Frank H. (perryfran) reviewed on 7/18/2019 + 1221 more book reviews

I remember seeing the movie version of this when it first came out back in 1969. The movie starred Maggie Smith as Miss Brodie and won her an Oscar for the role.

I always admired this movie even though the character of Miss Brodie brings into question the morality of what it takes to be a teacher to young impressionable girls. I believe the movie version, which was based on a stage version, brought to light and made popular the phase "creme de la creme" and the assertion, "Give me a girl at an impressionable age, and she is mine for life." The novel, of course, has a bit more depth than the movie version and focuses on how the teacher, Miss Brodie, is "genuinely intent on opening up her girls' lives, on heightening their awareness of themselves and their world, and on breaking free of restrictive, conventional ways of thinking, feeling, and being." But Miss Brodie is basically amoral and are her views what should be taught to young girls? The story is full of sexual tension and fantasies on the part of Miss Brodie and her girls. The novel takes place in the 1930s and Miss Brodie is also a sympathizer to Fascism which in the end leads to her downfall.

This was a short novel at less than 150 pages but I felt it was worth reading for Spark's prose and for the very distinct views of Miss Brodie. I would also like to see the movie version again and will be looking out for it.

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