This is my second review for Karen and Simon’s 1961 Club which is taking place this week. When I put my new Classics Club list together earlier this year, I included two books published in 1961 with this week’s event in mind. I haven’t had time to start the other one (No Fond Return of Love by Barbara Pym), but I have managed to read Muriel Spark’s 1961 novella, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.
Miss Brodie is a teacher at the Marcia Blaine School for Girls in Edinburgh and in 1936, when the book opens, she believes herself to be ‘in her prime’. Her teaching methods are unconventional – she largely ignores the official school curriculum and instead focuses on subjects that the other teachers consider useless and irrelevant:
These girls were discovered to have heard of the Buchmanites and Mussolini, the Italian Renaissance painters, the advantages to the skin of cleansing cream and witch-hazel over honest soap and water, and the word “menarche”; the interior decoration of the London house of the author of Winnie the Pooh had been described to them, as had the love lives of Charlotte Brontë and of Miss Brodie herself.
The love life of Miss Brodie herself is one of her favourite topics of conversation and the six girls she takes under her wing – known as ‘the Brodie set’ – are regaled with tales of Hugh, her first love, who fell on Flanders Field. The Brodie set appear to be completed devoted to their teacher and captivated by her stories and the wisdom she is passing on to them. However, we know from very early in the book that one of them will eventually betray her – but which of them will it be and will the betrayal be deserved?
Miss Brodie could have been portrayed purely as a heroine, trying to equip her girls for the years ahead, giving them the knowledge she believes they need and encouraging them to think differently. However, she’s a more complex character than that – she’s flawed, manipulative and self-obsessed, trying to live out some of her own fantasies through the girls, even pushing one of them, Rose, into a romance with the art teacher Mr Lloyd, with whom she herself is in love.
The book has a non-linear structure, beginning by introducing us to the girls of the Brodie set at the age of sixteen, then going back several years to their first meeting with Miss Brodie as ten-year-olds and occasionally jumping forwards to show us the girls as adults. There’s also a lot of foreshadowing and moments when we are told what will happen to a character long before it actually happens, all things which add additional layers and depth to what would otherwise be quite a simple story.
This is the first book I’ve read by Muriel Spark. I have to be completely honest and say that I didn’t particularly love her writing style, which I’m disappointed about as I’ve seen so many positive reviews of this book and expected to enjoy it a lot more than I did. I tend to prefer books where I form an emotional connection with the characters and that just didn’t happen here. I did find it interesting, though, and am pleased I’ve finally read it – I’m not sure why it has taken me this long to get round to it! I would certainly be happy to try more of her books and would welcome any recommendations.
As well as counting towards 1961 Club, this is also book 2/50 from my third Classics Club list.
She Reads Novels 
It’s decades since I read this, and I remember it more simplistically than it probably is. Spark is a very singular writer and she often avoids a straightforward narrative, but I do love her work. Most of my reading of her books was pre-blog, but I do remember loving The Girls of Slender Means!
Thanks – I’ll think about reading The Girls of Slender Means next. I did like this book, but just didn’t love it as much as I’d expected to. I’ll be interested to see what I think of a different one.
Hmm, I guess I liked this one better than you did.
I liked it, but not as much as I’d hoped to. I’ll try more of her books.
I haven’t read any others by her, either. Must give another one a try.
She’s a very complicated character isn’t she? I do agree about not connecting with her characters, she sort of keeps you at arms length, but I’ve enjoyed the one’s I’ve read and hope to read them all.
Yes, she’s a fascinating character. I just need to be able to feel that emotional connection in order to really love a book. I’m glad you’ve been enjoying her books – I’ll definitely try another one.
I read it earlier this year and found it quite depressing. I was going to say the worst part was her pushing Rose into the relationship with the art teacher but the other part I hated was when Miss Brodie was acting as the unpaid housekeeper for the other teacher, who basically traded her in for a younger model.
She seemed so in control and enjoying teaching and traveling but it was all superficial – I suppose covering her insecurities.
Yes, I agree; I found it a bit depressing as well. Nobody seemed to be happy and Miss Brodie, as you say, was covering up a lot of insecurities, such as with her constant claims to still be ‘in her prime’. It was an interesting book but not one I loved.
I definitely loved this more than you, but I think it’s partly because I feel she skewers that Edinburgh ‘morality’ and snobbishness. In general, I haven’t made up my mind about Spark – there’s often a sneering quality to her work which I find quite off-putting. But I did enjoy Memento Mori a lot…
I suspect Spark will never become a favourite author for me, but I’m happy to give her another chance. I’ll definitely keep Memento Mori in mind!
I was very pleased to read your final paragraph – it’s exactly how I felt when I first read this in my twenties. I liked it well enough, but ultimately, I was underwhelmed and left wondering what I had missed. I had thought I might reread it this week, but other things have tempted me more, but it has been suggested to me that Muriel improves on longer acquaintance.
Most people seem to love this book (and Spark in general), so I’m pleased to hear that I’m not the only one to feel underwhelmed by it! I would like to try another of her books at some point to see if I get on better with a different one.
I read A Far Cry From Kensington a decade ago and loved it, so I can recommend that (even though I don’t remember anything about it now – my review at the time was glowing!)
Its a shame to hear that you weren’t a fan of the writing style here as it sounds like a interesting exploration of a complicated character and the fact that she pushes one of her students into a romance she herself longs for sounds appaling. What was it about the writing that didnt work for you?
Yes, the portrayal of a very complex character was fascinating and I wish I could have enjoyed the book more overall. I think my problem with the writing style is that I found it quite cold and emotionless. I’ll probably try a different one at some point to see if I have the same feeling.
I know Spark’s writing doesn’t appeal to everyone, but of the ones I’ve read I’ve enjoyed the vicious characterisation she gave to even her more likable individuals.
I liked this one enough to want to try another one. Maybe she’ll never be a favourite author, but I’m happy to give her a second chance.
Everybody suggests Memento Mori as her best work, so maybe you and I should consider this next?!
I just started reading this one. I read the play (or part of it) when I was in High School, because we did a production of it (and I almost got a part). I’ve seen the movie, as well, but thought, I should read the book.
I hope you like it. I’ve never seen a production of the play. I wonder if it’s very different from the book.
So far, yes they are different.
I did not love this one, probably because I really didn’t like Miss Brodie. I have enjoyed some of Spark’s other books though, like Loitering With Intent. Though it’s been years since I read that one.
I thought Miss Brodie was an interesting character, but I didn’t like her either. I want to read one of Spark’s other books, so I’m pleased to hear you enjoyed Loitering With Intent.
I recently read this book for the first time, and I was shocked to find that I loathed Miss Jean Brodie, the character, and it took me some reflection to find that I found the book to be worth reading. My take on it is that it is actually an allegorical tale–a story about how fascism happens. To quote myself, it is an allegory showing “how charismatic leaders can create loyal followers who will blindly support them even when they are shown to be less than perfect.”