Doris Lessing | |
|---|---|
 Lessing in 2006 | |
| Born | Doris May Tayler 22 October 1919 Kermanshah, Iran |
| Died | 17 November 2013 (aged 94) London, England |
| Pen name | Jane Somers |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Nationality | British |
| Period | 1950–2013 |
| Genre |
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| Literary movement |
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| Notable works | |
| Notable awards | |
| Spouse | Frank Charles Wisdom
(m. 1939; div. 1943) |
| Children |
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| Website | |
| dorislessing | |
Doris May Lessing CH OMG (née Tayler; 22 October 1919 – 17 November 2013) was a British novelist. She was born to British parents in Iran, where she lived until 1925. Her family then moved to Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), where she remained until moving in 1949 to London, England. Her novels include The Grass Is Singing (1950), the sequence of five novels collectively called Children of Violence (1952–1969), The Golden Notebook (1962), The Good Terrorist (1985), and five novels collectively known as Canopus in Argos: Archives (1979–1983).
Lessing was awarded the 2007 Nobel Prize in Literature. In awarding the prize, 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".[2] Lessing was the oldest person ever to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, at age 87.[3][4][5]
In 2001 Lessing was awarded the David Cohen Prize for a lifetime's achievement in British literature. In 2008 The Times ranked her fifth on a list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945".[6]
- ^ Stanford, Peter (22 November 2013). "Doris Lessing: A mother much misunderstood". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
- ^ "NobelPrize.org". Retrieved 11 October 2007.
- ^ Crown, Sarah (11 October 2007). "Doris Lessing wins Nobel prize". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
- ^ Editors at BBC. "Author Lessing wins Nobel honour", BBC News, 23 October 2007. Retrieved 12 October 2007.
- ^ Marchand, Philip. "Doris Lessing oldest to win literature award". Toronto Star, 12 October 2007. Retrieved 13 October 2007.
- ^ (5 January 2008). "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945". Archived from the original on 25 April 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2008.. The Times. Retrieved 25 April 2011.