The Bell by Iris Murdoch. Short summary

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The work recounts the lives of members of a religious congregation that was located in a country house in Gloucestershire at Imber Court. Its leader was a former schoolteacher named Mead.

1 minute

Members of the religious community live in a country house in Gloucestershire, Imber Court. Nearby is Imperial Abbey, a convent owned by a closed community of Benedictine nuns. The leader of the religious community is a former schoolteacher, Michael Mead.

A former art student, Dora Greenfield takes the train to Imber. Her spouse was an art historian, Paul, who was in Imber Court as a guest and is studying ancient manuscripts belonging to the abbey.

Future nun Catherine Foley and her twin brother Nick live at Imber Court. Fourteen years ago, Michael was working as a schoolteacher. He aspired to become a priest and was in love with his student Nick. The latter reported everything to the principal. As a result, Michael lost his job and never saw Nick again until he came to Imber Court.

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