Doris Lessing author page

Doris Lessing biography

Doris Lessing was a British author known for her extensive body of work spanning novels, short stories, and essays. Born in Persia (now Iran), she grew up in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) before moving to the United Kingdom in 1949. Lessing’s first novel, The Grass Is Singing, was published in 1950 by Michael Joseph. She gained international recognition with her five-volume series Children of Violence (1952–1969), which follows the life of Martha Quest.

Lessing’s writing often explored themes of social justice, politics, and psychology. Her 1962 novel The Golden Notebook is widely regarded as a significant work of twentieth-century literature and was published by Michael Joseph. She also wrote science fiction, notably the Canopus in Argos: Archives series (1979–1983), which includes titles such as Shikasta and The Marriages Between Zones Three, Four and Five.

Lessing received numerous literary awards throughout her career. She was awarded the Somerset Maugham Award in 1954 for Five, a collection of short stories. In 2001, she was made a Companion of Honour by the UK government. In 2007, Lessing was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, cited by the Swedish Academy as “that epicist of the female experience, who with scepticism, fire and visionary power has subjected a divided civilisation to scrutiny.”

Her final novel, Alfred and Emily, was published in 2008. Doris Lessing died in 2013.