''The Public Image'' is a novel published in 1968 by Scottish author

Muriel Spark Dame Muriel Sarah Spark (; 1 February 1918 – 13 April 2006). was a List of Scottish novelists, Scottish novelist, short story writer, poet and essayist. Life Muriel Camberg was born in the Bruntsfield area of Edinburgh, the daughter of Bernar ...

and shortlisted for the

Booker Prize The Booker Prize, formerly the Booker Prize for Fiction (1969–2001) and the Man Booker Prize (2002–2019), is a prestigious literary award conferred each year for the best single work of sustained fiction written in the English language, wh ...

the following year. It is set in Rome and concerns Annabel Christopher, an up-and-coming film actress. Annabel carefully cultivates her image to keep her career on course, managing to mask her lack of talent. Her husband Frederick loathes her manipulations and her inexplicable success. He plans his final revenge on her accordingly. The novel's title was the basis for the name of the post-punk band Public Image Ltd. (PiL) formed by

John Lydon John Joseph Lydon ( ; born 31 January 1956), also known by his former stage name Johnny Rotten, is a British-born singer, songwriter, author, and television personality. He was the lead vocalist of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols, which was ...

after the break up of the

Sex Pistols The Sex Pistols are an English punk rock band formed in London in 1975. Although their initial career lasted just two and a half years, they became culturally influential in popular music. The band initiated the punk movement in the United Ki ...

."PiL Chronology: 1978"
by Karsten Roekens & Scott M, Fodderstompf.com, 2006.

References

External links

Study Guide
1968 British novels Novels by Muriel Spark Novels about actors Novels set in Rome Macmillan Publishers books {{1960s-novel-stub