The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
by Muriel Spark
audio book: 4 hours
originally published in 1961

*** Official Plot Summary***

At the staid Marcia Blaine School for Girls, in Edinburgh, Scotland, teacher extraordinaire Miss Jean Brodie is unmistakably, and outspokenly, in her prime. She is passionate in the application of her unorthodox teaching methods, in her attraction to the married art master, Teddy Lloyd, in her affair with the bachelor music master, Gordon Lowther, and—most important—in her dedication to "her girls," the students she selects to be her crème de la crème. Fanatically devoted, each member of the Brodie set—Eunice, Jenny, Mary, Monica, Rose, and Sandy—is "famous for something," and Miss Brodie strives to bring out the best in each one. Determined to instill in them independence, passion, and ambition, Miss Brodie advises her girls, "Safety does not come first. Goodness, Truth, and Beauty come first. Follow me."

And they do. But one of them will betray her.

*** My Thoughts ***

I can't give too many opinions on this audio book because I didn't pay close attention to it. I listened at work, while doing other things, and often found myself having to rewind to catch parts that I missed.

That said, it was an interesting story. The narrator did an excellent job, and with a great Scottish accent as well. I wasn't particularly captivated by the characters or the plot, but I was entertained, and that is what I was looking for from this one. Plus the ending surprised me a bit ... always a good thing, I say.