“So a war begins. Into a peace-time life, comes an announcement, a threat. A bomb drops somewhere, potential traitors are whisked off quietly to prison. And for some time, days, months, a year perhaps, life has a peace-time quality, into which war-like events intrude. But when a war has been going on for a long time, life is all war, every event has the quality of war, nothing of peace remains.”
The Four-Gated City is a novel that delves into the complexities of urban life and the human experience. It portrays a city with symbolic gates, each representing different aspects of its inhabitants' lives. The story explores themes of identity, belonging, and the search for one's place in the world. more
Doris Lessing was a British novelist known for her profound psychological insights and critical exploration of social and political issues. Her works covered a wide range of themes from personal experiences to global concerns, including colonialism, gender roles, and women's liberation. Lessing's writing style is unique and vivid, and she has had a significant impact on postcolonial and feminist literature. more
“Women are slaves to their beauty.”
“No one's noticed. So much is destroyed, we can't be bothered.”