach the end of this audio book and that is an exceptional experience for me using audio books.
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3 people found this helpful