Writers can be a bit eccentric. She was obviously delighted from the expression on her face after she realized that they were there to give her good news. She’d been waiting for the Nobel prize for 30 years. She said she can’t get more excited. She was probably really really excited when she got nominated 30 years ago for the first time.

After a while it’s probably like the Ed McMahon sweepstakes where it always says ‘you’ve won’, but you don’t until you see the ‘prize patrol’ at your house. They could have called to let her know they were coming out of respect.

Ambush journalism. . . I guess everyone goes a little nuts when they see dollar signs for a story.

Congratulations lady:)

Ms. Lessing, who joined the Communist Party in Africa, repudiated Marxist theory during the Hungarian crisis of 1956, a view for which she was criticized by some British academics.

So it is true throughout history:

If you disagree with academics, there is a 90%+ chance you are a decent, honorable, intelligent human being.

Exit question: Was this a lost episode of the Osbournes?

RightWinged on October 13, 2007 at 6:07 PM

I forgot – I wasn’t medicated enough.

Exit question: Was this a lost episode of the Osbournes?

Mr Nobel is not exactly having a banner year, is he?

Not since 1901

Which reminds me of an old joke about a bar bet gone way wrong:

“Artie Chokes 2 for a Dollar”

Which is about my level of esteem for this prize.

Political pandering.

Once Yassir Arafat got it, they should have closed up shop.

Ms. Lessing, who joined the Communist Party in Africa, repudiated Marxist theory during the Hungarian crisis of 1956, a view for which she was criticized by some British academics.

Keep in mind that to be a communist in South Africa in the late 1940s and early 1950s was to be against apartheid and institutional racism, not necessarily a Stalinist tool. It’s not the same thing as being a Marxist in American in 1975. Much less today. And you have to give her credit for recognizing the Hungarian uprising for what it was.

I didn’t read “The Golden Notebooks”, Lessing’s supposedly feminist novel that actually pissed off a bunch of feminists. But the fourth of her 4 volume series of scifi novels is an interesting meditation on the fate of a doomed planet. It was made into a Philip Glass opera about 15 years ago.

Whatever her political leanings, Lessing is a serious, if idiosyncratic, writer. She’s not some hack the Nobel committee pulled out of obscurity just to make a point.

Mr Nobel is not exactly having a banner year, is he?

She came across to me as someone who has a great sense of self and doesn’t need some award to validate her. She’s 88 years old, seems satisfied with her accomplishments and past the point of caring if other people are impressed or not. I don’t know anything about her besides the video and a quick search, but I like her attitude. Reminds me a lot of my great aunt who is just as bluntly spoken and spry at 98.

deepdiver on October 13, 2007 at 1:49 PM

Exactly that, deepdiver. You’ve probably hit the nail on the head. Reminds me of my grandma – sharp retorts with a sting. :) Our entire family adored our feisty matriarch!

Still, her reaction is so bloody (old) British and admirable.

Absolutely. It’s usually something egoistic and similar to, “You like me! You really like me!”

I’ve never read her books, but Wiki seems to indicate she’s had communistic themes in her books.
I wonder if that’s a correct assessment?

eforhan on October 13, 2007 at 1:51 PM

I don’t rely on Wiki for the facts but being the Nobel’s picked her, I’d tend to believe Wiki got it right this time.

But I still liked her reaction.

Really, how hard is it to click on the video and see the title:
[b]British author Doris Lessing reacts to Nobel win[/b]?

eforhan on October 13, 2007 at 1:18 PM

I missed that… pardon me.

Still, her reaction is so bloody (old) British and admirable.

Al Gore and the political hacks who use the award as proof of their “brilliance” are parasites to the achievements of this lady and everyone like her.

British author Doris Lessing reacts to Nobel win

eforhan on October 13, 2007 at 1:18 PM

A better version:

British author Doris Lessing (doesn’t) reacts to Nobel win.

Here’s her home page.

Lessing is only the eleventh woman to win the prize in its 106-year history, and also the oldest person ever to win the literature award.

Cute because of her age, but in a younger person I dare say it would have come off as a tad jerktastic.

I dunno… I’m trying to imagine Sean Penn doing this… Would he come off as the typical leftist/pretentious type?

Well a certain proffesor must have died.

I nearly fell out of my chair laughing.