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The Finishing School Audiobook, by Muriel Spark Play Audiobook Sample

The Finishing School Audiobook

The Finishing School Audiobook, by Muriel Spark Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Wanda McCaddon Publisher: Blackstone Publishing Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 2.17 hours at 1.5x Speed 1.63 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: January 2006 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781481542050

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

19

Longest Chapter Length:

15:49 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

04:10 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

10:13 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

10

Other Audiobooks Written by Muriel Spark: > View All...

Publisher Description

College Sunrise is a vaguely disreputable finishing school in Lausanne, Switzerland. Rowland Mahler and his wife, Nina, run the school as a way to support themselves while he works, somewhat falteringly, on his novel. Into his creative writing class comes seventeen-year-old Chris Wiley, a literary prodigy whose historical novel-in-progress on Mary Queen of Scots and the murder of her husband Lord Darnley has already excited the interest of publishers. The inevitable results are keen envy and a game of cat and mouse not free of sexual jealousy and attraction.

Nobody writing has a keener instinct than Muriel Spark for hypocrisy, self-delusion, and moral ambiguity, or a more deliciously satirical eye. The Finishing School is certain to be another Spark landmark.

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"plucked from the pile @ the craft workshop for the Reading Preserve to be held at the Weho book fair in October...I'm embarrassed to say that I always forget which Spark books I have read. More so with Alice Munro, but same malady...This one was good, again. "

— Anne (4 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • “Wittily recalls Spark’s best-known work, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie…Sparks so brilliantly captures extreme states of mind—paranoia, hysteria, neurosis, psychosis—because she organizes her chaotic and centrifugal subject matter through tightly structured plots and luminously precise language.”

    — Times Literary Supplement (London)
  • “No discussion of plot or character can do justice to the quality of a Sparknovel. Her genius lies in her tone…This short novel is an eloquent, subtle, poetic exploration of what words are and what they do to us.”

    — Times (London)
  • “[Spark has] the most sharply original fictional imagination of our time…Starting her career as a poet, [she] in many ways remains one—not least in her deftness at finding images in unexpected places.”

    — Sunday Times (London)
  • “Another Spark classic…An exploration of teenage homosexuality, attempted murder, jealousy, adultery, all dealt with in the most polite and darkly comic way.”

    — Tatler 
  • “A brimming supply of wit, drollery, understatement, and plain human interest…Another perfect little novel of manners form the ever-wondrous Spark: a microcosm of the world we live in, constructed with wizardry, delicacy, sharp eye, and huge heart.”

    — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
  •  “A cool, delightful little book of bad deeds and good manners.”

    — Publishers Weekly

The Finishing School Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 2.5757575757575757 out of 52.5757575757575757 out of 52.5757575757575757 out of 52.5757575757575757 out of 52.5757575757575757 out of 5 (2.58)
5 Stars: 2
4 Stars: 4
3 Stars: 11
2 Stars: 10
1 Stars: 6
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A book about students at a finishing school full of jealousy and affairs. It was ok. "

    — Shelleen, 2/4/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Anemic little book. I felt at first like whole paragraphs were missing and as it progressed like whole chapters were missing. Some snappy writing here and there with interesting observations but little else. No real sense of time and place. Could be 1960 could be 2005 except for allusions to emails. Actually the whole thing is like an allusion to a real novel. "

    — Keely, 2/4/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Interesting quick read-I like her characters. "

    — Sharon, 1/11/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I know I read this book all wrong. You should read it one or two sittings and you should be lucid while reading it. It took me all of 3 weeks, although it is very short, and I read it just before I nodded off to sleep each night. Sooooooo...anything I could say about it would not be very enlightening. I sort of feel as if I skimmed along the surface of it and that its message never penetrated the fog of my exhausted brain. "

    — Callie, 1/10/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Crazy cast of characters and an implausible plot yet somehow believable. Plan to read more Muriel Spark. "

    — Becky, 1/6/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Little weight to this little book. "

    — Rctgale, 12/25/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " What an odd, disjointed sort of novel. Written I think when Muriel Spark was in her 80s, it feels a lot like notes taken for a novel, which is in fact what one character does in the story. There are lots of little tangents and peripheral characters, all of which is interesting but kind of superficial. I did like it though. "

