I too remember reading Spark's comment about Sandy, but can't remember where, sorry.
When I went to college in Edinburgh in 1971 my landlady was a Morningside Lady - very nice, but absolutely of the type, tweed-wearing, church-going, and she always had a female student lodger - she threw me out after a term, very nicely, for being disreputable. At college I met a girl who'd been to "Marcia Blaine's Academy" (and had been an extra in the film). She seemed to feel the experience had been lacking Brodie but much the same otherwise.
I almost wish it had been more of a story - I was really just a slightly rackety 17-year-old who stayed out late and (in those days) smoked. But perhaps she was shrewder about what I smoked than I realised!
Such an interesting piece. I've been reading some Spark lately, and it may be time to revisit Brodie. I was fascinated by the reference to the Mitford sisters, I think you're onto something there!
It's a compelling read. Which ones have you been reading? I read quite a few but ages ago - A Far Cry from Kensington and The Ballad of Peckham Rye stick in the mind.
I too remember reading Spark's comment about Sandy, but can't remember where, sorry.
When I went to college in Edinburgh in 1971 my landlady was a Morningside Lady - very nice, but absolutely of the type, tweed-wearing, church-going, and she always had a female student lodger - she threw me out after a term, very nicely, for being disreputable. At college I met a girl who'd been to "Marcia Blaine's Academy" (and had been an extra in the film). She seemed to feel the experience had been lacking Brodie but much the same otherwise.
I think she is supposed to have said it at the Edinburgh Book Festival, but I can't remember where I read it.
Thrown out as disreputable by a Morningside Lady! That is a claim to fame! Sounds like a story in itself.
I almost wish it had been more of a story - I was really just a slightly rackety 17-year-old who stayed out late and (in those days) smoked. But perhaps she was shrewder about what I smoked than I realised!
Such an interesting piece. I've been reading some Spark lately, and it may be time to revisit Brodie. I was fascinated by the reference to the Mitford sisters, I think you're onto something there!
It's a compelling read. Which ones have you been reading? I read quite a few but ages ago - A Far Cry from Kensington and The Ballad of Peckham Rye stick in the mind.
Far Cry, and The Girls of Slender Means. Loved them both, they aren't like anything else, are they?
They are quite odd books for sure, I never feel I quite "get" them - maybe that's the point!
Liked the comparison of Miss Brodie's group of girls with the Mitford sisters.
There's been a lot about the Mitfords lately, so maybe that's why it chimed with me.