THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE

In Spark’s dark novel, Miss Jean Brodie is a study in off-center individualism. As a teacher, she creates her own ideas of what her pupils need to know and takes pains to avoid the limits others may place upon her at a time when most women accepted these types of limitations. Her pre-feminist practices ultimately result in her being fired as a result of the betrayal of one of her students. Narrator Nadia May’s voices are an almost musical backdrop to the story; her accents dance gracefully with one another throughout all types of interaction. Miss Jean Brodie's eccentricities and the author's use of time shifts are not lost in May's reading. May keeps the reader right by her side. L.B.F. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 07/ JAN 08]