Murphy by Samuel Beckett

Edited by J. C. C. Mays Murphy, Samuel Beckett's first novel, was published in 1938. Its work-shy eponymous hero, adrift in London, realises that desire can never be satisfied and withdraws from life, in search of stupor. Murphy's lovestruck fiancée Celia tries with tragic pathos to draw him back, but her attempts are doomed to failure. Murphy's friends and familiars are simulacra of Murphy, fragmented and incomplete. But Beckett's achievement lies in the brilliantly original language used to communicate this vision of isolation and misunderstanding. The combination of particularity and absurdity gives Murphy's world its painful definition, but the sheer comic energy of Beckett's prose releases characters and readers alike into exuberance.

- Google

The 574th greatest fiction book of all time


This book is on the following lists:

  1. - 5th on Robert McCrum's top 10 books of the twentieth century (The Guardian)
  2. - 44th on In Which These Are the 100 Greatest Novels (ThisRecording.com)
  3. - 100 Best Novels Written in English (The Guardian)
  4. - 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (The Book)

Buy This Book

Name Binding Sales Rank Lowest New Lowest Used Published
Murphy 1ST Us Edition Hardcover 2002996 $1,998.00 $65.00
Murphy Hardcover 677762 $13.92
Murphy Paperback 7350663 $7.00 $0.63
Murphy Paperback 10565271 $4.95 1957
Murphy Paperback 1233217 $4.53 $0.01 1994
San Quentin Drama Workshop: Murphy Audible Audio Edition 146037 $17.95 2008
Murphy Kindle Edition 680465 $9.99 2011
Murphy Audible Audiobook 67720 $15.99 2016
Murphy [French Text] Paperback 1097382 $3.18
Murphy (French Edition) Paperback 788634 $19.40 $7.75 1979
Murphy Audio CD 2284167 $165.50 2001
Murphy Paperback 6148832 $6.25
Murphy (PALABRA EN EL TIEMPO) (Spanish Edition) Hardcover 21301313 $736.33 2000
Murphy Paperback 3386227 $28.84 $0.01
Murphy. Roman. Paperback 8313311 $6.96 $9.49 1994
Kwic Conc To Beckett'S Murphy (Garland Reference Library of the Humanities) Hardcover 11809850 $34.99 1990
Murphy Paperback 469502 $7.98 $6.10 2011