'Live your prime whatever its time'

 

“Be on the alert to recognize your prime at whatever time of your life it may occur.  You must then live it to its fullest.” – Muriel Spark

Born on this date in 1918, Spark applied that philosophy to an award-winning writing career.   In 2008, shortly after her death, she was named by The Times of London as the 8^th greatest British writer since World War II – a war in which she served as an Intelligence officer for the British army.   It was during her Army years that she realized she had a knack for the clever use of words, and once the war was over she began a serious writing career.   While serving as editor of Poetry Review she authored several critically acclaimed poetry collections and books of criticism before turning to short stories and novels.

 

Best known for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, also adapted as both a play and a movie, Spark lived and wrote in Britain, America and Italy.  She was awarded the Golden PEN Award for Lifetime Achievement in Literature in 2006.

  

The author of 22 novels and 21 books of nonfiction and poetry, this mother of three also wrote several best-selling children’s books.  

 

 “Parents,” she said, “learn a lot from their children about coping with life.”