The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

Dame Muriel Spark's classic novel, originally published in 1961.

At the staid Marcia Blaine School for Girls, in Edinburgh, Scotland, teacher extraordinaire Miss Jean Brodie is unmistakably, and outspokenly, in her prime. She is passionate in the application of her unorthodox teaching methods, in her attraction to the married art master, Teddy Lloyd, in her affair with the bachelor music master, Gordon Lowther, and--most important--in her dedication to "her girls," the students she selects to be her creme de la creme. Fanatically devoted, each member of the Brodie set--Eunice, Jenny, Mary, Monica, Rose, and Sandy--is "famous for something," and Miss Brodie strives to bring out the best in each one. Determined to instill in them independence, passion, and ambition, Miss Brodie advises her girls, "Safety does not come first. Goodness, Truth, and Beauty come first. Follow me."

And they do. But one of them will betray her.

Reviews -

"A perfect book." -- Chicago Tribune

"Novel by Muriel Spark, published in 1961 and adapted for the stage in 1966. The story of an eccentric Edinburgh teacher who inspires cultlike reverence in her young students, the novel is Spark's best-known work. The novel explores themes of innocence, betrayal, and cold rationality opposed to unchecked emotionalism. The story of Miss Brodie's ultimate downfall is told from the unsympathetic perspective of one of her students." -- from The Merriam-Webster Encyclopedia of Literature

To learn more about the author, Dame Muriel Spark, please read our article by clicking here.