Muriel Spark’s sixth novel is one of her most autobiographical. At her own school she had been much impressed by her teacher Miss Kay, “that character in search of an author” as she once described her. Miss Kay borrowed reproductions of paintings from the art department to put on the classroom walls, and introduced her students to Da Vinci and Botticelli. She had on her wall a cutting showing Mussolini and his fascists. Miss Kay encouraged young Muriel Spark to become a writer and Jean Brodie, partly based on her, is Spark’s tribute to the power of a good educator.

Her own Edinburgh childhood, and the feeling that she was something of an outsider because of her heritage, also contributed to the book. As a girl, she wanted to learn about sex, she wanted to break free from Scottish Calvinism, she wanted to wear bright colours and travel. These longings went into the creation of her famous character. Her struggles over religion influenced the introduction of religion as a theme in the book, though I personally doubt that this is a novel that would encourage anybody to turn Catholic!

During her adventurous life, Muriel Spark must have often stopped to wonder about a woman’s prime. When does it arrive? How will you recognise it when it does? I’d love to know if she came up with answers to these questions!

Learn more about her life and books, the themes, styles and characters in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, and perhaps enjoy sharing discussion questions with your book group – or even here with me. I always love to hear what you think. Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below.