Thanks for this piece. I started reading Spark's back catalogue, in order, during lockdown as they were the only books I was certain my local library had. Every Scottish library was given copies to mark her centenary. I did find many of the novels difficult (I'm looking at you, The Mandelbaum Gate) but others were wonderfully intriguing and I will definitely be going back to certain titles again to reread. It is a shame that only Jean Brodie is widely known.
We’re having a similar conundrum with our Canadian Nobel Prize winner for Literature and recently deceased, Alice Munro. Ms Munro was considered a brave feminist who wrote about the challenges of being a woman, and sometimes, of being an understanding mother. However, even more recently, Ms Munro’s daughter re-stated her history living under the horrible auspices of her stepfather who frequently sexually assaulted her in childhood. When she confronted her mother with this fact, her mother refused to believe it and refused to leave this man, ever! Turns out that a lot of literary folks and others knew all about this all these years….but it’s hard to knock an idol down.
The daughter is finally believed by all, with much evidence of the assaults & of her many pleas for help. For shame, I think.
This was like a little grad course ! I recall doing a reading in a speech contest (around 1970?) when I was in high school from The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. I recall it being wonderful to read, the character was so strong, almost subversive. It was fun to step into those shoes at such a a young age. Your wonderful piece helps me better understand the context for that now. Thank you!
Have not heard of her! As an artist, writer, and mother of four, I have long loved the writings of women (like Adrienne Rich) who dared to voice some of the incompatibility between mothering and "personing."
I read The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie in an undergraduate British Women Writers class in 2007. In retrospect, I’m grateful that it was included. It’s really interesting to consider her in a tradition that includes people like Margery Kempe. I really enjoyed that novel then and read several more of her works on my own.
I am, of course, intrigued by the O’Connor comparison. I want to think about that more.
I know this is a bit out of the blue, but I wrote a story in the 80s, called “The Prime of Miss Kitty McKinnon” and it was in some part, about how in her college influence, she inspired a young woman to hide in a U of Minn toilet stall where I was speaking, and then leap out with a giant art-room scissors to stab me in the belly. I was pregnant at the time, and luckily chaperoned by the event producer, who leapt between my “assassin” and myself — and saved me.
The troubled girl just to pieces as I was screaming, “What the fuck are you doing, I’m seven months pregnant!” — and as crazy as all that was, she and her youthful cohorts were all being sent on a mission by their professor. They picket my even with a blood soaked banner, compared me to Roman Slavery and the Holocaust, and then the cherry on top was supposed to be knocking me off.
Naturally, I thought of Miss Jean Brodie’s tale. What a trip, is when I speak of that title and comparison NOW, no one knows who “Miss JB” is, not the movie or the book! I can’t believe it! They think Maggie Smith is from Downton Abbey, period! So kudos to you for beating the drum.
Love love love this! I started reading Muriel Spark last year and fell in love with her writing. I can't wait to dive in more, and I was baffled when I found out none of my peers read her. Thank you for writing this! It makes me want to pick up another Spark novel.
Great essay! I agree that women (writers and otherwise) are consistently judged for their "bad" behaviour (by which read: unconventional). I have been a lifelong fan of Spark and her writing ever since discovering Miss Jean Brodie and falling in love with both Spark's terse prose, and darkly funny female characters. I found her so refreshing! I have written a couple of essays on my newsletter about her, one on Brodie and one on her subversive novel The Driver's Seat, which I would highly recommend (the book, not my essay!) I have just enjoyed watching an old production on BBC4 of her novel Memento Mori, which was superb. The Girls of Slender Means is another great novel. As you can tell, I'm big fan 😀
I recently got an email from the New Yorker with a link to the original issue with The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.. and read it for the first time. Mind blown. Thanks for this. She was a fascinating writer.
Fascinating! I love this. I love how hesitant she is in front of the camera. But one gets a real sense that Emily Brontë was a kindred spirit for her. Thank you for sharing it, Michael.
I've only ever read Miss Jean Brodie but living in Edinburgh, I'm intrigued by Spark and this year she's entered my consciousness more than ever - perhaps a sign that I really must read more by her. I'm almost more drawn to her work through knowing that she was "difficult". I imagine it was difficult to be "difficult" back then.
Hi Laura! I love this. Yes, I feel drawn to her more as well knowing that she was thought “difficult.” Sounds like a commendation to me! Thank you for reading. And welcome to Substack! And lucky you to get to live in Edinburgh. I’m staying out in North Berwick for a few months and come into the city on Thursdays for a Scots Music song group. I’m hoping to come in more.
Thanks for this piece. I started reading Spark's back catalogue, in order, during lockdown as they were the only books I was certain my local library had. Every Scottish library was given copies to mark her centenary. I did find many of the novels difficult (I'm looking at you, The Mandelbaum Gate) but others were wonderfully intriguing and I will definitely be going back to certain titles again to reread. It is a shame that only Jean Brodie is widely known.
We’re having a similar conundrum with our Canadian Nobel Prize winner for Literature and recently deceased, Alice Munro. Ms Munro was considered a brave feminist who wrote about the challenges of being a woman, and sometimes, of being an understanding mother. However, even more recently, Ms Munro’s daughter re-stated her history living under the horrible auspices of her stepfather who frequently sexually assaulted her in childhood. When she confronted her mother with this fact, her mother refused to believe it and refused to leave this man, ever! Turns out that a lot of literary folks and others knew all about this all these years….but it’s hard to knock an idol down.
