Lessing: The Golden Notebook (Unabridged)

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The Golden Notebook (Unabridged) (more info)
Juliet Stevenson, reader
Doris Lessing,


1. Free Women 1 – Anna meets her friend Molly in the summer… - 00:06:06
2. Anna, in the face of this unspoken but clear determination… - 00:06:28
3. There was a note of humorous, even childish pleading in this. - 00:07:57
4. Now Anna could not reply… - 00:05:19
5. Richard came into the room. - 00:06:24
6. Meanwhile Molly, talented in so many directions… - 00:06:12
7. Molly promptly went to the door, opened it, listened. - 00:05:32
8. Molly ignored Anna and attacked. - 00:07:13
9. Richard was on the point of exploding out of his chair… - 00:05:48
10. Richard made a movement as if to get up and go… - 00:04:46
11. Molly sighed, histrionically… - 00:05:48
12. There was another sound, like a cough… - 00:05:36
13. Tommy allowed them both a tolerant smile… - 00:06:20

The Golden Notebook (Unabridged) (more info)
Juliet Stevenson, reader
Doris Lessing,


1. For the first time Tommy showed a touch of humour. - 00:06:00
2. Anna closed her eyes a moment, smiling painfully. - 00:07:42
3. Anna held herself quiet, with effort. - 00:07:38
4. But at this Molly got up, and said quickly… - 00:06:05
5. 'But I think I'll mention three of the comrades…' - 00:06:02
6. 'And there's your friend de Silva.' - 00:05:39
7. They kissed, briskly. - 00:04:12
8. The Notebooks – The Black Notebook - 00:07:49
9. (Opposite this was written:) - 00:05:30
10. Yet I am incapable of writing the only kind of novel… - 00:06:44
11. When I think back to that time… - 00:06:46
12. For us, then… - 00:08:14

The Golden Notebook (Unabridged) (more info)
Juliet Stevenson, reader
Doris Lessing,


1. About then I met Willi Rodde and got involved with politics. - 00:05:58
2. But I don't want to write Willi's history… - 00:06:47
3. The most striking of the three… - 00:06:39
4. In this he was different from Jimmy McGrath… - 00:05:13
5. Ted Brown was the most original. - 00:06:58
6. The Gainsborough Hotel was really a boarding-house… - 00:06:09
7. Willi ran a cheap fifth-hand car. - 00:06:50
8. The main block of the hotel stood directly by the main road… - 00:08:16
9. We were all very tired. - 00:08:24
10. We did not return for a month. - 00:06:12
11. June spent most of her time on the verandah… - 00:06:04
12. Now it was Mrs. Boothby… - 00:05:13

The Golden Notebook (Unabridged) (more info)
Juliet Stevenson, reader
Doris Lessing,


1. George Hounslow, a roads man, lived a hundred miles… - 00:05:34
2. In parenthesis I must say that this is exactly what happened… - 00:05:30
3. At about midnight, the glare of a lorry's headlights… - 00:06:45
4. I've thought about that often since. - 00:06:23
5. George looked at Willi, waiting for him to protest. - 00:07:23
6. I remember George's long puzzled look at Willi. - 00:05:26
7. At last we managed to get Jimmy on his feet. - 00:08:03
8. We walked up to the big room through the hot sunlight… - 00:06:16
9. On this morning Stanley had stacked the top of the piano… - 00:07:54
10. Paul turned his head with his characteristic indolent charm… - 00:06:07
11. 'Anna?' appealed George, looking at me. - 00:06:09
12. George looked at me again… - 00:07:14

The Golden Notebook (Unabridged) (more info)
Juliet Stevenson, reader
Doris Lessing,


1. He shut his eyes. - 00:07:33
2. It must have been about six or eight months… - 00:06:11
3. And then there was the affair of George's son. - 00:05:51
4. All this time we'd been making jokes… - 00:07:02
5. Next day bad temper prickled through the hotel. - 00:05:33
6. It was nearly midnight when Paul remarked… - 00:06:15
7. I left Willi in the bedroom and stood on the verandah. - 00:05:55
8. Paul left me and I went into the bedroom. - 00:05:49
9. The Red Notebook – The second notebook, the red one… - 00:03:32
10. The next day. - 00:05:11
11. 5th Feb., 1950 - 00:05:09
12. 3rd Jan., 1952 - 00:05:50
13. I see that I wrote yesterday, I would leave the Party. - 00:08:51

The Golden Notebook (Unabridged) (more info)
Juliet Stevenson, reader
Doris Lessing,


