'The Guardian''s February reading group

Send your suggestions to The Guardian for their February Reading Group.
How about one of the less well-known such as 'Robinson' or 'The Takeover' or 'Aiding and Abetting'?

https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2018/jan/30/muriel-spark-novel-reading-group-prime-of-miss-jean-brodie?CMP=share_btn_link

'Mistress of Unease': The Poetry of Muriel Spark

Dame Muriel Spark always considered herself a poet, not a novelist.   Stewart Conn, former Edinburgh Makar, will remind us why poetry was essential to her writing.

On February 7th, 12.45 - 1.30 pm, in the Hawthornden Theatre at the Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh, Stewart will be discussing the poetry of Muriel Spark in an entertaining and stimulating talk.  He is joined by Gerda Stevenson, actor, writer, director and singer, who will be reading Spark's poetry.

Muriel Spark 100: All Miss Brodie's Girls?

Essential listening! On BBC Radio 3's 'The Essay', and online, leading Scottish writers including Ali Smith and Janice Galloway reflect on different aspects of Muriel Spark in a series of talks.

Monday 5 February - Friday 9 February  Radio 3 at 22.45

‘Vital, witty, formidably blithe’: Ali Smith on Muriel Spark at 100

This essay by Ali Smith is a timely reminder of the outstanding lecture she gave for the Society in November 2017.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/jan/29/ali-smith-on-muriel-spark-at-100?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Spark & Burns by Willy Maley

http://scottishbooktrust.com/blog/reading/2018/01/muriel-spark-burns-bright-on-burns-night

The Many Primes of Muriel Spark BBC 2 Scotland

On 31st January at 9 pm on BBC 2: 

Kirsty Wark celebrates the life and work of Dame Muriel Spark, author of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and one of the 20th century's most enigmatic cultural figures, on the one-hundredth anniversary of her birth.

Born in Edinburgh, Muriel's extraordinary life took her to colonial Africa, wartime London, literary New York and vibrant 1960s Rome. Her most famous novel - The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie - immortalised the city of her childhood but with an added darkness and acerbic wit that became her trademark style.

Kirsty retraces Muriel's footsteps from the cobbled streets of Edinburgh to the sublime beauty of Victoria Falls. Contributions from writers AL Kennedy, Janice Galloway, Ali Smith, William Boyd and Val McDermid tell of Muriel Spark's unique literary style and a life full of reinvention.

Kirsty meets with the journalist Alan Taylor, who has recently published his memoir of Muriel, and she travels to Italy for the first television interview with Penelope Jardine, Muriel's close friend of 40 years.

National Library of Scotland, Scottish Charity, No: SCO11086
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BBC Radio 4 - Open Book, A celebration of Muriel Spark

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09lxpyg

Birthday Lunch Change of Venue

Owing to the unexpected closure of the Royal Overseas League, our annual Birthday Lunch is now being held at the Bruntsfield Hotel.

The date remains the same - February 4th - 12.30 for 1 pm.  The cost is slightly more at £27 instead of £25.

Because this year's Birthday Lunch celebrates Dame Muriel's Centenary, the quiz will be based on her life, in particular her autobiography Curriculum Vitae.