Doris Lessing
Early Life
Doris Lessing was born on October 22, 1919, in Kermanshah, Iran, to British parents. Her father, Alfred Tayler, was a bank clerk and a World War I veteran who had been crippled in the war. Her mother, Emily Maude Tayler, was a nurse. In 1925, the family moved to the British colony of Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), where they purchased a farm in the countryside. Lessing was educated at a Roman Catholic convent school, but she left school at the age of 14 and was self-educated from then on.
Career
Lessing began her writing career as a journalist for the leftist newspaper, the Rhodesia Herald. But her first novel, "The Grass is Singing", was published in 1950, after she had moved to London, England. The novel, which deals with racial and social issues in Southern Rhodesia, was a critical success and established Lessing as a significant new literary voice.
Lessing's subsequent works, including the "Children of Violence" series (1952-1969) and "The Golden Notebook" (1962), further cemented her reputation as a leading writer of the 20th century. Her works are known for their exploration of themes such as social inequality, the role of women in society, and the psychological effects of colonialism.
In the 1980s, Lessing began to explore science fiction and fantasy in her "Canopus in Argos" series. This marked a significant departure from her earlier, more realistic works, but Lessing's skill as a storyteller and her ability to create complex, believable characters remained undiminished.
Lessing continued to write and publish well into her 80s. Her final novel, "Alfred and Emily", was published in 2008, just five years before her death.
Awards and Recognition
Over the course of her career, Lessing received numerous awards and honors. In 1976, she was awarded the Swedish Academy's International Prize for Writing. In 1982, she was made a Companion of Honour by Queen Elizabeth II. In 2001, she was awarded the David Cohen Prize for a lifetime's achievement in British literature.
In 2007, Lessing was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, becoming only the 11th woman to receive the award since it was first given in 1901. The Swedish Academy described her as "that epicist of the female experience, who with scepticism, fire and visionary power has subjected a divided civilisation to scrutiny".
Personal Life and Death
Lessing was married twice. Her first marriage, to Frank Wisdom, lasted from 1943 to 1949 and produced two children. Her second marriage, to Gottfried Lessing, lasted from 1949 to 1956 and produced one child. After her divorce from Gottfried Lessing, she moved to London with her youngest son, Peter.
Lessing was known for her outspoken political views. She was a member of the Communist Party of Great Britain from 1952 to 1956, and she was banned from Southern Rhodesia and South Africa during the 1950s and 1960s for her opposition to apartheid.
Lessing died on November 17, 2013, at her home in London. She was 94 years old.
Legacy
Lessing's work has had a significant impact on literature and on the feminist movement. Her novel "The Golden Notebook" is considered a seminal work of feminist literature, and her exploration of social and psychological issues in her other works has influenced countless other writers.
Lessing's work continues to be studied and admired for its depth, its complexity, and its unflinching examination of the human condition.
See Also
