--- product_id: 260811316 title: "The Fifth Child" price: "€ 50.42" currency: EUR in_stock: true reviews_count: 5 url: https://www.desertcart.at/products/260811316-the-fifth-child store_origin: AT region: Austria --- # 4.3/5 star rating from 293 readers Classic Nobel Prize-winning literature Same-day dispatch before noon The Fifth Child **Price:** € 50.42 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 📖 Unlock the haunting brilliance of a Nobel classic—because your bookshelf deserves the best. ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Fifth Child - **How much does it cost?** € 50.42 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.at](https://www.desertcart.at/products/260811316-the-fifth-child) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **A Haunting Family Drama:** Dive into a gripping narrative of love, darkness, and the unsettling arrival of the fifth child. - • **Timely Delivery, Every Time:** Order before 12 noon and get same-day dispatch—because great stories shouldn’t wait. - • **Critically Acclaimed & Loved:** Join hundreds of readers who rated this classic 4.3 stars—don’t miss out on the conversation. - • **Perfect for Thoughtful Readers:** Whether for school or personal growth, this novel offers profound insights into family and human nature. - • **Literary Prestige in Your Hands:** Experience Doris Lessing’s Nobel Prize-winning masterpiece that challenges and captivates. ## Overview The Fifth Child by Doris Lessing is a critically acclaimed novel exploring the dark complexities of family life through the story of Harriet and David Lovatt’s fifth child, Ben. With a 4.3-star rating from nearly 300 readers and same-day dispatch for orders before noon, this print book is a must-have for literary fiction enthusiasts seeking a powerful, thought-provoking read. ## Description A classic tale from Doris Lessing, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, of a family torn apart by the arrival of Ben, their feral fifth child. ‘Listening to the laughter, the sounds of children playing, Harriet and David would reach for each other’s hand, and smile, and breathe happiness.’ Four children, a beautiful old house, the love of relatives and friends – Harriet and David Lovatt’s life is a glorious hymn to domestic bliss and old-fashioned family values. But when their fifth child is born, a sickly and implacable shadow is cast over this tender idyll. Large and ugly, violent and uncontrollable, the infant Ben, ‘full of cold dislike’, tears at Harriet’s breast. Struggling to care for her new-born child, faced with a darkness and a strange defiance she has never known before, Harriet is deeply afraid of what, exactly, she has brought into the world … Review: had to buy it for school - ig its good. idk its not my type of book, im reading it cus i have to lol Review: Good - Came whole ## Features - New - Mint Condition - Dispatch same day for order received before 12 noon ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #1,629 in Horror #11,326 in Literary Fiction | | Customer Reviews | 4.3 out of 5 stars 293 Reviews | ## Images ![The Fifth Child - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61Q6wMOsR-L.jpg) ## Available Options This product comes in different **Media Format** options. ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ had to buy it for school *by C***L on 6 October 2021* ig its good. idk its not my type of book, im reading it cus i have to lol ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good *by R***A on 29 September 2023* Came whole ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The master storyteller offers us a chilling parable *by C***S on 18 February 2011* Once again Doris Lessing reveals that she is a master of storytelling. I really appreciate how she lets character develop as a result of action and circumstances. This is a disturbing novel but not really a horror story as some may have described it. It is the story of family and friends, the social fabric of life, and how the entry of something unexpected, challenging, dark and maybe even evil may unravel and tear that fabric. The unexpected may make some family members draw closer and others to draw away. This is the story of a large extended family with strong social bonds and family values are challenged by the birth of a child that is almost Neanderthal and certainly dangerous. A young married couple wishes to have a large family of 8 children and live in a large Victorian mansion but the dream becomes a nightmare when the fifth child is born and all bets are off and all relationships become ambiguous. I would love to see a good film-maker take this short novel and turn it into a motion picture. It is not supernatural, like Rosemary's Baby, but is more subtle as it explores what we do and don't know about those we love and are closest to us in our lives. When a child, such as Ben, enters a family, it is totally realistic to propose that one parent, the mother, is totally focused on this odd child while the other parent, the father, is more concerned with the well being of the other four older children. Both are noble instincts yet this clash of values may subtly undermine a marriage. On a larger scale, this very short novel (which can be read in 4 hours) is a parable about any unexpected life event that may tear the social fabric of our lives. Thus, the evil child Ben, could have been a proxy for mental illness, or domestic violence, or cancer, or a host of challenges that enter our lives and redefine us and pull us toward some loved ones and push us from others. This is an excellent book that is highly recommended. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.at/products/260811316-the-fifth-child](https://www.desertcart.at/products/260811316-the-fifth-child) --- *Product available on Desertcart Austria* *Store origin: AT* *Last updated: 2026-08-19*