Nobels: Pinter and Lessing

I've skipped over Doris Lessing (2007) and Harold Pinter (2005) because I had already read at least one work of each. Them's the rules.

Doris Lessing's citation called her an "epicist of the female experience, who with scepticism, fire and visionary power has subjected a divided civilisation to scrutiny". Her most important book was probably The Golden Notebook (1962) a fundamental text of 20th century feminism and probably still worth reading (it's a very long time since I did).

Harold Pinter is probably better known. His plays seem pretty conventional now but that's because they changed theatre in Britain, which is quite an achievement. Perhaps it's his screenplays that will last best: The Servant, Accident and The Go-Between three particular stand-outs.  The citation says that he "in his plays uncovers the precipice under everyday prattle and forces entry into oppression's closed rooms". He hated Tony Blair and I think the feeling was mutual.