This year marks the 20th anniversary of the death of Dame Muriel Spark, yet the buzz around her has never been more vibrant.
A biography last year will be followed by another this spring, the first volume of her letters was prominently reviewed, an academic tome on her religious conversion has been published, and fresh editions are planned.
This autumn, the National Theatre of Scotland will present The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie at the Lyceum.
And a public competition for a Spark memorial was announced to some fanfare last year.
Once installed in East Princes Street Gardens, it will address the lack of commemorations of women with named statues in Edinburgh.
This is where The Muriel Spark Society comes in. Edinburgh-based philanthropists Morag and James Cameron were introduced to Dame Muriel’s longtime companion, Penelope Jardine, who has become the Society’s Patron. It was considered that Ms Jardine’s approval was crucial in green lighting the project.
Eric Dickson, Chair of the Society, explained: “The Society was founded by Christine Lloyd in Edinburgh in 2001, with Dame Muriel’s blessing, She and Penelope became life members from the start, and since then we have organised lectures, talks, visits and an annual birthday lunch around Muriel’s birthday on 1 February.
“The list of our speakers is impressive, and has included Margaret Atwood, Janice Galloway, Alan Taylor and Ali Smith.
“On the Society’s tenth anniversary we celebrated with a group visit to Dame Muriel’s home in Tuscany, and subsequent trips to Rome and Umbria followed.
“This year I applied to English Heritage for a blue plaque to be put up in London where she lived after the War. A Society visit for the unveiling may be on the cards. Any member of the Society can join us.
If you would like more information on joining then please get in touch with our Secretary by email [email protected].”
https://themurielsparksociety.blogspot.com
