It’s time for another unnecessary rankings! In today’s iteration, I’m turning my attention to a very prolific novelist – I’ve been steadily reading her for years, helped by the fact that most of her books are very short. There are still a couple I haven’t read (The Bachelors and Aiding and Abetting), but this is my ranking of all of Muriel Spark’s other novels/novellas. I’ve written reviews of most of them, so if you’d like to know more, you’ll probably find details in my masterlist of reviews.
Let me know which Spark novels you’d put at the top – or, if you’re feeling in the mood, the bottom.
20. The Public Image (1968)
I’m baffled that this one got shortlisted for the Booker. It’s probably the only Spark novel I’ve found boring, and I found Spark’s look at celebrity through the lens of a film actress to be (shockingly, for her) predictable and tedious.
19. The Takeover (1976)
Reading the Wikipedia summary, I’m realising I remember the Italian setting (Lake Nemi) but none of the characters – which speaks volumes.
18. Robinson (1958)
Spark’s second novel is a play on Robinson Crusoe that sadly isn’t very successful, in my eyes.
17. Not To Disturb (1971)
The novella is mostly focused on the servants quarters in a house where tragedy has happened – or is shortly to happen? I enjoyed the writing but never really knew what was going on.
16. Reality and Dreams (1996)
A more successful look at the world of acting and cinema than The Public Image, this late-career Spark novel is about a film director who wants to keep control of his film after falling from crane…
15. The Mandelbaum Gate (1965)
The gate in question is between Israel and Jordan, and a knowingly charming man called Freddy lives in the region, crossing back and forth with some kind of diplomatic immunity. Things get complex when ‘half Jewish’ Barbara comes on the scene, having followed her archeologist fiance to the Holy Land, and accidentally becomes part of a crisis. This is far and away Spark’s longest novel, at 400 pages, and it’s interesting to see her do her thing at greater length.
14. Territorial Rights (1979)
A bunch of mostly unpleasant people antagonise each other in Venice. It’s very good, but somehow misses the (forgive me) spark that her novels have at their finest.
13. The Hothouse by the East River (1973)
The most memorable detail of this book is that the heroine’s shadow falls in the wrong direction. Elsa spends much of her time looking out the window at the East River. But what is she really looking at? Why has her psychoanalyst, Garvin, moved in as their butler? And is Elsa living in reality or hallucination? Even for Spark, The Hothouse by the East River is particularly weird – but it has quite a satisfying conclusion. It’s also the most recent of hers I read, and that was three years ago, so I need some more Spark and soon.
12. The Finishing School (2004)
Spark’s final novel is set at a finishing school in Switzerland, and is a fascinating exploration of how creativity can create divisions and emnities that fester under the surface. She was still innovative and excellent right to the end.
11. The Driver’s Seat (1970)
One of Spark’s most discussed novellas – we know from the outset that Lise has been killed while on a trip abroad, but don’t know who does the deed. It is psychologically and narratively very satisfying, but it’s outside the top 10 because of my (often-mentioned!) problems with the title.
10. The Comforters (1957)
Spark started her output showing how odd her choice of themes would be: Caroline, a novelist, starts to hear voices and typewriter noises through the walls, and begins to wonder if they are dictating her actions. From the outset, Spark shows an astonishing assurance in her writing.
9. The Ballad of Peckham Rye (1960)
The arrival of Dougal Douglas in Peckham Rye spells disaster in the lives of many of his neighbours – the brilliance of Spark’s plot is that she never outright names him as the devil, but it’s hard to draw any other conclusion. Her eccentricity is on full display.
8. The Abbess of Crewe (1974)
Who but Spark would set the Watergate scandal in a nunnery? This is perhaps her most direct extended satire, and she’s clearly having a lot of fun doing it. It could be a one-note joke, but her confidence and brilliance with character mean the novel is a success.
7. The Girls of Slender Means (1963)
I think this novel – about the young women resident at The May of Teck Club – is the best example of Spark’s frequent manipulation of narrative time. That is, she gives away huge plot points long before they happen, mentioning them in passing, and shows how compelling a novel can be even when we know precisely what will take place. I think almost all of her novels are worth reading, but the top seven on my list are all masterpieces.
6. A Far Cry From Kensington (1988)
Agnes ‘Nancy’ Hawkins is an editor at a publisher living in a boarding house, and through her we see an overwrought Polish dressmaker neighbour and, most memorably, the ‘pisseur de copie’ Hector Bartlett who stalks Agnes and whom she considers (and calls) an appalling writer and dreadful person. It’s such a spiky, fun, strange book that apparently took revenge on a real ex-lover of Spark’s. If that’s true, it is a devastating portrait.
