Monday, January 9, 2012

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

I recently found a copy of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark in a branch of the French Charity shop Emmaüs.  It was in English - as it happens they have quite a few books in English. 

Inside was a bookmark advertising James Thin Bookshops, a company which seem to have bookshops throughout Scotland.  I couldn't help wondering if Caroline had left it lying around somewhere on a visit to France.

I remember that it was dramatised on TV when I was quite young and I remember enjoying watching it, but would I enjoy the book?  Well dear reader, I couldn't put it down!  I was amused by the vision of life from the point of view of young girls on the edge of puberty.  They are troubled by the idea of sex and imagine all sorts of things, especally when they find out that their teacher (who is in her Prime!) had a lover who died during the First World War.  The book is only 126 pages long, which is much too short.

7 comments:

Caroline said...

Heck! I am still looking for a copy we are supposed to have. Then again there are piles of books here we can't find shelf room for...

Thins hit hard times after generations of success...

Anji said...

Caroline: It's a Penguin edition. Doesn't give the date of publication but the prices on the back are in 'new pence'. If you think it's the one you lost I'll return it to you with pleasure!

A Lady's Life said...

I love old books and stories to see the changes taking place Some for the good and some for the bad lol

Coline said...

Fab book and a fab film. I doubt that it would be mine with any kind of bookmark...

Thank but best pass it on, most english speakers I have met in France form a lending group and this is a very good read. Mine will turn up eventually and I have a pile half a metre high waiting to be read and all scowling at my new Kindle...

djawa said...

maybe that book should enter the museum lol.,
hi anji., can i exchange link with you.,?

Elisa said...

Sounds like a good book....haven't really heard of it but it sounds vaguely familiar. I will read it! Thanks for your great abc homeschooling website on my blog. Hadn't heard of it before! Thanks for taking the time to leave me the link. =)

Anji said...

A Lady's Life: Education for young ladies has certainly changed since those days

Caroline: it's too good to pass on!

Elisa: I think that you will enjoy the book. If you have a printer you'll find lots of interesting material on ABC Teach.

Read and be read ExposeYourBlog!