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1930s: The city where a teacher transforms the girls she teaches….
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
What you need to know before your trail
In 1930s Edinburgh, six ten-year-old girls, Sandy, Rose, Mary, Jenny, Monica, and Eunice are assigned Miss Jean Brodie, who describes herself as being “in my prime,” as their teacher. Miss Brodie is there to give them a real education she says in the sense of the Latin verb educere – to lead out. This means that she will give them not just academic skills but life skills too. They will study art, literature and she will talk to them about love, relationships and more, allowing her the chance to share her widsom with the girls.
The girls become known as The Brodie set and are marked out for greatness. But there is something dark in their circle..
Travel Guide
Edinburgh
The novel has biographical aspects to it. The character of Jean Brodie who is said to be based on Spark’s teacher Christina Kay who taught her for two years at James Gillespie’s High School for Girls and encouraged her to become a writer. The school still exists, though it is now a comprehensive, and is located south of the meadows in the Marchmont area of Edinburgh.
The film of the book was shot in Edinburgh and features many of the city’s landmarks such as Edinburgh Academy on Henderson Row, Greyfriars Churchyard, Dalmeny House and Barnbougle Castle.
If you want to see the academic and old side to Edinburgh then this is the novel for you!
Streetview Maps
A) Edinburgh - Miss Jean Brodie's School (TV)
C) Edinburgh - The Leith Docks
Booktrail Boarding Pass Information: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
Author/Guide: Muriel Spark Destination: Edinburgh Departure Time: 1930s
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