The Grass is Singing
First published 1950 · English · 245 pages
- Novels
- Family saga
- Mystery and crime
Lessing's first novel is set in Southern Rhodesia among white settlers. It centres on Mary Turner, a town woman who marries Dick, a struggling farmer, and moves to his isolated and poor farm. The heat, loneliness, money worries and a tense relationship with her African servants slowly wear on her. The novel opens with news of a crime, then looks back at the marriage and the pressures that led to it. It is a sharp portrait of colonial society, prejudice and a failing inner life, and it announced Lessing's lifelong interest in these themes.
Quotes
The women who marry men like Dick learn sooner or later that there are two things they can do: they can drive themselves mad, tear themselves to pieces in storms of futile anger and rebellion; or they can hold themselves tight and go bitter.
That lazy insolence stung her into an inarticulate rage. She opened her mouth to storm at him, but remained speechless. And she saw in his eyes that sullen resentment, and—what put the finishing touch to it—amused contempt.
Next year" might mean anything. It might mean another failure. It would certainly mean no more than a partial recovery. The miraculous reprieve was not going to be granted. Nothing would change: nothing ever did.
Though what thoughts of regret, or pity, or perhaps even wounded human affection were compounded with the satisfaction of his completed revenge, it is impossible to say.