“The most English writer” of the 20th century, Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, a subtle psychologist and a brilliant stylist, winner of many prestigious awards, including the Booker Prize, Iris Murdoch is rightfully considered one of the best novelists of our time. Her works, including such literary masterpieces as “Wild Rose”, “The Black Prince”, “Sea, Sea”, have been translated into many languages and enjoy the constant love of readers all over the world. The novel “The Mechanics of Heavenly and Earthly Love” (first published in Russian translation under the title “Earthly and Sinful Machine of Love”) was published in 1974 and awarded the Whitbread Prize (since 2006, the Costa Prize). The hero of the novel, Blaise Gavender, is a practicing psychoanalyst. solves other people's mental problems, but has difficulty coping with his own “oddities” and secret desires. Years ago, in an attempt to escape his "complicated sexuality", he married the simple-minded and devoted Harriet. And when the temptation to follow his true nature invades his life - in the person of his mistress Emily - Blaise becomes embroiled in a rather nasty story, plunging into an existence in two houses, which combines calculation and betrayal, remorse and fear, selfishness and irresistible passion, sweet dreams, nightmares and illusions...