Lessing, Doris: 1919 - 2013

The Golden Notebook, 1962 - Information about the Book

  • General Information
    • The nove tells the story of writer Anna Wulf, the four notebooks in which she records her life, and her attempt to tie them together in a fifth, gold-coloured notebook.
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  • Facts
    • Awards: While the novel has become a highly acclaimed and influential piece of literature, it did not receive any major awards specifically in the year of its publication. In 2005, TIME Magazine called "The Golden Notebook" one of the 100 best English-language novels since 1923.
    • The Golden Notebook is the longest and the most ambitious work Doris Lessing has ever attempted to write. It is a masterpiece in portraiture of the manners, aspirations, anxieties and the particular problems of the times in which we live.
      Mrs. Lessing says: 'About five years ago I found myself thinking about that novel which most writers now are tempted to write at some time or another - about the problems of a writer, about the artistic sensibility. I saw no point in writing this again: it has been done too often; it has been one of the major themes of the novel in our time. Yet, having decided not to write it, I continued to think about it, and about the reasons why artists now have to combat various kinds of narcissism. I found that, if it were to be written at all, the subject should be, not a practising artist, but an artist with some kind of a block which prevented him or her from creating. In describing the reasons for the block, I would also be making the criticisms I wanted to make about our society. I would be describing a disgust and self-division which afflicts people now, and not only artists.
      'Simultaneously I was working out another book, a book of literary criticism, which I would write not as critic, but as practising writer, using various literary styles in such a way that the shape of the book and the juxtaposition of the styles would provide the criticism. Since I hold that criticism of literature is a criticism and judgement of life, this book would say what I wanted of life; it would make implicitly, a statement about what Marxists call alienation.
      'Thinking about these two books I understood suddenly they were not two books but one; they were fusing together in my mind. I understood that the shape of this book should be enclosed and claustrophobic - so narcissistic that the subject matter must break through the form.
      'This novel, then, is an attempt to break a form; to break certain forms of consciousness and go beyond them. While writing it, I found I did not believe some of the things I thought I believed: or rather, that I hold in my mind at the same time beliefs and ideas that are apparently contradictory. Why not? We are, after all, living in the middle of a whirlwind.'
      From the book jacket

    • Anna Wulf - The protagonist, a divorced single mother and writer struggling with mental fragmentation. She keeps four colored notebooks (black, red, yellow, blue) to compartmentalize different aspects of her life, and starts a fifth golden notebook to try to unify her experiences.

      Molly Jacobs - Anna's close friend, also a divorced single mother and former actress.

      Tommy Portmain - Molly's son who attempts suicide.

      Richard Portmain - Molly's ex-husband and Tommy's father.

      Marion Portmain - Richard's second wife.

      Saul Green (also called Milt) - An American writer who has an affair with Anna.

      Max Wulf - Anna's ex-husband.

      Janet Wulf - Anna and Max's daughter.

      Michael - Anna's former lover, fictionalized in her "Yellow Notebook."

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    • Fragmented Identity and the Search for Wholeness
      The novel's unique structure, with its interweaving of different colored notebooks and the framing narrative "Free Women," reflects the fragmented nature of the protagonist Anna Wulf's identity. Anna struggles to reconcile the various aspects of her life – her writing, her political beliefs, her relationships, and her inner emotional world – leading her to keep separate notebooks for each facet. The golden notebook represents her ultimate quest for integration and wholeness.

      Feminism and Women's Experiences
      Considered a seminal work of feminist literature, The Golden Notebook delves into the experiences of women in the mid-20th century, exploring issues such as gender roles, sexuality, motherhood, and the challenges faced by women writers and intellectuals. Anna's struggles as a divorced single mother and her relationships with other women characters shed light on the complexities of women's lives during that era.

      Politics and Ideological Disillusionment
      The novel reflects the political climate of the Cold War era, with Anna's disillusionment with communism and her questioning of ideological dogmas. The red notebook chronicles her involvement with the Communist Party and her eventual disenchantment with its practices, mirroring Lessing's own political journey.

      Mental Health and Psychoanalysis
      Anna's sessions with her therapist, Mrs. Marks, and her struggles with writer's block and emotional turmoil explore themes of mental health, psychoanalysis, and the therapeutic process. The novel delves into the complexities of the human psyche and the quest for self-understanding.

      The Role of Art and Literature
      As a novel about a writer grappling with her craft, The Golden Notebook offers profound insights into the nature of art, the creative process, and the function of literature in society. Anna's reflections on writing and her attempts to create a cohesive narrative mirror Lessing's own artistic endeavors.

      Through its innovative structure and multifaceted exploration of these topics, The Golden Notebook challenged conventional literary forms and pushed the boundaries of what a novel could achieve, cementing its status as a landmark work of 20th-century literature.

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    • "The Golden Notebook" is widely regarded as a significant and influential work in modern literature.

      Upon its release, "The Golden Notebook" received mixed reviews. Some critics praised it for its boldness and depth, while others found it overly complex or criticized its structure. Over time, however, its reputation has grown, and it is now considered a classic of 20th-century literature.

      The novel has had a profound influence on subsequent generations of writers and thinkers. It is frequently cited in discussions about feminist literature and has inspired numerous academic analyses and literary critiques. Its themes and structure have left a lasting impact on the literary world.

      In summary, "The Golden Notebook" is perceived as a pioneering work that broke new ground in terms of feminist literature, narrative structure, and psychological depth. Its initial mixed reception has evolved into widespread recognition of its significance and influence, cementing its status as a seminal work in modern literary history.

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