1. I went up to canvass, three afternoons. - 00:07:13
2. Jean Barker. Wife of minor Party official. - 00:03:39
3. The Yellow Notebook – The yellow notebook looked like… - 00:05:36
4. Julia's last remark had struck a familiar note. - 00:06:13
5. The idea for this novel had come to Ella… - 00:07:02
6. Here was Dr. West's house… - 00:07:06
7. Now the talk began again… - 00:06:05
8. Meanwhile she was restless to get away from him… - 00:05:26
9. It was time to go home. - 00:07:16
10. Paul was late… - 00:07:48
11. This was so personal, that it was her turn to glance… - 00:05:32
12. Later – and not so much later, he would say… - 00:06:46
13. They did not speak again until they reached the main road… - 00:03:45

The Golden Notebook (Unabridged) (more info)
Juliet Stevenson, reader
Doris Lessing,


1. From the feeling of the house she knew it was still empty. - 00:05:54
2. Being with Paul Tanner that night… - 00:07:15
3. That night Paul was humorous and very tender. - 00:07:39
4. The next evening they met full of defences on either side. - 00:04:12
5. Five years. - 00:06:44
6. The motif of Paul's attitude to his profession. - 00:06:56
7. The end of the affair. - 00:07:10
8. As for me, Anna, it was a remarkable fact… - 00:08:23
9. They ate, and he looked over at her and said… - 00:04:05
10. One day she went with him to his home. - 00:07:55
11. Later that evening he said, laughing… - 00:05:47
12. Ella had a dream which was unpleasant and disturbing. - 00:07:26

The Golden Notebook (Unabridged) (more info)
Juliet Stevenson, reader
Doris Lessing,


1. The Blue Notebook – The blue notebook began with a sentence… - 00:05:43
2. 9th October, 1946 - 00:06:37
3. Jan. 19th, 1950 - 00:06:50
4. Jan. 31st, 1950 - 00:07:42
5. 15th March, 1950 - 00:06:00
6. 9th June, 51 - 00:06:02
7. 28th June, 52 - 00:06:22
8. December 3rd, 52 - 00:07:55
9. 9th April, 1954 - 00:06:22
10. Free Women 2 – Two visits, some telephone calls… - 00:06:56
11. He sat down, arranged himself neatly… - 00:06:35
12. Tommy lowered his head, sat frowning. - 00:05:49

The Golden Notebook (Unabridged) (more info)
Juliet Stevenson, reader
Doris Lessing,


1. Tommy said: 'After I went to my father's office…' - 00:05:40
2. This shock reached Anna's diaphragm… - 00:07:35
3. She said at last: 'I know what you've come here for.' - 00:06:25
4. Some time later, perhaps as long as an hour… - 00:06:03
5. Now he came and sat down opposite her… - 00:05:31
6. Marion, when she came in, smiled… - 00:06:05
7. 'Why don't you go to bed?' - 00:07:09
8. The Notebooks – The black notebook continued empty… - 00:06:31
9. 'Oh, my dear, you are so marvellous…' - 00:05:12
10. 'Do you remember the excitement you talked about?' - 00:05:36
11. Letter from Mrs. Edwina Wright… - 00:07:54
12. 'Anna, I liked your book so much.' - 00:08:59

The Golden Notebook (Unabridged) (more info)
Juliet Stevenson, reader
Doris Lessing,


1. Now we are suddenly both very angry. - 00:04:41
2. The Red Notebook – August 28th 1954 - 00:04:29
3. I dreamed marvellously. - 00:05:08
4. Here were pasted in some scribbled sheets… - 00:06:29
5. The talk became desultory… - 00:05:11
6. 'I often wonder if I am getting the correct advice…' - 00:05:20
7. The Yellow Notebook continues – The Shadow of the Third - 00:05:26
8. Next morning she slept too long… - 00:06:02
9. His face, his full eyes, were momentarily immobilised… - 00:07:38
10. And now she made a decision. - 00:05:56
11. Near her a man was sitting, absorbed in magazines… - 00:08:44
12. Her son woke her two hours later… - 00:08:17
13. He had a bed-sitting room and a bath in an expensive hotel. - 00:05:32

The Golden Notebook (Unabridged) (more info)
Juliet Stevenson, reader
Doris Lessing,


