AJ Dunn Reads

  The Sea, the Sea By Iris Murdoch Charles Arrowby, a once-famous theater director has retired from London to a house by the sea, intending to work on a book about his past love and actress Clement. Once there he is beset by a cadre of past flings, one he scorned, most he strung along, and most he seems to have used to amuse himself.  And then he sees the love of his life, a woman he was in love with in his youth named Hartley, who is living in the same small town with her husband. Charles, believing his love for her never dwindled, intends to reunite with her and to be with her no matter what. He acts horribly and selfishly to keep Hartley with him against her will. She protests many times that she doesn't want to be with him. Several other theater friends make appearances, adding to the disarray. Titus, Hartley and her husband's adopted son, also shows up on Charles's doorstep, adding to his master plans of winning Hartley over to get her to leave her husband. Of course, ...