Landlocked

The ‘Children of Violence’ series, a quintet of novels tracing the life of Martha Quest from her childhood in Africa to a post-nuclear Britain of AD 2000, first established Doris Lessing as a great radical writer. In this fourth volume, the Second World War finally comes to an end as Martha’s life in Africa becomes increasingly stricken with disillusionment and unhappiness. Estranged from her second husband, frustrated by her country’s insoluble politics of class and colour, Martha gradually and painfully realises the need for change. Ambitious and hopeful, determined to be happy, she prepares to leave for England and a new life.