5. The Only Problem (1984)
Of my favourite Sparks, this is probably the one I see mentioned least. Harvey Gotham is living in France, writing a book about the biblical figure Job – the ‘only problem’ being the problem of suffering. This is an eccentric enough premise for a plot, but Spark makes everything characteristically unhinged by introducing – of all thigns – a far right terrorist organisation. The novella is bizarre but so grounded in the characters that the contrast works beautifully.
4. Symposium (1990)
If I were to pick one for a Spark newbie to start with, I’d go with this one – and did, indeed, get my book group to read it. Symposium starts with a cast of characters at a dinner party – during which one household is burgled. We then follow different characters in the lead up to the party and afterwards. The book feels like the most representative of Spark’s style and often-returned-to devices, and it’s a brilliant example of them.
3. Memento Mori (1959)
WHAT a glorious premise: people living in an old people’s home keep getting phone calls reminding them that they will die. The solution to that particular mystery is SO Spark, but along the way we get to meet the wide cast of fascinating older people, written with exceptional insight and sharpness by an author who was only in her early 40s at the time. It’s also a rare example from her body of work of some likeable, even lovable, characters.
2. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1961)
Yes, this one is deservedly famous. Spark is often described as a Scottish novelist, but this is her only major work to take place in Scotland – Miss Jean Brodie is a teacher whose combination of culture, romance, and megalomania inspire and damage a generation of schoolgirls. She is an astonishing creation, played to perfection by Maggie Smith in the film adaptation – absolutely unforgettable, and I’m glad Brodie has her place in the pantheon of literary greats.
1. Loitering With Intent (1981)
But my favourite is the wacky Loitering With Intent, helmed by writer Fleur Talbot. She is trying and struggling to complete her first novel, Warrender Chase, and takes on work as secretary to a group of older people trying to put their memoirs to paper. She starts fabricating their stories out of boredom and recklessness – not realising she has somehow guessed the truth. And then events in her novel seem to intertwine with the life of her boss. For my money, Loitering With Intent is the best and most enjoyable example of Spark’s weirdness, her ruthless, intelligent heroines, and a compelling plot that wrongfoots the reader.
Do let me know your favourite Sparks – or where you’ll be starting, if you haven’t read her yet.
Well, this was food for thought!
I’ve only read four of Spark’s novels, and in the wake of Maggie Smith’s passing, I watched The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie on You Tube so that is more on my mind than the others. So I’ll pass on ranking them except to say that I’m glad I didn’t read The Driver’s Seat first. It is so bonkers that I might never have read another one.
Ha, yes, I can see that! She is never exactly normal, but some of them are madder than others. And someone has reminded me that Maggie Smith is also in Memento Mori, so I’m going to have to watch that soon.
I’m slowly reading thru her books. I LOVE this quote from Driver’s Seat–which nearly gave me a heart attack lol “Not really a presence….The lack of an absence….” I loved Miss Jean Brodie–and both the Maggie Smith film and the tv version that introduced me to it years and years ago. Of your list, I’ve read #2, #6, #7, #11, and #12 (A huge disappointment). Now, to read about Watergate in a convent! what a hoot!
‘The lack of an absence’ is such a Spark turn of phrase :D
Yes. I read Loitering with Intent last year. So good. Funny too.
Yes! She can be so funny.
Have read 17 of these and wouldn’t quibble with your rankings (though I might put Peckham Rye a bit higher). I’ve only read it once, but people’s reaction to Symposium has become the acid test for me, so I’m thrilled to see it so high up. I never seem to see it mentioned, let alone praised, and maybe that’s because its title is less memorable than some of the others. Must reread. You’re in for a treat with The Bachelors; Aiding and Abetting, less so, perhaps… My one memory of reading it is that my Penguin copy ended in mid-air and turned out to be missing the last page, something I thought only happened in fiction, but luckily I managed to find the last few paragraphs online. I see from the blog you’ve also read Curriculum Vitae – another fab book. What a writer!
Glad I have passed the acid test! I do wonder why it’s less often mentioned than her other great works – perhaps you’re right about the title.
And yes, Curriculum Vitae is brilliant, and exactly as odd an autobiography as you’d expect from Spark.
I’ve read 8 out of your top 11, only The Comforters, The only problem and Loitering with intent to go from that lot. My fave is The Ballad of Peckham Rye – it is just so mad, and Symposium is right up there also.
