'Live it to its fullest!'

 

“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 in England on this date in 1918, Spark applied that philosophy to an award-winning career as a novelist, short story writer, poet and essayist.   In 2008 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 those Army years, in fact, that she realized she had a knack for the clever use of words.  

 

Best known for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, which also was adapted as both a play and a movie, Spark lived in Britain and America before settling in Italy, where she continued writing until her death in 2006.  Shortly before her death, she was awarded the Golden PEN Award for Lifetime Achievement in Literature.

  

Muriel Spark

While serving as editor of Poetry Review magazine Spark authored several critically acclaimed poetry collections and books of criticism then went on to write 22 novels and a dozen nonfiction books.  A mother of three she also wrote several best-selling children’s books.  

 

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