I feel I need to write a review to balance up the others on this page. Although I would not claim that this is a literary classic that you will compare all your future reads to, it is a very well written and interesting novel. The characters form an interesting microcosm of 1950s society on the verge of the end of repression. The idea of people hoping that immersing themselves in a seemingly idyllic retreat next to a convent, where the nuns’ pure lifestyle may rub off on them, is a fascinating concept and the unexpected fast paced ending all make for a good read. Above all this book shows that Murdoch was very intelligent and a highly skilled writer who could create stories that were enjoyable and diverting.