    — Daisy, 12/13/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I found this book Funny and thought provoking but I'm not sure I 'got it' entirely "

    — Jo, 11/7/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Nice, short read. "

    — Denise, 10/29/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " breezy and swift, though aside from its ascerbic humor it had lacked gravity. The Finishing School was a Murdochian sketch pushed forward slightly into realization. The time twisted totems of education and affection pull up short of Don't Stand So Close To Me. "

    — Jonfaith, 9/30/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I love Muriel Spark's work because it is quite wicked underneath that English charm. "

    — Robyn, 9/22/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A little novella about jealousy. "

    — Janet, 9/19/2013
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I love Spark but disliked this book. Started out with some promise--students living in France at a sketchy boarding school--but fell short of what I had hoped. Ridiculous and dull ending. "

    — Thomasin, 9/18/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Muriel Spark wows me every time. Hooray for writers like her! The story is masterful, and oh, so subtle. If no one's planning a movie for this one yet, they definitely should. "

    — DL, 6/6/2013
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " because the book was so short, i actually finished it but it was very very bad. i would not recommend this book to anyone. "

    — Tami, 4/1/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I'm the kind of person that can go through life without having to write a novel. "

    — Fran, 1/22/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Eh, I read this on the way to and from "Vicky Cristina Barcelona." I recommend "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" and I recommend rereading "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" for the umpteenth time. This, not so much. "

    — Lauren, 11/29/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " so english "

    — Bernard, 11/8/2012
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " An interesting exploration of envy and obsession, but lacks the finesse of some of Muriel Spark's other works, such as the Prime of Miss Jean Brodie or the Girls of Slender Means. "

    — Cherie, 9/18/2012
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " tried to listen to in Audio format....really difficult to get into and very hard to understand accent....may try to read hard copy instead and see if any good "

    — Lora, 6/22/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A lovely morsel from one of my favourite authors...Spark creates such rich characters - love the juxtaposition of angst/ennui! I've read this one at least twice a year since it was published. "

    — Kristin, 12/30/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " For me, this was reminiscent of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie only in that it took place at a school. In comparison, The Finishing School's characters are paper-thin, and although I occasionally found it amusing, I never found it absorbing. "

    — Margaret, 11/2/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " great story that can be read in a day. m.sparks was catholic, liked proust, and loved tuscany:) "

    — Aaron, 10/16/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A quick read with much tension. Worth reading, but this book will not stick to me like a 5 star book. "

    — Diana, 7/15/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Bland, short book set in a roving finishing school. This was a sort of send-up of writers. Spark made fun of the characters in a very understated way. "

    — Sharonm, 7/3/2011
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " the characters were so one dimentional that even the author felt the need to reintroduce them everytime they were spoken about! Add that to the flat plot and well...Im glad it was a library book. "

    — Erin, 6/28/2011
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This was pretty awful but as usual I finished it just so that I could be sure. I felt like I was a publisher or a literary agent reading a really crappy submission from someone who just wanted very badly to finish writing a damn novel. "

    — KJ, 4/25/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " breezy and swift, though aside form its ascerbic humor it had lacked gravity. "

    — Jonfaith, 10/13/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A little novella about jealousy. "

    — Janet, 7/25/2010
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Bland, short book set in a roving finishing school. This was a sort of send-up of writers. Spark made fun of the characters in a very understated way. "

    — Sharonm, 6/6/2010
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A quick read with much tension. Worth reading, but this book will not stick to me like a 5 star book. "

    — Diana, 5/14/2010
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A little bit boring, only the scenes about the lessons in comme il faut are funny. I prefer the biographies by Spark. "

    — Steffi, 9/12/2009
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " tried to listen to in Audio format....really difficult to get into and very hard to understand accent....may try to read hard copy instead and see if any good "

    — Lora, 9/4/2009

About Muriel Spark

Muriel Spark (1918–2006) was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. She was the author of over twenty novels, including The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, as well as critical biographies, radio plays, children’s books, poetry, and short-story collections. She was made a Dame of the British Empire in 1993 and a Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres in 1996.

About Wanda McCaddon

Wanda McCaddon (d. 2023) narrated well over six hundred titles for major audiobook publishers, sometimes with the pseudonym Nadia May or Donada Peters. She earned the prestigious Audio Award for best narration and numerous Earphones Awards. She was named a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine.