Doris Lessing

Doris Lessing is widely considered one of the most important writers of the second half of the 20th-century and was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature 2007

A multi-award-winning and prolific author, Lessing wrote provocative, inventive and influential works, ranging from novels, short stories and science fiction to autobiography, drama, poetry, essays and operas.

Among her most celebrated novels are The Golden Notebook, The Summer Before the Dark and Memoirs of a Survivor. Lessing was shortlisted for the Booker Prize three times: Briefing for a Descent into Hell (1971), The Sirian Experiments (1981) and The Good Terrorist (1985).

She was also shortlisted, for her entire body of work, for The Man Booker International Prize 2005 and 2007.

Read more on Doris Lessing

Where to start with Doris Lessing: a guide to her best works

Doris Lessing wrote over 70 works, including three novels that were nominated for a Booker Prize. Discover where to start with her writing and fiction

Doris Lessing on The Good Terrorist, politics and protest

In this archive video interview, Doris Lessing talks about the inspirations behind The Good Terrorist, and the contradictions at the heart of the book’s central character

Reading guide: The Good Terrorist by Doris Lessing

Explore Doris Lessing’s 1985 Booker Prize-shortlisted novel through our comprehensive reading guide, which includes questions and discussion points

An extract from The Good Terrorist by Doris Lessing

Doris Lessing’s novel The Good Terrorist follows a group of radicals and a woman who is drawn into their terrorist activities. Read the opening pages here