At the end of Curriculum Vitae, Muriel Spark has just published her first novel, The Comforters. It is 1957 and she is 39 years old. After happening on Spark's novel in proof while working on his own Gilbert Pinfold, Evelyn Waugh has decided to write it a glowing testimonial, which he publishes in the Spectator: 'It so happens that The Comforters came to me just as I had finished a story on a similar theme, and I was struck by how much more ambitious Miss Spark's essay was, and how much better she had accomplished it,' is how this testimonial goes. '"I dare say," drawled Al' - Al being Muriel Spark's publisher, the young Alan Maclean - '"that this is the shape of things to come." It was a risky saying, for many fine first novels are followed by duds. However, I took great heart from what he said, and went on my way rejoicing.'

LRB 6 August 1992 | PDF Download