G.B. WALES. Hay-on-Wye. Doris LESSING author, was born Doris May Tayler in Persia (now Iran) on October 22, 1919. Both of her parents were British:
By 1949, Lessing had moved to London with her young son. That year, she also published her first novel, The Grass Is Singing, and began her career as a professional writer.
In 2001, she was awarded the Prince of Asturias Prize in Literature for her works in defense of freedom and Third World causes and also the Premio Grinzane Cavour. She also received the David Cohen British Literature Prize. She declined a damehood, but accepted a Companion of Honour.