The daughter is finally believed by all, with much evidence of the assaults & of her many pleas for help. For shame, I think.
This was like a little grad course ! I recall doing a reading in a speech contest (around 1970?) when I was in high school from The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. I recall it being wonderful to read, the character was so strong, almost subversive. It was fun to step into those shoes at such a a young age. Your wonderful piece helps me better understand the context for that now. Thank you!
Have not heard of her! As an artist, writer, and mother of four, I have long loved the writings of women (like Adrienne Rich) who dared to voice some of the incompatibility between mothering and "personing."
Personing—I love that!
Enjoyed this tremendously, thank you.
I read The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie in an undergraduate British Women Writers class in 2007. In retrospect, I’m grateful that it was included. It’s really interesting to consider her in a tradition that includes people like Margery Kempe. I really enjoyed that novel then and read several more of her works on my own.
I am, of course, intrigued by the O’Connor comparison. I want to think about that more.
Looking forward to more from you about women authors etc. So important to. Ring them back to light. Good time for it I think
Thank you, Claudette! I’m so glad to have you along.
She was, and is, the bomb. I’ve written about her, and you’ve inspired me all over again. Thank you for this homage, truly.
You’re most welcome! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
I know this is a bit out of the blue, but I wrote a story in the 80s, called “The Prime of Miss Kitty McKinnon” and it was in some part, about how in her college influence, she inspired a young woman to hide in a U of Minn toilet stall where I was speaking, and then leap out with a giant art-room scissors to stab me in the belly. I was pregnant at the time, and luckily chaperoned by the event producer, who leapt between my “assassin” and myself — and saved me.
The troubled girl just to pieces as I was screaming, “What the fuck are you doing, I’m seven months pregnant!” — and as crazy as all that was, she and her youthful cohorts were all being sent on a mission by their professor. They picket my even with a blood soaked banner, compared me to Roman Slavery and the Holocaust, and then the cherry on top was supposed to be knocking me off.
Naturally, I thought of Miss Jean Brodie’s tale. What a trip, is when I speak of that title and comparison NOW, no one knows who “Miss JB” is, not the movie or the book! I can’t believe it! They think Maggie Smith is from Downton Abbey, period! So kudos to you for beating the drum.
Love love love this! I started reading Muriel Spark last year and fell in love with her writing. I can't wait to dive in more, and I was baffled when I found out none of my peers read her. Thank you for writing this! It makes me want to pick up another Spark novel.
I'm so glad! And thanks, Luka, for subscribing. We have a thread going right now. Join in, if you'd like. https://anneboydrioux.substack.com/p/meet-and-greet/comments
Great essay! I agree that women (writers and otherwise) are consistently judged for their "bad" behaviour (by which read: unconventional). I have been a lifelong fan of Spark and her writing ever since discovering Miss Jean Brodie and falling in love with both Spark's terse prose, and darkly funny female characters. I found her so refreshing! I have written a couple of essays on my newsletter about her, one on Brodie and one on her subversive novel The Driver's Seat, which I would highly recommend (the book, not my essay!) I have just enjoyed watching an old production on BBC4 of her novel Memento Mori, which was superb. The Girls of Slender Means is another great novel. As you can tell, I'm big fan 😀
Hi Kate—I’m so glad you enjoyed my post. I’m really looking forward to reading more Spark. Thank you for the suggestions!
loved this and also, from the cover you shared, i am glad the go-away bird has been immortalised in literature as it deserves
I just read that story. The bird turns out to be rather ominous.
I recently got an email from the New Yorker with a link to the original issue with The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.. and read it for the first time. Mind blown. Thanks for this. She was a fascinating writer.
Oh, I love that they were sharing it again! Thanks for reading!
https://x.com/bbcarchive/status/1647586388274216963?s=61&t=nTJL_r9Pe8xmUaS-pTKAmQ
Fascinating! I love this. I love how hesitant she is in front of the camera. But one gets a real sense that Emily Brontë was a kindred spirit for her. Thank you for sharing it, Michael.
I've only ever read Miss Jean Brodie but living in Edinburgh, I'm intrigued by Spark and this year she's entered my consciousness more than ever - perhaps a sign that I really must read more by her. I'm almost more drawn to her work through knowing that she was "difficult". I imagine it was difficult to be "difficult" back then.
Hi Laura! I love this. Yes, I feel drawn to her more as well knowing that she was thought “difficult.” Sounds like a commendation to me! Thank you for reading. And welcome to Substack! And lucky you to get to live in Edinburgh. I’m staying out in North Berwick for a few months and come into the city on Thursdays for a Scots Music song group. I’m hoping to come in more.
Oh North Berwick is lovely too!
Thanks Ann for putting Muriel Spark back on my radar again. I haven’t read anything by her in a long time and am going to rectify that!
That’s great, Emily. Thank for reading!
Thank you, Ann, I’m glad you enjoyed it. How wonderful that you have fifteen of her novels on your shelf. Doris Lessing intrigued me as well.
I had thought to myself, isn't there something those two have in common? So I did a quick search, and right away found this: https://somethingrhymed.com/2018/02/16/doris-lessing-and-muriel-spark/
That fact that they both were friends with Iris Murdoch is just more icing on the cake!
Super interesting! Thank you for sharing!