The Sea, the Sea by Iris Murdoch. Short summary

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When a theater director turns 60, he decides to leave London to live in seclusion by the sea. The hero begins to keep a diary, in which records of his past life appear.

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The novel is the diary entries of theater director and former actor Charles Arrowby. He was able to achieve recognition, made good money, and had many women. Even when Charles turned over 60, he did not feel like an old man.

Arrowby wants to be alone with himself. To do so, he leaves London, buys a house on the cliffs by the sea and settles there alone. Charles fell in love with the place and began the life he had always dreamed of.

He often took walks in the surrounding area, swimming and sunbathing, collecting sea rocks and indulging in his hobby — gourmet cooking. At this time, the hero begins to keep a diary in which he writes down the events that occurred and his own thoughts.

Charles often remembers the past, which is reflected in his diary. Gradually, it turns into a fascinating novel that tells the story of the hero’s life.