Books like Ben, in the World by Doris Lessing
Ben Lovatt’s story is one of alienation and self‑search. From a formative childhood marked by a mother who both confines and loves him, Ben grows into a young man who feels neither in or out. He journeys from London to the South of France, Brazil, and the Andes, seeking the faces that might understand or, at least, not fear him. In the end, his travels force him to confront his origins and the people he has become. The novel traces Ben’s psychological struggle and his quest for belonging in a world that often views him as dangerous instead of human.
First publish date: 2000
Genre: Literary Fiction/Contemporary Literary Fiction
Authors: Doris Lessing
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