This collection of five short novels won the Somerset Maugham award, for the best literary work of the year by a British author under thirty-five in 1954. Four of the stories are set in Africa, and one, The Other Woman, in wartime London. They give an unforgettable picture of life for the underdog: Miss Lessing sees beneath the surface to the reality of the conditions of African servants, seekers after gold, children, and innocents. Her unsentimental presentation of scenes and people, her compassionate understanding, her eye for detail, and her power to convey atmosphere, make these stories a moving experience.

Containing five short novels:

• A Home for the Highland Cattle
• The Other Woman
• Eldorado
• The Antheap
• Hunger