African Stories, a collection of Lessing's short stories, followed soon after the publication of The Grass Is Singing and reflects many of the same issues in a different genre.

In her later books, such as The Summer before the Dark and The Golden Notebook, Lessing more thoroughly explores her theme of marriage and relationships. Only after she has finished raising her children and putting other people first does Kate Brown in The Summer before the Dark realize her lack of fulfillment in her marriage. Unlike Mary, after a momentary breakdown, Kate is able to define what she wants in her life and return to articulate that to her family.

As two divorced single mothers in The Golden Notebook, Anna and Molly attempt to raise children outside the traditional definition of family, yet they yearn for a close relationship with a man. Molly's ex-husband's new wife is...