I owned a copy of Doris Lessing’s The Grass is Singing for many years. It moved house with me and was visible on my shelves but I had never read it and never felt the urge to start it – there was always something else I wanted to read first. Eventually I gave it away. A new copy arrivedd in my monthly second-hand book subscription so I decided that I really must read this book. Of course, now that I have, I realise that I really should have read it sooner – which is, of course, the point of this challenge.
The book was written in 1950 and is set in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), a British colony in Southern Africa. Although the author is of British parentage and was brought up in the country she is obviously not a fan of the colonial outlook and the oppression of the native peoples. This is a book riddled all the way through with racism and racist thinking by the white characters which the author makes clear is not acceptable to her. Because of the date that the book was published it includes language which is now unacceptable to modern readers but the use of these terms actually reinforces the message of the book.
This is a short novel, which could be read in a few hours, and is the story of Mary, a young woman who lives in the town and has a job as a secretary, and Dick, whom she marries. Dick is a poor and unsuccessful farmer who needs a wife and wants a family. He takes Mary, who is unprepared for the isolated rural life, to live on his small farm. The marriage is not a success and both Dick and Mary suffer in their own way. Mary’s mental health collapses and she ceases to function, while Dick starts but never finishes projects and eventually has his own breakdown.
The book shows us clearly the ways in which these young white people think that they are superior to the black people whom they employ but also the fear that they have of them. It also outlines the classism in the white society as Mary and Dick are looked down on because they are poor and because they don’t join in.
The story is a tragedy which we know from the first page as there has been a murder. The events leading up to the tragedy show us that it is almost inevitable because of the couple’s circumstances and actions. It is always difficult to feel sorry for them because, although they are inadequate to the life they want to live, they still live a better lifestyle than their tenants.
I thought that this was a brilliant story and regret that I had not read it earlier. It was touching but also angry and raised many questions about attitudes and actions in the colonial era, and beyond. There’s a lot packed into such a short novel.
I shall pass this copy onto Oxfam for someone else to enjoy.
Anne Is Reading 