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Saturday, 15 April 2006, 17:16 GMT 18:16 UK

Novelist Dame Muriel Spark, who wrote the classic The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, has died in Tuscany where she had made her home.

The Scottish-born writer, who was 88, wrote more than 20 books, winning numerous literary awards.

As well as writing fiction, Dame Muriel also wrote critical studies of Emily Bronte and Mary Shelley.

Dr Gavin Wallace of the Scottish Arts Council called her death "an ineffably sad and deep loss to our literature".

The mayor of the Tuscan village of Civitella della Chiana confirmed the author died in hospital on Thursday.

Her funeral was scheduled to be held on Saturday.

Full report :BBC

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie is an absolute classic

I read "Hothouse by the East River" by Muriel Spark - guessing it's the same person.

I'd really recommend "The Bachelors". I'm going to re-read it soon now. Very funny, atmospheric, and a little dangerous. I read it whilst on holiday in Italy, and had no idea that she'd lived there for so long. What very sad news.

That's really sad news. I only ever read The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (it was on my Modern Lit option at university), and I loved it very much.