The Cleft：A Novel

Inthelastyearsofhislife,acontemplativeRomansenatorembarksononelastepicendeavor:toretellthehistoryofhumancreationandrevealthelittle-knownstoryoftheClefts,anancientcommunityofwomenlivinginanEdeniccoastalwilderness.TheCleftshaveneitherneednorknowledgeofmen;childbirthiscontrolledthroughthecyclesofthemoon,andtheybearonlyfemalechildren.Butwiththeunheraldedbirthofastrangenewchild—aboy—theharmonyoftheircommunityissuddenlythrownintojeopardy.Inthisfascinatingandbeguilingnovel,Lessingconfrontsthethemesthatinspiredmuchofherearlywriting:howmenandwomenmanagetolivesidebysideintheworldandhowthetroublesomeparticularsofgenderaffecteveryaspectofourexistence.