Iris Murdoch was born in Dublin in 1919. She read Classics at Somerville College, Oxford, and after working in the Treasury and abroad, was awarded a research studentship in Philosophy at Newnham College, Cambridge. In 1948 she returned to Oxford as fellow and tutor at St Anne's College and later taught at the Royal College of Art. Until her death in 1999, she lived in Oxford with her husband, the academic and critic, John Bayley. She was made a Dame of the British Empire in 1987 and in the 1997 PEN Awards received the Gold Pen for Distinguished Service to Literature.

"The Unicorn explores Murdoch's theme that life is - or should be - a spiritual quest or pilgrimage" Guardian "A writer of wonderful, and sometimes rather alarming idiosyncrasy; from her first novels, she explored a parish which was uniquely and unmistakably hers. But, somehow, by pursuing her desire only to be herself, she made it possible for generations of novelists after her to be more themselves." Independent "Every novel is imprinted with the same distinctive, magical and wonderfully inventive imagination... A humour and humanity marked her fictional writing and made it a rich, wonderful and varied discourse. She filled it with strong emotions, powerful passions, very human experiences, humour" Guardian