1. She thought this one out slowly… - 00:07:00
2. Ella spent the following evening with him. - 00:08:23
3. The Blue Notebook continued – 15th September 1954 - 00:06:35
4. It must be about six o'clock. - 00:08:54
5. Now it is nearly eight o'clock... - 00:06:49
6. And now I must hurry. - 00:06:59
7. I ought really to be thinking over the coming encounter… - 00:05:48
8. When I get off the bus… - 00:06:41
9. Meanwhile Comrade Butte sits waiting. - 00:04:10
10. There is a startled silence… - 00:04:51
11. I read magazines and periodicals published in English… - 00:05:11
12. Before I start on the 'welfare work'… - 00:08:07

The Golden Notebook (Unabridged) (more info)
Juliet Stevenson, reader
Doris Lessing,


1. About eighteen months ago… - 00:06:42
2. For a year I have been answering these letters… - 00:05:47
3. I say 'Jack, when I leave, will there be anyone…' - 00:04:42
4. And now I see his face has put on a stubborn closed look… - 00:04:22
5. It is raining again, a small tedious drizzle. - 00:07:17
6. And now the cooking for Michael. - 00:03:51
7. I realise it is getting late. - 00:07:22
8. Free Women Three – Tommy adjusts himself to being blind… - 00:07:07
9. There never was a moment at which Tommy broke down. - 00:07:14
10. It was expressed by the single fact… - 00:06:41
11. A few days later Molly telephoned… - 00:07:16
12. Richard's lips actually trembled… - 00:05:32
13. Refusing to help him, not only out of dislike for him… - 00:05:36

The Golden Notebook (Unabridged) (more info)
Juliet Stevenson, reader
Doris Lessing,


1. Richard with an effort took himself to his desk… - 00:07:09
2. She opened her eyes, giddy and afraid… - 00:06:42
3. Anna reached the cleanliness of her own flat… - 00:07:44
4. Marion said: 'I'm sorry if I gave you a fright…' - 00:05:48
5. She sat staring, serious, ironical. - 00:07:08
6. 'Do you remember that black leader…' - 00:05:27
7. Marion left, creeping downstairs… - 00:05:44
8. With which she went to the bathroom, to get ready for bed. - 00:08:59
9. That was the dream she woke with in the morning… - 00:05:03
10. The Notebooks – The black notebook now fulfilled… - 00:05:48
11. 12th November - 00:05:59
12. In every direction, all around us, were the insects, coupling. - 00:07:19

The Golden Notebook (Unabridged) (more info)
Juliet Stevenson, reader
Doris Lessing,


1. Suddenly Paul sprang over and trod deliberately… - 00:06:36
2. We prepared for a lazy interval. - 00:07:12
3. There was again an intense silence. - 00:06:41
4. Time passed. We smoked. We waited. - 00:07:28
5. Maryrose closed her eyes again. - 00:05:50
6. 'Look,' said Jimmy. - 00:06:17
7. The right side of the black notebook, under the heading… - 00:05:28
8. Came to know the young American writer James Schaffer. - 00:08:23
9. Easter Sunday - 00:03:03
10. Blood on the Banana Leaves - 00:08:48
11. Here was pinned to the page a review… - 00:05:35
12. The Red Notebook continued – 13th November 1955 - 00:08:07

The Golden Notebook (Unabridged) (more info)
Juliet Stevenson, reader
Doris Lessing,


1. The Yellow Notebook continued – The Shadow of the Third - 00:06:51
2. A few weeks later, Ella sees Julia, tells her… - 00:07:41
3. Next day she telephones Julia… - 00:08:22
4. That evening Ella goes to Julia's house… - 00:05:56
5. Ella finds this story inside herself… - 00:03:53
6. About this time Ella pays a visit to her father. - 00:08:21
7. Ella, alone in her room, looks into her private pool… - 00:06:47
8. For something like eighteen months, the blue notebook… - 00:06:51
9. I remember how she sat opposite me… - 00:06:47
10. 'What do you want me to say then?' - 00:05:47
11. At this point, another thick black line across the page. - 00:07:05
12. Telling Mother Sugar of this dream… - 00:04:12

The Golden Notebook (Unabridged) (more info)
Juliet Stevenson, reader
Doris Lessing,


1. What is happening is something new in my life. - 00:07:13
2. Another heavy black line. - 00:06:06
3. Within a week of my having gone to bed with Nelson… - 00:06:42
4. Well, from the moment Nelson came in… - 00:06:01
5. It was quite late, as I've said, about midnight… - 00:06:44
6. But now, suddenly, the tiny blonde woman… - 00:07:44
7. He went off, shouting and screaming at me – at women. - 00:06:08
8. I suddenly had a telephone call from him… - 00:06:16
9. Later on in the evening he told me the following story. - 00:04:39
10. In the morning I gave him breakfast. - 00:06:50
11. Free Women 4 – Anna and Molly influence Tommy… - 00:06:32
12. Molly telephoned, in a state of near collapse, soon after. - 00:07:49

