Jackson’s Dilemma

novel by Murdoch

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July 15, 2026

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Jackson's Dilemma is a novel by Iris Murdoch, published in 1995. Murdoch was an Irish-born British novelist and philosopher known for her psychological novels that often blended philosophical and comic elements with intricate plots and realistic portrayals of 20th-century middle-class life. Her works frequently explored themes of morality, sex, and the complexities of human relationships, often suggesting that individuals are influenced by unconscious forces and societal pressures rather than purely rational control. While many of her novels received critical acclaim and awards, Jackson's Dilemma was not as well-received, with some critics suggesting that Murdoch's declining health due to Alzheimer's disease may have impacted its quality.12

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Iris Murdoch
Later works and death
Her last novel, Jackson’s Dilemma (1995), was not well received; some critics attributed the novel’s flaws to the Alzheimer’s disease with which she had been diagnosed in 1994. She died in 1999 at age 79.
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Her last novel, Jackson’s Dilemma (1995), was not well received; some critics attributed the novel’s flaws to the Alzheimer’s disease with which she had been diagnosed in 1994. She died in 1999 at age 79.
Read More