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Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
Genre: Literary Fiction, Philosophical Fiction

Book Review:
Iris Murdoch's ''Jackson's Dilemma'' is a beautiful, mysterious, and deeply moving novel that showcases her unique genius for blending philosophical depth with compelling storytelling. It is a book about the fragility of human plans, the power of love and loss, and the possibility of enchantment in a world that often feels dark and uncertain. The novel begins with a wedding that never happens. On the eve of the ceremony, the bride, Marian, vanishes, leaving behind only a cryptic note. The wedding party, gathered at the country house of Penndean, is thrown into confusion and despair. At the center of the story is Benet, the friend who brought the couple together, who is left to grapple with the aftermath. And then there is Jackson, Benet's servant, a shadowy, enigmatic figure who seems to exist outside the normal boundaries of time and causality. It is Jackson who holds the key to the mystery, and it is Jackson who will ultimately bring about a transformation. Murdoch's prose is, as always, elegant and precise. She creates characters of depth and complexity, and she weaves a narrative that is both gripping and thought-provoking. The novel explores profound questions about fate, free will, and the nature of love. It is a meditation on the ways in which our lives can be upended by a single, unexpected event, and on the possibility of finding grace and redemption in the aftermath of loss. As the Observer put it, the novel ''burns in many places; it is short and catches fire fast.'' It is a work of brilliance and shadow, a headlong rush towards enchantment. ''Jackson's Dilemma'' is a fitting late addition to the Murdoch canon, a novel that will linger in the mind long after the final page.