Doris Lessing, born in what was then Kermanshah, Persia, of British parents, grew up in Rhodesia, (now Zimbabwe), author of the feminist classic The Golden Notebook in 1962, has been awarded the 2007 Nobel Prize for Literature. Many of Lessing's works deal with the conflicts between politics and emotions, and more recently about global catastrophe, and are sonetimes realistic, sometimes fantasy, sometimes satirical, always thoughtful and ironic.
In announcing the award, the Swedish Academy called her "that epicist of the female experience, who with scepticism, fire and visionary power has subjected a divided civilisation to scrutiny." The BBC noted that "Lessing is only the 11th woman to win the prize, considered by many to be the world's highest accolade for writers, since it started in 1901."
According to an Associated Press story today, Lessing, 88 was "not impressed" by the award. However when a reporter suggested she might get new readers, she replied "I'm very pleased if I get some new readers ... Yes, that's very nice, I hadn't thought of that."
You can read more about Doris Lessing at Contemporary Authors via the Biography Resource Center database available with your library card at the Glendale Public Library Online Resources page.
No comments:
Post a Comment