James Bailey: Muriel Spark, Rewritten
How do literary legends get made? And what happens when the real person refuses to fit the story?
Muriel Spark was one of the most original and influential writers of the twentieth century: novelist, poet, convert, satirist and creator of some of the most unforgettable characters in modern fiction. Yet she remains an elusive figure, surrounded by myth, contradiction and speculation.
In Like a Cat Loves a Bird: The Nine Lives of Muriel Spark, biographer James Bailey offers a fresh and captivating portrait of the author of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.
Following Spark from Edinburgh to South Africa, London, New York, Rome and Tuscany, he traces a life shaped by reinvention, ambition, faith, artistic brilliance and an unwavering determination to live on her own terms.
At a time when questions of identity, self-invention and the relationship between art and life feel more relevant than ever, Bailey reveals a woman far more complex than her public reputation suggests.
Rich with literary insight, surprising discoveries and stories from a remarkable life, this event offers a rare opportunity to rediscover one of Britain’s greatest writers and explore why her work continues to challenge, delight and provoke readers today.
This event will be chaired by Sophie Haydock, an award-winning novelist, journalist and curator with a particular fascination for brilliant, complicated women who refuse to play by the rules. Her debut novel, The Flames, explores the women who inspired Egon Schiele, while her second, Madame Matisse, brings to life the remarkable women in Henri Matisse’s world. A former journalist at The Sunday Times, Sophie has written for The Guardian, Financial Times and many others, and is Curator of Books, Ideas & Community at Creative Folkestone, where she leads Folkestone Book Festival. Drawn to the secrets, scandals and contradictions behind extraordinary creative lives, she’s delighted to delve into the many reinventions, razor-sharp wit and gloriously unconventional world of Muriel Spark with biographer James Bailey.
Folkestone Book Festival is our annual celebration of stories, ideas and conversation by the sea. Curated by novelist Sophie Haydock (The Flames, Madame Matisse), this year’s festival brings together more than 60 events across two weeks, welcoming world-class writers, thinkers and storytellers to Folkestone.
Discover another event, browse the bookshop, explore Folkestone’s vibrant arts scene, independent cafés, bars and galleries, and share the experience with a friend. The best festivals are as much about the conversations between events as those on stage.
The Festival is part of Folkestone is a Library, our ambitious town-wide celebration of reading, writing and storytelling, helping make Folkestone one of the UK’s most exciting literary destinations.
We believe great conversations should be for everyone, which is why every event includes a £5 Cost of Living Ticket, available with no questions asked.
Please help us spread the word. Together, we’re building a thriving community of readers, writers and curious minds.
Folkestone Book Festival is proudly supported by Eurotunnel, Canterbury Christ Church University, Holiday Extras, and the Friends of Folkestone Book Festival. Creative Folkestone is supported by Arts Council England, Folkestone & Hythe District Council and Saga. Founding Funder The Roger De Haan Charitable Trust.
