The Golden Notebook Study Guide

The Golden Notebook was published in 1962. At this time, Doris Lessing was moderately well known as a writer of novels and short stories; Notebook solidified her reputation. It was well regarded but somewhat controversial for its fragmented and postmodern style of narration, description of radical politics, and frank discussion of female sexuality. Since its publication, many of its early readers have reflected on the impact it had on them and how innovative and groundbreaking the novel felt at the time it was published. In honor of the novel's 50th anniversary, it was dramatized as a radio play by the BBC. In 2005, TIME featured it on a list of the 100 best English-language novels published since 1923.