In today's article we will explore the fascinating world of The Fifth Child. From its origins to its impact today, we will delve into the different aspects that make The Fifth Child a topic of general interest. Throughout the next few lines, we will analyze its relevance in society, the advances it has experienced over time and the future projections that are envisioned around The Fifth Child. This is a fascinating topic that leaves no one indifferent, and that deserves to be examined from different perspectives to fully understand its importance in today's world.
Author | Doris Lessing |
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Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Publisher | Jonathan Cape |
Publication date | 1988 |
Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
Pages | 159 |
ISBN | 0-224-02553-8 |
OCLC | 21411827 |
Followed by | Ben, in the World |
The Fifth Child is a short novel by the British writer Doris Lessing, first published in the United Kingdom in 1988, and since translated into several languages. It describes the changes in the happy life of a married couple, Harriet and David Lovatt, as a consequence of the birth of Ben, their fifth child. A sequel, Ben, in the World (2000) recounts Ben's life after he has left his family.
This article needs an improved plot summary. (January 2023) |
When David Lovatt meets Harriet at a party, they both immediately fall in love. They both share the same conservative outlooks, which they perceive to be a rarity in the immoral London of the 1960s.
The two marry and purchase a large house in a small town within commuting distance of London. The couple intends to have several children—a wish frowned upon by the rest of the family. By the time they have four children–two boys and two girls–their house becomes a centre of joy not only for them but for all their relatives and friends who come and visit. This continues until Harriet has a fifth, wildly dysfunctional child, Ben. Her painful pregnancy with him marks the beginning of the misery and suffering that this child brings to the whole family.