42 pages • 1 hour read
Doris LessingThe Grass is Singing
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1950A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Grass is Singing, set in Southern Rhodesia, follows Mary Turner and her husband Dick as they struggle with poverty and their relationship amidst the backdrop of white colonial rule. The story unfolds through flashbacks and details their descent into mental instability, culminating in Mary's murder by their servant, Moses. Topics include racism, the effects of colonialism, and mental illness.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Doris Lessing's The Grass is Singing captivates with its intense exploration of racial and gender tensions in colonial Africa. Critics praise its vivid setting and complex characters but note its bleak, slow-paced narrative may deter some readers. Overall, it remains a powerful, thought-provoking work lauded for its emotional depth and sociopolitical commentary.
Who Should Read The Grass is Singing?
Readers who appreciate complex character studies, themes of race, class, and societal pressures, as found in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee or Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton, will enjoy Doris Lessing's The Grass is Singing. Fans of psychologically rich narratives and South African settings will be particularly drawn to this novel.