Oo enjoy the remaining ones from my favourites! And glad you love Symposium too – I’d like to see that one discussed more widely.
I’m delighted that Peckham Rye made your top 10 as like Annabel it’s my favourite. I have Loitering With Intent in the TBR so I’m very encouraged by your list!
It’s definitely one I want to revisit at some point too.
I only know her Jean Brodie because we did a staged production of it when I was in High School, but that Loitering sounds fun, and worthy of putting on my wish list.
Excellent! I think you’ll love it.
I’m only on my second ,The Drivers Seat, after Jean Brodie so I’m very pleased to see this list! Actually, I wasn’t quite sure what had happened to Lise but luckily I don’t mind spoilers!
Oh oops, I may have misremembered how obvious it is meant to be!
I spotted Memento Mori on the BBC iplayer the other day and started watching it – lots of top quality actors, including Maggie Smith (so perhaps that’s why they had put it on). I was fascinated by the period feel of it.
Oo will have to watch that – I put it in my queue and forgot all about it; thanks for the reminder.
Thank you…love lists n I appreciate that it’s not as easy as it looks and is very time consuming…but so worthwhile.
Love your top 7, have read most and agree, now will read ones I missed.
I’m not a clever reader (that’s why I listen to u and others!) and I hadn’t really seen that she does give away lots of pertinent details early on….I do agree that she is in such control of her work that I feel always on solid ground.
Thanks for all u do.
Quinn
Thank you! I always have fun putting these together, and love seeing people’s responses to them.
I’m with you on your top three, but my preferred order would be different. Joint top for me would be Memento Mori and Brodie (I find them impossible to rank, partly because they’re so different from one another!), followed by Loitering at no. 3. Your post has also reminded me of all the Spark novels I’ve yet to read: 5, 8 and 12-20!
Well you seem to have dodged my least favourite Sparks so far :D but The Only Problem definitely deserves a wider audience.
Loitering with Intent has to be one of my best charity shop accidental finds ever and introduced me to Spark. Wholeheartedly agree that it should be number one. I urge you to read The Bachelors too – for one of the best comical mundane opening conversations I’ve encountered in a novel. I’m doing that thing with Spark where I don’t want to read all of her works so I’ve got some left to look forward to. Also love the way she doesn’t always have nice old people, they are sometimes as scheming and egocentric as their younger counterparts.
Oh brilliant! So glad you took a chance on it. And it’s been encouraging that so many people love The Bachelors.
Oh, interesting! Hard for me to choose, particularly as a lot of my Spark reading was pre-blog. The first one in fact was Memento Mori which took me by surprise as I didn’t expect her to be so weird – but I’ve gone on to love the weirdness of her writing! The Girls of Slender Means is a particular favourite, as are the Comforters and The Driver’s Seat. I need to read more of her, don’t I??
I love this post, and good news for me as I’ve just started Loitering with Intent! Well, I listened to the first chapter a little while ago and have been finishing up other books so I’ll probably start again. Less good news is that I started reading and buying Spark at the end of her career. So my shelves have books like Territorial Rights and Reality and Dreams. But I DO have Symposium too.
I feel like I’ve only read Miss Jean Brodie, The girls of Slender Means and – of course – The Ballad of Peckham Rye (because I used to live there). All pre-blog, though, in my 20s flourishing of reading (and maybe from Mary, the woman who introduced me to a lot of the authors I love). I’ve always respected rather than loved her, maybe too odd for me, though heaven knows I don’t usually mind a bit of oddness!
Yes!! Loitering with Intent for the win! To me, it’s her most memorable, so clever and funny. (And it convinced me to read The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini, which I adored.) Thank you for the wonderful posts, as always. I go on my way rejoicing…
Good to know the ones that I’ve read are among your top 7, so that means I’ve been spending time with the good ones! Have started on Loitering With Intent some time back but got distracted. Will definitely get back to it with renewed intent now 😄
1,3,4, 9 & 10 seem interesting. It does seem that Symposium is the place to begin anew. I shall search for it. Thanks for the list.
What a fun post! I adore Spark and have actually read them all but there are some I don’t remember well and need to revisit. I agree about a lot of this, although I didn’t enjoy The Driver’s Seat at all and I did like Robinson and would put it higher. Bachelors would be top ten for me. I have read Aiding and Abetting but that’s one of the ones I don’t remember well. My very favorite is Girls of Slender Means – that one I’ve read three times and it only gets better :)