Lovely young writers attacked

The author Doris Lessing has made a thinly-veiled attack on the cult of young, attractive writers who are published at the expense of older authors.

Lessing, 83, who has written 50 books, described how she championed the work of a middle-aged farmer whose work of the past 10 years is finally to be published - in contrast to the instant success enjoyed by the likes of Zadie Smith.

Speaking at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Lessing revealed that the first novel of David Austen, whom she befriended after he attended one of her lectures and asked for help, had just been bought by Cape, part of the Random House publishing group. "This week I have achieved the impossible," she said.

"I have been interested in (the writing of) a middle-aged man, a farmer from Norfolk, who for 10 years now has been sweating with a very difficult little book.

"He's not 20 years old, he does not have boobs, he does not photograph very well, and this week Cape bought his first book."

Life was very different for young novelists starting out today compared with when she was starting out, Lessing said. Writers then expected the "long haul" and were prepared to wait for financial rewards and recognition. Lessing described Mr Austen's novel, A Clear Calling, as being atmospheric and like the works of Conrad.

"It's about a seaman and the sea. It's a very mysterious book," she said, adding that the author was on holiday and unaware of his good fortune.

Lessing's Golden Notebook, published in 1962, won praise as a feminist text.

Her later work has included a series of experimental novels and science fiction.

Smith found fame and acclaim with her first novel, White Teeth, which she wrote while she was an undergraduate.