22 Facts About Muriel Spark

Dame Muriel Sarah Spark was a Scottish novelist, short story writer, poet and essayist.

Muriel Spark's father was Jewish, born in Edinburgh of Lithuanian immigrant parents, and her English mother had been raised Anglican.

Muriel Spark was educated at James Gillespie's School for Girls, where she received some education in the Presbyterian faith.

Muriel Spark taught English for a brief time, and then worked as a secretary in a department store.

In 1940 Muriel Spark left Sidney and temporarily placed Robin in a convent school, as children were not permitted to travel during the war.

Muriel Spark returned to Britain in early 1944, taking residence at the Helena Club in London.

Muriel Spark worked in intelligence for the remainder of World War II.

Muriel Spark provided money at regular intervals to support her son.

Muriel Spark maintained it was her intention for her family to set up home in England, but Robin returned to Britain with his father later to be brought up by his maternal grandparents in Scotland.

Muriel Spark was the subject of frequent rumours of lesbian relationships from her time in New York onwards, although Spark and her friends denied their validity.

Muriel Spark left her entire estate to Jardine, taking measures to ensure that her son received nothing.

Muriel Spark died in 2006 and is buried in the cemetery of Sant'Andrea Apostolo in Oliveto.

Muriel Spark began writing seriously, under her married name, after World War II, beginning with poetry and literary criticism.

In 1953 Muriel Spark was baptized in the Church of England but in 1954 she decided to join the Roman Catholic Church, which she considered crucial in her development toward becoming a novelist.

Muriel Spark was formally instructed by Dom Ambrose Agius, a Benedictine monk of Ealing Priory, who she had known from her Poetry Society days, and was received into the Roman Catholic Church on 1st May 1954 by Dom Ambrose.

Muriel Spark displayed originality of subject and tone, making extensive use of flashforwards and imagined conversations.

Muriel Spark used her archive to write her autobiography, "Curriculum Vitae", and after its publication in 1992 much of the material was deposited at National Library of Scotland.

Muriel Spark refused permission for publication of a biography of her by Martin Stannard.

Muriel Spark became an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1967 and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1993 for services to literature.

Muriel Spark was twice shortlisted for the Booker Prize, in 1969 for The Public Image and in 1981 for Loitering with Intent.

Muriel Spark received eight honorary doctorates including Doctor of the University degree from her alma mater, Heriot-Watt University in 1995; a Doctor of Humane Letters from the American University of Paris in 2005; and Honorary Doctor of Letters degrees from the Universities of Aberdeen, Edinburgh, London, Oxford, St Andrews and Strathclyde.

In 2010, Muriel Spark was posthumously shortlisted for the Lost Man Booker Prize of 1970 for The Driver's Seat.