British Author Doris Lessing's life was molded by her hard childhood, and idealistic friends. In return, her life was reflected in her works. Her characters followed Doris' journey of self-actualization and discovery. Her unique experiences shaped her way of thinking and her way of thinking shaped the women in her books. While her female protagonists experience very different existences, they all share a common thread: their inner turmoil, dilemmas, and resolutions are those of the author's own existence.
Born in Persia on October 22, 1919 and named Doris May Tayler, Doris lived a childhood much like that of the protagonist in The Grass is Singing. According to her autobiographical Under My Skin, her parents were both British. Her father had become a clerk at a bank after being crippled in World War 1 but that position did not afford him the type of lifestyle he wanted. He moved his family to Rhodesia in Africa to work the supposedly rich land. (Skin, vii)
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