Doris Lessing Wins Nobel Prize in Literature

The New York Times ^ | October 11, 2007 | MOTOKO RICH and SARAH LYALL

[Clintonfatigued]

Doris Lessing, the Persian-born, Rhodesian-raised and London-residing novelist whose deeply autobiographical writing has swept across continents and reflects her engagement with the social and political issues of her time, on Thursday won the 2007 Nobel Prize for Literature.

Announcing the award in Stockholm, the Swedish Academy described her as “that epicist of the female experience, who with skepticism, fire and visionary power has subjected a divided civilization to scrutiny.” The award comes with a 10 million Swedish crown honorarium, about $1.6 million.

Ms. Lessing, who turns 88 later this month, never finished high school and largely educated herself through voracious reading. She has written dozens of books of fiction, as well as plays, nonfiction and two volumes of her autobiography. She is the 11th woman to win a Nobel Prize in literature

[Clintonfatigued]

“Ms. Lessing, who turns 88 later this month, never finished high school and largely educated herself through voracious reading.”

Is this another reason to homesechool?

[RightWhale]

She is apparently not impressed with the Nobel Prize. I have tried to read some of her work, but am not sufficiently resonant to be successful. Last year’s winner has written some interesting books.

[Verginius Rufus]

So was she chosen because she is a former Communist Party member (or did she lose any points she gained there by leaving the party?) or to blow a kiss in the direction of Ahmedinajab, since she was born in Iran?

[SAJ]

Another Communist wins the Nobel for ''literature''?

Jay-zus.

[kitkat]

The article said that she married at 19, had two children, and DESERTED her family. This is just the sort of woman we should all hold up as a model. /S Typical of the NY Times.

[Godwin1]

Another Marxist. This prize has been hopelessly politicized.

[valkyrieanne]

Lessing is NOT a Marxist. She was involved with the Communist Party in Africa as a young woman, and became very disenchanted with Stalinism. She left the party in the 1950s and later wrote about her move away from Communism in a book called Prisons We Choose to Live Inside.

[valkyrieanne]

Is this another reason to homesechool?

Most homeschoolers would not find Lessing to their taste. She is one of the last great truly self-taught people like Louis L'Amour, another writer who left school at 13 or 14, and went immediately on the road. Another was Erik Hoffer, the anti-Communist / anti-fascist libertarian essayist. He too left school in his early teens for work, self-study, and eventual writing. Earlier, libertarian writer Rose Wilder Lane did the same, leaving school in her early teens and moving alone to Kansas City to work various jobs before moving to NYC.

Most homeschooling parents would not allow their children the freedom these people had back in the period between 1920-1940.

[RightWhale]

Dunno. Make up any story you want. Maybe you, too can win a Nobel Prize for literature.

[metmom]

It might be better suited for Dave’s list.

[Tired of Taxes]

Most homeschoolers would not find Lessing to their taste. She is one of the last great truly self-taught people

Homeschoolers are really self-taught by a certain age. They have to become independent self-starters in order to learn because not even a college-educated parent is an expert in every subject. And they enjoy far more freedom outside the school system. But most responsible parents probably wouldn't let their kids hit the road on their own at age 13, 14, 15.

Lessing might not be to the liking of many homeschoolers for other reasons.