Lessing, Doris (1919–)

English novelist. Name variations: (pseudonym) Jane Somers. Born Doris May Tayler (sometimes given as Taylor), Oct 22, 1919, in Kermanshah, Persia; dau. of Alfred Cook Tayler (bank clerk) and Emily Maude (McVeagh) Tayler (nurse); attended convent school and Girls' High School, both in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia, 1926–33; m. Frank Charles Wisdom, April 6, 1939 (div. 1943); m. Gottfried Anton Nicolai Lessing, 1943 (div. 1949); children (1st m.) John Wisdom; Jean Wisdom; (2nd m.) Peter Lessing (b. 1946).

One of the most distinguished and prolific writers of 2nd half of 20th century, combined a concern for such issues as Marxism, colonialism, and feminism with profound investigations of the nature, ailments, and potential of the human personality; settled with family in Southern Rhodesia (1924); left family farm permanently for employment in Salisbury (1938); left Southern Rhodesia for England (1949); starting with publication of 1st book, The Grass is Singing (1950), became both a critically acclaimed and popular author; joined British Communist Party (1951); visited Southern Rhodesia and then banned from returning by the white government (1956); left Communist Party over invasion of Hungary (1956); published The Golden Notebook (1962); took up the study of Sufism (1964); began to publish under pseudonym Jane Somers (1983); writings include "Children of Violence" series (1952–65), (collection) The Habit of Loving (1957), Briefing for a Descent into Hell (1971), (as Jane Somers) "Canopus in Argos: Archives" series (1979–83), The Good Terrorist (1985), The Fifth Child (1988), African Laughter: Four Visits to Zimbabwe (1992) and Love, Again (1996).

See also autobiographies Under My Skin (1994) and Walking in the Shade (1997); Margaret Moan Rowe, Doris Lessing (St. Martin, 1994); Ruth Whittaker, Doris Lessing (Macmillan, 1988); Jeannette King, Doris Lessing (Arnold, 1989); and Women in World History.