London, Jan 31: Nobel literature laureate Doris Lessing, who greeted news of her victory with the words, "I couldn't care less," received her prize at a champagne reception in London.

The 88-year-old writer was still not entirely overwhelmed by the honour.

"There isn't anywhere to go from here, is there?" she said, before thinking of one more accolade: "I could receive a pat on the head from the pope."

Lessing, whose back problems prevented her from traveling to Stockholm for the official Nobel prize-giving ceremony December 10, was given the gold Nobel prize by Swedish Ambassador Staffan Carlsson amid the Old Master paintings of the Wallace Collection art gallery in London.

Carlsson called her "forever young and wise, old and foolish ... the least ingratiating of writers."

Born in Persia - now Iran - and raised in what is now Zimbabwe, Lessing drew on her experiences in colonial Africa for her debut novel, "The Grass is Singing," published in 1950. Her most influential book is probably "The Golden Notebook," published in 1962 and considered a feminist classic.

The author of more than 50 novels, volumes of short stories, memoirs and plays, Lessing was announced as the 2007 Nobel Literature laureate in October. The Swedish Academy, which awards the USD 1.5 million prize, praised her "skepticism, fire and visionary power."

Lessing was both skeptical and fiery when told she had won by reporters waiting outside her London house.

"Oh Christ, I couldn't care less," she said "This has been going on for 30 years."