" The Golden Notebook  is Doris Lessing's most important work and has left its mark upon the ideas and feelings of a whole generation of women."  —  New York Times Book Review Anna is a writer, author of one very successful novel, who now keeps four notebooks. In one, with a black cover, she reviews the African experience of her earlier years. In a red one she records her political life, her disillusionment with communism. In a yellow one she writes a novel in which the heroine relives part of her own experience. And in a blue one she keeps a personal diary. Finally, in love with an American writer and threatened with insanity, Anna resolves to bring the threads of all four books together in a golden notebook. Lessing's best-known and most influential novel,  The Golden Noteboo k retains its extraordinary power and relevance decades after its initial publication. “A work of high seriousness....Absorbing and exciting.” - Irving Howe, New Republic “ The Golden Notebook is Doris Lessing’s most important work and has left its mark upon the ideas and feelings of a whole generation of women.” - Elizabeth Hardwick, New York Times Book Review “A rewarding book, and an unusually perceptive one.” - Milwaukee Journal “This exciting writer has tried much, aimed high, and has paraded a galaxy of gifts.” - Baltimore Sun “No ordinary work of fiction…The technique, in a word, is brilliant.” - Saturday Review Anna is a writer, author of one very successful novel, who now keeps four notebooks. In one, with a black cover, she reviews the African experience of her earlier years. In a red one she records her political life, her disillusionment with communism. In a yellow one she writes a novel in which the heroine relives part of her own experience. And in a blue one she keeps a personal diary. Finally, in love with an American writer and threatened with insanity, Anna resolves to bring the threads of all four books together in a golden notebook. Doris Lessing's best-known and most influential novel, The Golden Noteboo k retains its extraordinary power and relevance decades after its initial publication. Winner of the 2007 Nobel Prize in Literature, Doris Lessing was one of the most celebrated and distinguished writers of our time, the recipient of a host of international awards. She wrote more than thirty books—among them the novels Martha Quest, The Golden Notebook, and The Fifth Child . She died in 2013. The Golden Notebook A Novel By Doris Lessing HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. Copyright © 2008 Doris Lessing All right reserved. ISBN: 9780061582486 Chapter One Free Women: One Anna meets her friend Molly in the summer of 1957 after a separation The two women were alone in the London flat. 'The point is,' said Anna, as her friend came back from the telephone on the landing, 'the point is, that as far as I can see, everything's cracking up.' Molly was a woman much on the telephone. When it rang she had just inquired: 'Well, what's the gossip?' Now she said, 'That's Richard, and he's coming over. It seems today's his only free moment for the next month. Or so he insists.' 'Well I'm not leaving,' said Anna. 'No, you stay just where you are.' Molly considered her own appearance--she was wearing trousers and a sweater, both the worse for wear. 'He'll have to take me as I come,' she concluded, and sat down by the window. 'He wouldn't say what it's about--another crisis with Marion, I suppose.' 'Didn't he write to you?' asked Anna, cautious. 'Both he and Marion wrote--ever such bonhomous letters. Odd, isn't it?' This odd, isn't it? was the characteristic note of the intimate conversations they designated gossip. But having struck the note, Molly swerved off with: 'It's no use talking now, because he's coming right over, he says.' 'He'll probably go when he sees me here,' said Anna, cheerfully, but slightly aggressive. Molly glanced at her, keenly, and said: 'Oh, but why?' It had always been understood that Anna and Richard disliked each other; and before Anna had always left when Richard was expected. Now Molly said: 'Actually I think he rather likes you, in his heart of hearts. The point is, he's committed to liking me, on principle--he's such a fool he's always got to either like or dislike someone, so all the dislike he won't admit he has for me gets pushed off on to you.' 'It's a pleasure,' said Anna. 'But do you know something? I discovered while you were away that for a lot of people you and I are practically interchangeable.' 'You've only just understood that? ' said Molly, triumphant as always when Anna came up with--as far as she was concerned--facts that were self-evident. In this relationship a balance had been struck early on: Molly was altogether more worldly-wise than Anna who, for her part, had a superiority of talent. Anna held her own private views. Now she smiled, admitting that she had been very slow. 'When we're so different in every way,' said Molly, 'it'