Muriel Spark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Muriel Spark
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Spark in 1960
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| Born | Muriel Sarah Camberg 1 February 1918 Edinburgh, UK |
| Died | 13 April 2006 (aged 88) Florence, Tuscany, Italy |
| Resting place | Cemetery of Sant'Andrea Apostolo, Civitella in Val di Chiana |
| Occupation | Novelist, short story writer, poet, essayist |
| Language | English |
| Alma mater | Heriot-Watt College |
| Notable works | The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie The Mandelbaum Gate The Driver's Seat Memento Mori |
| Spouse |
Sidney Oswald Spark
(m. 1937; sep. 1940) |
| Children | 1 |
Dame Muriel Sarah Spark (born Muriel Sarah Camberg; 1 February 1918 – 13 April 2006) was a famous British novelist, short story writer, poet, and essayist. She is best known for her unique writing style and memorable characters.
Contents
Life Story of Muriel Spark
Muriel Camberg was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. Her father was Jewish, and her mother was raised Anglican. Muriel went to James Gillespie's School for Girls. After school, she took a course in business writing. She worked briefly as an English teacher and then as a secretary.
In 1937, Muriel married Sidney Oswald Spark in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). Their son, Robin, was born in 1938. Muriel soon found that her husband had serious mood swings. She left him in 1940 and returned to Britain in 1944. During World War II, she worked in intelligence in London.
After the war, Muriel lived in London for several years. Later, she moved to New York City and then to Rome, Italy. In the early 1970s, she settled in Tuscany, a beautiful region in Italy. She lived there with her friend, artist Penelope Jardine. Muriel Spark passed away in 2006 and is buried in Italy.
Muriel Spark's Writing Career
Muriel Spark started writing seriously after World War II. She began with poetry and literary criticism (writing about books). In 1947, she became the editor of Poetry Review. This was a rare achievement for a woman at that time.
In 1954, Muriel joined the Roman Catholic Church. She felt this decision was very important for her writing. She believed it helped her understand human life better, which is key for a novelist.
Her first novel, The Comforters, came out in 1957. It was very popular with critics. The book was about a young woman who realizes she is a character in a novel.
Her most famous book, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, was published in 1961. This novel showed her unique style. It used flashforwards (showing future events) and imagined conversations. The school in the book was inspired by Muriel's own high school. Another novel, The Girls of Slender Means (1963), was inspired by a club where she lived.
Her Personal Archive and Biography
Muriel Spark kept detailed records of her life and work. This included diaries, accounts, and thousands of letters. She used these records to write her autobiography, "Curriculum Vitae," in 1992. Much of this material is now kept at the National Library of Scotland.
A biography about Muriel Spark was written by Martin Stannard. It was published in 2009, after her death.
Awards and Recognition
Muriel Spark received many awards for her writing.
- In 1965, she won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for The Mandelbaum Gate.
- She was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1967. This is a special honor from the British monarch.
- In 1993, she became a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. This is a very high honor, similar to being knighted.
- She was nominated twice for the Booker Prize, a major literary award.
- In 1998, she received the Golden PEN Award for her amazing lifetime work in literature.
Muriel Spark also received eight honorary doctorates from universities around the world. These include degrees from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, and Oxford.
In 2008, The Times newspaper listed Muriel Spark as one of the "50 greatest British writers since 1945."
Relationship with Her Son
Muriel Spark and her son, Robin, sometimes had a difficult relationship.
Images for kids
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Spark in 1960
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Muriel Spark, Poeta
See also
In Spanish: Muriel Spark para niños
