It’s time for a classic (or two)! Our October selection will be a duet: two short novels, both set in the 1930’s, about teachers who inspire loyalty from their students using very different methods. We will be reading Goodbye Mr. Chips by James Hilton and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark.
Goodbye Mr. Chips, published in 1934, tells the story of Mr. Chipping, a long-time instructor at a boys boarding school in England. The novella was an instant bestseller, has never been out of print, and has been adapted for radio, theatre, film and television.
"A tiny, catch-in-the-throat story . . . perfectly done’” - New Yorker
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, published in 1961, is set in a girls school in Edinburgh, Scotland, and focuses on the enigmatic title character and her influence on her students. In 2026, the book placed #31 on The Guardian’s list of the 100 best novels of all time.
"Elegantly written with an inimitably crisp, lyrical grace and economy, Spark’s fifth novel sketched 1930s Edinburgh and brought an unforgettable, iconic character to the literary stage: Jean Brodie.” - America Magazine
Discussion begins October 1st. Please join us!