Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland and Jiao Yang, Chancellor of Fudan University.

Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon at Fudan University in Shanghai,  announced the new Mandarin translation of The Prime of Jean Brodie. The First Minister has written the foreword to the book which marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Muriel Spark. The event at the University celebrates both the 100th anniversary of Muriel Spark’s birth and China’s ‘Inspiring Women in the Arts’ campaign.  (April, 12, 2018)

An audience of students, academics and publishing professionals heard of the First Minister’s love of Muriel Spark.  She explained her work encouraging young people to take up reading through the First Minister’s Reading Challenge; ensuring that every child in Scotland has an equal opportunity to experience the huge benefits that reading for pleasure can bring.

The work of Muriel Spark was discussed with Louise Welsh, Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow and Jenny Niven, Head of Literature, Languages and Publishing at Creative Scotland – supporting Scotland’s vibrant ecology of books and writing.

Scottish Government, First Minister’s Visitor to China

Louise Welsh – Glasgow Writer