The Golden Notebook (Unabridged) (more info)
Juliet Stevenson, reader
Doris Lessing,


1. The stairs were narrow and dark. - 00:06:58
2. Anna's voice cracked. - 00:07:25
3. At this moment a sound from the foot of the stairs. - 00:07:01
4. Anna went home slowly. - 00:06:37
5. The Notebooks – The black notebook now abandoned… - 00:03:47
6. The red notebook, like the black notebook… - 00:07:17
7. Meanwhile our old friendship had been restored… - 00:07:10
8. The yellow notebook continued. - 00:06:57
9. *7 A Short Story - 00:06:29
10. *12 A Short Story - 00:05:57
11. *19 The Romantic Tough School of Writing - 00:05:52
12. The blue notebook continued, but without dates. - 00:07:33

The Golden Notebook (Unabridged) (more info)
Juliet Stevenson, reader
Doris Lessing,


1. I put myself back into the state of mind… - 00:06:21
2. The American, Mr. Green, was coming today… - 00:05:17
3. Saul Green came to see the room and to leave his things. - 00:05:06
4. (From this point on in the diary, or chronicle…) - 00:08:50
5. Spent today playing 'the game'. - 00:06:57
6. I felt my stomach clench… - 00:05:03
7. He has a way of being about at the time… - 00:06:28
8. I wrote the last sentence three days ago… - 00:05:16
9. I slept lightly, with terrible dreams. - 00:05:33
10. Then we went to drink coffee, and we talked about politics… - 00:06:12
11. I sat in the kitchen and thought over what I'd just said. - 00:07:56
12. When he came back, I knew I'd been waiting… - 00:06:11
13. Then the delight vanished as I came across an entry… - 00:04:02

The Golden Notebook (Unabridged) (more info)
Juliet Stevenson, reader
Doris Lessing,


1. I've just been up to have another look at the diary… - 00:06:24
2. Today he came in and I knew by instinct… - 00:06:04
3. He gave me a quick, startled look and walked out. - 00:06:01
4. He stopped in his striding walk around the room… - 00:07:15
5. (*17) We have had a week of being happy. - 00:05:33
6. He said: 'Come here' – moving away and gesturing… - 00:04:42
7. Last night, when I had finished writing… - 00:07:05
8. But now, writing it, and reading what I've written… - 00:06:32
9. We began discussing the state of the left in Europe… - 00:05:26
10. Then in front of my eyes I saw the letter… - 00:05:36
11. Saul had not moved. - 00:06:56
12. When he came down it was late… - 00:08:10

The Golden Notebook (Unabridged) (more info)
Juliet Stevenson, reader
Doris Lessing,


1. I said to myself in my sleep… - 00:05:28
2. And then I got up and switched on the lights… - 00:07:52
3. After breakfast I took my shopping basket… - 00:06:59
4. The Golden Notebook - 00:06:27
5. As his feet went down the stairs… - 00:07:21
6. Then the dream, or the sleep, became quite thin… - 00:07:39
7. This voice faded; but already the film had changed. - 00:05:14
8. I woke into the stuffy dark of the room… - 00:06:25
9. I put on some early Armstrong. I sat on the floor. - 00:06:50
10. I rang Molly's number, and I said… - 00:06:14
11. And suddenly he leaped up and off the bed… - 00:07:45
12. He was cold, so I held him in my arms, full of happiness. - 00:04:29

The Golden Notebook (Unabridged) (more info)
Juliet Stevenson, reader
Doris Lessing,


1. I stood and thought… - 00:05:05
2. As soon as the dream came on… - 00:06:35
3. A short story: or a short novel: comic and ironic… - 00:08:52
4. I cooked and we slept. - 00:08:46
5. Free Women 5 – Molly gets married and Anna has an affair - 00:05:39
6. Anna found that she was spending her time in a curious way. - 00:05:57
7. One afternoon she went to sleep and dreamed. - 00:06:00
8. Late that night the bell rang. - 00:06:13
9. He returned to the table and remarked… - 00:05:23
10. At last he said: 'Well, that's fixed. Another soul for sanity.' - 00:07:56
11. In the morning she felt him deadly cold in her arms… - 00:04:20
12. When Janet came home she found Anna… - 00:05:05

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