Why do I like Doris Lessing? Hard to say. It's not just because she wrote one of the most insightful books on the male and female psyches - "The Marriages Between Zones Three, Four, and Five". And another book ("The Sentimental Agents in the Volyen Empire") that goes to the heart of human feelings and how addictive they can be to both the manipulated and the manipulators; no, it's not just that. I like her because she was frank, down to earth, curious, restless, strong and independent. In short an exceptional individual. So exceptional that ultimately only she the INDIVIDUAL mattered - not her race, not her gender, not her politics.
Beautiful comment. I feel that you've put my thoughts down better than I, with my chronic laziness of the mind, could have done. I see Doris Lessing's work now in a new light, one shed on it by your comment. Thank you.
I really!), enjoyed this. What an interesting lady. I've read & still read many of her works. But I'd always shied away from hearing her speak (I often do this with my favourite writers, actors & artists).
A marvellous documentary. I am currently reading a biography of Doris Lessing, and re-reading the Children of Violence series which had a huge effect on me in the 1970s.
I accidentally read The African Stories (to be honest I took the book to the toilet to see what it was about)... and then... I could not stop reading:) and was very deeply moved by almost all of the stories. Then kept on reading. Happy there is so much more. And kind of sorry that I do not write myself, I am not so brave I suppose.
I've been desperately seeking out that 1971 BBC interview with Doris Lessing featured in this documentary (first seen about four minutes into this video) but have had zero luck. Anyone who knows where the full interview is available to be watched, please let me know!
Doris Lessing was one of the most interesting minds of the past 100 years. So how do you make such a boring documentary about a wonderfully irreverent person?
A superb film but it is just ridiculous to say that Lessing is the last philosophical novelist, She is not a philosophical novelist at all, Her novels are insignificant compared to those of Iris Murdoch who was a philosopher who also didnt write philosophical novels, The Nobel Prize signifies nothing,Pearl Buck won it as did B,Russell and W,Churchill, Those who didnt win it include Tolstoy Proust Joyce Ibsen Lawrence Murdoch Borges
I love Doris Lessing
Why do I like Doris Lessing? Hard to say. It's not just because she wrote one of the most insightful books on the male and female psyches - "The Marriages Between Zones Three, Four, and Five". And another book ("The Sentimental Agents in the Volyen Empire") that goes to the heart of human feelings and how addictive they can be to both the manipulated and the manipulators; no, it's not just that. I like her because she was frank, down to earth, curious, restless, strong and independent. In short an exceptional individual. So exceptional that ultimately only she the INDIVIDUAL mattered - not her race, not her gender, not her politics.
Beautiful comment. I feel that you've put my thoughts down better than I, with my chronic laziness of the mind, could have done. I see Doris Lessing's work now in a new light, one shed on it by your comment. Thank you.
Shiva Karthik You're welcome. Thank you for your gracious reply.
How could you not like her?
Do you think that Doris would have agreed with you that "only she the INDIVIDUAL mattered - not her race, not her gender, not her politics"?
I really!), enjoyed this. What an interesting lady. I've read & still read many of her works. But I'd always shied away from hearing her speak (I often do this with my favourite writers, actors & artists).
A marvellous documentary. I am currently reading a biography of Doris Lessing, and re-reading the Children of Violence series which had a huge effect on me in the 1970s.
"Something about politics make people mad". One's politics is dictated by where we put our fear. So, indeed.
I alway feel proud to be a woman when I read Doris Lessing.
Inspiring and bold personality. Hats off to the lady.
I accidentally read The African Stories (to be honest I took the book to the toilet to see what it was about)... and then... I could not stop reading:) and was very deeply moved by almost all of the stories. Then kept on reading. Happy there is so much more. And kind of sorry that I do not write myself, I am not so brave I suppose.
Grateful for this upload. Thank you.
Everyone can handle a crisis, it's the daily grind that kills most of us.
Enchantingly raw
I've been desperately seeking out that 1971 BBC interview with Doris Lessing featured in this documentary (first seen about four minutes into this video) but have had zero luck. Anyone who knows where the full interview is available to be watched, please let me know!
she was born in iran not africa
Is this all you got out of her life: where she was born?
At the beginning of this documentary, it erroneously states that she was born in Africa. She wasn't. She was born in Iran.
Is this all you got out of her life: where she was born?
@@JH-do8kt No, it's not. I wasn't writing a summary or synopsis; simply correcting a factual error.
Nicely produced video but wasn't Doris born in Iran, not Africa?
Right at the beginning it says she was born in Persia - that's the 'old Iran', right?
Jeremy Simms yes, but you could have googled it yourself...
I knew it; was trying to be diplomatic. It's a custom.
born in Iran, moved to Africa as a small child
her writing about life in the former Rhodesia is fantastic.
26:42 - 29:05
only 20 seconds in and "born in Africa"? She was born in Iran and moved to South Rhodesia when she was 6.
Is this all you got out of her life: where she was born?
whats that presenter called?
+Dean Turner (Dean of London) Alan Yentob, I think. The presenter of BBC series 'Imagine'.
What's that piano piece in the very end?
Bartok, 6 Romanian Dances
Sighs (size)
I wonder what she would have made of these woke times of the 2020's, rubbish or pearls. I think I can guess
Doris Lessing was one of the most interesting minds of the past 100 years. So how do you make such a boring documentary about a wonderfully irreverent person?
Haha look at John Cleese teaching sex ed to get ya answer
Make another one yourself. Let's see how you do
@@JH-do8kt well I couldn't do a lot worse could I.
@@blacksmithsligo Which books of hers were your favorites?
@@JH-do8kt I've never thought of things in those terms. I love like differences in things as their own merit. As such I find compressions redundant.
A superb film but it is just ridiculous to say that Lessing is the last philosophical novelist, She is not a philosophical novelist at all, Her novels are insignificant compared to those of Iris Murdoch who was a philosopher who also didnt write philosophical novels, The Nobel Prize signifies nothing,Pearl Buck won it as did B,Russell and W,Churchill, Those who didnt win it include Tolstoy Proust Joyce Ibsen Lawrence Murdoch Borges
Do you think Doris would agree with you?
“Born in Africa “is such an ignorant statement,where in Africa?
She was born in Iran I believe and moved to Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) at age 6.
Is her birthplace the most important thing about her?
What does that writer mean about her books feel "home made?" Sounds like pretentious, jealous git to me.
She means that they haven't been corporatised by an editing style prevalent in big book publishing
How does "home-made" equal pretentious for you?