Article: Doris Lessing gets under her own skin Reading the life of a literary icon

NEW YORK -- So here she is at 75, this Yoda-like creature with the familiar, almost legendary gray bun and a set of surprisingly crinkly green eyes. Small and dumpling-shaped, Doris Lessing is nevertheless as dignified as one would expect from one of the grande dames of British letters: the intellect formidable but modest, the presence gracious but reserved. With the first volume of her autobiography published here this month, she has just arrived from London on the first day of a long book tour, and she presents herself at the lunch table with dutiful rigor -- rather like a determined schoolgirl showing up for final exams. "OK, here I am," she announces in that British Empire accent, ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!