Foreword Acknowledgements Abbreviations Introduction Chapter One Construction of a Fictional World 1.Linearity vs.Circularity 2.Whirlpool vs.Fountain Chapter Two Wholeness of Man 1.Androgyny 2.Everyone Figure Chapter Three Time in a Flux 1.Present, Past and Future 2.True Self in la Duree Chapter Four Metaphorical World 1.Intertextuality 2.Symbolism Chapter Five Sufic Transcendence 1.Sufism, Sufi and the Forms of the Novels 2.Sufi Teaching Stories and Dreams Conclusion Notes Bibliography Appendix Ⅰ List of Doris Lessing's books by year Appendix Ⅱ Chronology of major events in Doris Lessing's life Appendix Ⅲ My papers on Doris Lessing published in Chinese