From the Central Standard Times..."A view from the middle of America"

It may be a bit of a scroll down the page to find mention of Muriel Spark but this is an intriguing article on A Second Front in the Culture War     An interesting debate.

And the winner...

...of the James Tait Black 'best of the best' prize (awarded to celebrate the 250th anniversary of English Literature studies at Edinburgh University) is Angela Carter's Nights at the Circus - a story about winged circus performer Sophie Fevvers, published in 1984.

Just a reminder...

...that Muriel in Italy,  the Society's annual lecture given by Gail Wylie, is next Tuesday (13 November) at 6 pm at the National Library of Scotland on George IV Bridge.   The event is full but for anybody who is interested in coming along but hasn't made a booking, please contact NLS on the day (0131 623 3734) as there may be  returns available..

The Mandelbaum Gate...

... by Muriel Spark, published in 1965,  has been shortlisted alongside works by James Kelman, Graham Greene, Cormac McCarthy, Caryl Phillips and Angela Carter in a contest to find 'The Best of the Best'.   This is a one-off award by the James Tait Black Prize which will honour the best novel to have won the prize since it was first awarded in 1919 and which celebrates the 250th anniversary of the study of English Literature at the University of Edinburgh.

Regius Professor Greg Walker, Chair of the James Tait Black Prizes, said: "This best of the best award is a wonderful opportunity to revisit some of the best writers in the literary canon. It is fitting in the year of celebration of 250 years of study of English literature at the University of Edinburgh that we recognise the wonderful contribution this prize makes to honouring great literature."

The shortlist was selected by scholars and students of literature at the University.

Girls of Slender Means...

...read by Juliet Stevenson has been uploaded by Canongate Books onto soundcloud.com - sounds good.

And in the meantime...

...the 15th century Italian Renaissance artist Piero della Francesca, born in Tuscany, was Muriel Spark's favourite artist.   Click here to see the National Gallery's web-page which has a short biography and features three of his paintings including The Nativity where the Tuscan hills can be seen in the background.

Muriel in Italy

The Society's Annual Lecture will be given by Gail Wylie and will take place at the National Library of Scotland on George IV Bridge at 6 pm on Tuesday 13 November 2012.   For further information and booking please go to www.nls.uk/events or phone 0131 623 3734.

Censorship

Here is an intriguing link to an article on  WalesOnline which looks at the literary texts that are still in their censored form in Spain including The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.

City of Words

The streets are quieter...the Festival is nearly over - but check out this continuing exhibition City of Words at The University of Edinburgh library in George Square.

Kapka Kassabova on Muriel Spark...

...in The List yesterday.    It's an article where the 2012 Edinburgh Book Festival reflects on the 1962 Edinburgh World Writers' Conference.   As Kapka Kassabova says... a propos Muriel Spark - "Read her and be changed".

Curriculum Vitae...

...is Harriett Gilbert's own choice on A Good Read on BBC Radio4, Tuesday 26 June at 4.30 pm.

And on a slightly different note...

...John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten) says in this interview that his favourite book is The Public Image by Muriel Spark - a much less well known book than The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie but worth a look?

 Available second-hand from www.amazon.co.uk

Going to the pictures: Scotland at the Cinema

copyright 1969 20th Century-Fox

The National Library of Scotland are running an exhibition - Scotland at the Cinema - from 15 June until 28 October which celebrates the experience of 'going to the pictures' in Scotland since the late 19th Century... which will  include that famous film The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie....

Monday 4th June...

...at 10 pm on  BBC Radio 3 Night Waves, Philip Dodd presents a special Landmark edition examining The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.   He "is joined by novelists Ian Rankin, Louise Welsh and former Bishop of Edinburgh Richard Holloway to examine this acclaimed and disturbing portrait of adolescent trauma and lost innocence."

Annual General Meeting 2012

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Muriel Spark Society

will be held on Wednesday 6 June 2012 at 7 pm

in the Cardoon Suite, Bruntsfield Hotel, 69 Bruntsfield Road, Edinburgh

AGENDA


7 pm Welcome Reception   New members are most welcome to attend

1. Apologies
2. Minutes of last year's AGM
3. Chairman's Report
4. Treasurer's Report
5. Election of Committee:  Election of new Chairman and new Treasurer
6. Any other business

Subscriptions
All Subscriptions (held at £15) are due for renewal at the AGM and new cards will be issued.   If you are unable to attend, please send your subscription by 6 June to:

Lorna Statham, Treasurer, 5 Fettes Row, Edinburgh EH3 6SF

I look forward to seeing old friends and new members on the 6th.

Gail Wylie
(Chair)


An area in the bar of the Bruntsfield Hotel has been set aside for members of the Society for an informal gathering after the AGM.

Hay Festival: "Nowhere else would a comedian get Muriel Spark as a warm-up"

Bill Bailey in today's Telegraph on being a veteran of the festival circuit...from Glastonbury to Hay-on-Wye!

The reading week continues...

...and check out the Open Road Media blog for more news and views.

Muriel Spark Reading Week...

...check out the Stuck in a Book blog to see what's happening this week.

From The Hindu....

......"through a prism of humour and desire" - a fascinating interview with the Pakistan born writer Soniah Kamal where she talks about the way in which female writers, including Muriel Spark, are able to pinpoint the often satiric way that women see the world.

News just in...

...from New York!   Open Road Media are today publishing eight Muriel Spark titles as e-books including The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie but also titles such as Doctors of Philosophy and Territorial Rights.   Take a look!...Click on the link above.

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie - Audio Book

Here is a link to The Guardian review (good but short) by Sue Arnold of a new audio-book of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie read by Miriam Margolyes - a pretty irresistible combination.

Vintage Penguins

Here is a link vintagepenguins.blogspot.com to a very interesting and visual blog that highlights the Muriel Spark Reading Week 23 - 29 April.

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and Curriculum Vitae

A two day course on the 7 and 8 August 2012 at Lifelong Learning (at present at 11 Buccleuch Place, Edinburgh but possibly moving its location) run by Liz Hare and James Ellison.   It will include a visit to the National Library and an Edinburgh walk in connection with Jean Brodie and Muriel Spark.

For further details please contact Liz Hare on 0131 337 8570 or at lizhare@blueyonder.co.uk