麻豆社

Jean Brodie is Scottish writer Muriel Spark鈥檚 most famous creation - the fictional teacher in a novel that has also been adapted for stage, screen and television. Cathy MacDonald reveals how Spark used her experience of Edinburgh between the wars, the rise of fascism, her own schooldays and an inspirational teacher to shape one of the great novels of the 20th century.

Spark was educated at James Gillespie鈥檚 School for Girls 鈥� made famous (or perhaps infamous!) in her novel as the Marcia Blane School. It was there that Spark fell under the influence of teacher Christina Kay. Spark would later refer to Miss Kay 鈥榓 character in search of an author鈥� and based Jean Brodie on her. Miss Kay encouraged her young pupil to write 鈥� and inspired Miss Brodie鈥檚 famous line, 鈥楪ive me a girl at an impressionable age and she is mine for life.鈥�

鈥橲 i Brodie obair cho cli霉iteach 鈥檚 a sgr矛obh an t- Albannach Muriel Spark-mu neach-teagaisg ficseanach ann an nobhail leasaichte son 脿rd-霉rlar, sgr矛n neo telebhisean. Tha Cathy NicDh貌mhnaill a鈥檓矛neachadh na chleachd Spark gus aon de na nobhailean as fhe脿rr san 20mh linn ullachadh - b鈥檌ad a h-e貌las mu Dh霉n 脠ideann eadar na cogaidhean, faististeach a鈥檇ol am meud, a l脿ithean-sgoile agus neach-teagaisg misneachail.

Chaidh Spark gu Sgoil Chaileagan Sheumais Gilleasbuig, ainmeil ( neo fi霉鈥檚 neo-ainmeil!) san nobhail mar Sgoil Marcia Blane. B鈥檃nn innte a bhuannaich Spark bho theagaisg Cairist矛ona Kay. Thuig Spark gur i 鈥榥each airidh air sgr矛obhadair鈥� agus sann oirre a st猫idhich i caractar Jean Brodie. Gu cinnteach mhisnich Miss Kay Muriel gu deagh sgr矛obhadh agus 鈥檚 i a bhrosnaich abairt ainmeil Miss Brodie 鈥楾hoir dh貌mhsa caileag aig aois dhr霉idhteach agus sann leamsa i gu s矛orraidh.鈥�

Contributors include:

Annie Cheape 鈥� television producer/director.
M脿iri Kidd 鈥� writer.
Donald J MacDonald 鈥� Head Teacher, James Gillespie鈥檚 High School.
Dr Peter Mackay 鈥� lecturer in Department of English, University of St Andrews.
Patsi Mackenzie 鈥� television producer & presenter.
Dolina MacLennan 鈥� actor, singer & writer.
Rosemary Ward, Scottish Book Trust.
Olga Wojtas 鈥� Writer.

In Gaelic with English subtitles