Ian Rankin worked on his PhD thesis on Muriel Spark for the University of Edinburgh from 1983-1986. Rankin did not complete his thesis, and as such the archive does not contain a complete draft.

The drafts in this series are in manuscript and typescript format.

The materials are arranged into sequences based on the chapters and contents of Rankin’s PhD thesis, according to the outline in his latter thesis proposal. The chapters focus on specific novels or other works of Muriel Spark and are in the order of the works’ publication:

1. Introduction and Chapter One, ‘The Comforters’ and ‘Robinson’ 2. 'Memento Mori', 'The Ballad of Peckham Rye', 'The Bachelors' 3. ‘The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie’ 4. ‘The Girls of Slender Means’ 5. Dramatic works 6. ‘The Mandelbaum Gate’ 7. Short stories 8. 'The Public Image', 'The Driver's Seat', 'Not to Disturb' 9. ‘The Hothouse by the East River’ 10. 'The Abbess of Crewe', 'The Takeover' 11. 'The Takeover' (different chapter from above) 12. 'Territorial Rights' 13. 'Loitering with Intent' 14. 'The Only Problem'

Within each sequence, the drafts are arranged in reverse order of creation, as best as can be determined. Most of the drafts are undated and, as such, the arrangement has been suggested by a comparison of changes in content. Following the drafts are related research and other developmental notes for each chapter.