The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark

A little taste of culture this time with the classic Scottish tale "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie' surely an inspiration for subsequent master pieces. Edinburgh has produced some of the worlds greatest literature and Muriel Spark's work proved to be no exception.

In todays dark times, with fear stalking the streets like an invisible reincarnation of Mr Hyde this novel offered a truly welcome release from the current crisis gripping the world and transported us back into an era of gentle humour and innocence. This book appears on the surface to be a simple tale of a spinster teacher, fast approaching the Autumn of her life, with a magnetic attraction to girls in their formative years. Miss Jean Brodie carries with her an air of tragedy, her life's love lost in the carnage of the First World War. A strong woman ahead of her time, at logger heads with the ethos of the school in which she works.



“To me education is a leading out of what is already there in the pupil's soul.” 

Miss Jean Brodie's theory of education fell on deaf ears in the 1930's but became mainstream in 1980's education, The Brodie set were denied knowledge by their enigmatic tutor. The world of education is in a constant state of flux, teaching methods fall in and out of fashion in a continual cycle of reinvented ideas, Miss Jean Brodie in her prime was a lonely voice in the world of education.

This book is thought to be inspired by Muriel Sparks own experience of attending an all girls school in Edinburgh. It may have been set in the period between the wars but it addresses issues still pertinent today. The role of a teacher is integral to maintaining a strong and fair society. Miss Jean Brodie had a disturbingly powerful grasp on the minds of the young girls in her charge. A charismatic character with strong personal beliefs and a clear understanding of her role in shaping lives. Through out the novel Miss Brodie is held up to scrutiny by the quiet unassuming Sandy, never underestimate your enemy. It proved to be Miss Jean's undoing, her mantra was flawed.

"Give me a girl at an impressionable age, and she is mine for life". 

She failed to realise that some girls can think for themselves.

In a dark and disturbing twist in the novel we discovered that grooming and radicalising young minds is not a new phenomenon.


A beautifully written book, poetic in its structure, its gently lilting prose weave in and out of the years of Miss Jean Brodies life, a complicated character born before her time.

We chose to discuss this book at 'The Robin Hood'  one of our favourite haunts, a good old fashioned hostelry with tasty good value food. Only criticism would be the lack of a 'loggy boy' to keep the open fire stoked!

We will be reading '84 Charing Cross Road' by Helen Hanff. 

Join us next month to find out what we thought of this book.