Set in the distant future, at the closure of an Ice Age, "Mara and Dann" follows the story of two siblings on their journey through the ravaged continent of Ifrik (or Africa). At the start of the adventure, the two children, descendants of the rulers of the Mahondi people, are rescued by sympathetic strangers during the destruction of their village and are taken further up north. They overcome a great many hazards including the collapse of social order, floods, droughts, starvation, racial hatred and attacks by wild animals. Their survival throughout the journey, at times frightening, at times exhilarating, is sustained by Mara's indomitable will and the love she has for her brother and life itself. This has been a recurrent theme of many folk tales of world literature, such as "Hansel & Gretel" of German fairy tales, of "The Snow Queen" by Hans Christian Andersen and the stories of Alyonushka and Ivanushka of Russian lore. Lessing follows this time-honoured tradition to some extent, with the strength of the heroine's character carrying the day, and winning over the sometimes impossible odds. Lessing has the uncanny ability to see the world through the eyes of a child, and Mara's maturation and growth as a highly spiritual, intelligent and sensitive being are beautifully realized. This book weaves a subtle yet powerful spell over the reader, and once you are drawn into this world, it is difficult to return to one's own reality. Emotionally charged, always lyrical, magickal, heartrendingly painful at times, yet impossible to put down. Beautifully paced and thought-provoking, this book closely parallels the current times of upheaval, and it is easily related to the turmoil the people of Africa, in particular, are undergoing at the present time. For all its subject matter, "Mara and Dann" is filled with poetic imagery and is carrying a message of hope and light, the idea that love can conquer all.

Highly recommended.