Fiction Reviews: A Word Child (Iris Murdoch)

Hilary Burde takes us by the hand and accompanies us through his typical days, such as the Thursday when at five o' clock he needs to take a shower, his habits cannot be postponed or brought forward.

He has a sister called Crystal Burde she wants to marry Arthur Fisch, Hilary doing his best to convince her sister that this man is not right for her.

This middle aged man has had a terrible childhood, his mother died when he was seven years old, he never knew his father.

We will discover that he had an affair with Anne Jopling the first wife of Gunnar Jopling; they have a son called Tristham.

Hilary is driving a car, next to him there is Anne, due to the high speed the car crashes, causing Anne's death, who is pregnant.

Hilary is devoured by his conscience and from his sense of guilt.

He wants to speak to Gunnar, due to various reasons this meeting will never happen, until Gunnar's second wife Lady Kitty, writes him a letter that must remain secret, the two absolutely must meet.

Lady Kitty and Hilary are walking along the Thames, at some point she slips and falls in water, Hilary and Gunnar will do their best to save her life, she will die of hypothermia.

Hilary will meet Gunnar and he will explain to him that he didn't kill Anne on purpose.

Thomasina is a central figure for his mental healing, they will marry and Crystal will marry Arthur.

Another central figure is Mr. Osmand, his schoolmaster who will teach him how to evade through the words.