Writers' portraits

    We've had a look at some of the One Hundred Writers in One Box (posts here, here and here), but they are all photographs of writers, what about painted portraits for a change? I thought it might be fun to start an occasional series of images of authors and see where that leads us, so I'm beginning today, on what would have been her 94th. birthday, with Muriel Spark as painted very strikingly by Alexander Moffat.

    In 2004, some years after this picture was painted, I went to hear Dame Muriel speak at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. She was very much as I had expected, the sharp wit, the smiling countenance, the soft Scottish accent - but the inner core of steel, I suspect - and she was obviously savouring the adulation she got from her audience that day (you can read about it in this article). Has anyone read Martin Stannard's biography of her? I'd be keen to know more about the complex person behind the books. As to her most famous creation, here's a clip of fellow Edinburgh author Ian Rankin (whose doctoral studies were on Muriel Spark) talking about The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.

Comments

[michelle]

That's a lovely painted portrait! Much looking forward to this new series of painted potraits in time to come. I have a copy of the Martin Stannard's biography sitting on the TBR pile. Really should get to it soon, as I'm also quite fascinated to learn more about the person behind the wit and the 'weird-in-a-way' kind of characters in her books.

[Freda]

Lovely idea - you can see that core of steel in this portrait. Look forward to more!

[Margaret Powling]

I recognised that as Dame Muriel even before I read your blog, so at least it looks like her! I think that's a super portrait!

[Rhys]

I have read the biography and I felt some sympathy (maybe a little.... no a lot! definitely a lot !!)....and so when I was in Edinburgh (offering moral support to what seemed like the whole student population and visits to numerous cafes(to a select few) on that road where they live (forgotten its name!)) before Christmas (sorry Cornflower I was gone in a flash) there was time (fortunately Cornflower...yikes!)to invent my own Muriel Spark walk !!!!....... But what I am really having difficulty with today is explaining to my son (the student to cap all students in the whole of Edinburgh) that it is NOT acceptable to be disappointed with a mark of 70%......

[Simon T]

For some reason I missed this post before - lovely idea, to feature portraits. I look forward to seeing what else appears. And serendipitous that you should feature Muriel Spark when I've been musing on setting up Muriel Spark Reading Week (see my latest blog post) - thrilled with the uptake so far, and I really hope you can join in, Karen - although it won't be for two or three months.

[Cornflower]

I'd love to join in, Simon.