Aging

"Nature abhors the old," said Ralph Waldo Emerson, and yet poet John Donne wrote, "No Spring nor Summer Beauty hath such grace / As I have seen in one Autumnal face." So, is aging a gift—or a curse? In this thematic collection, we present texts that reflect on this question.

Publication year 2011

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Aging, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride

Tags Lyric Poem, Finance / Money / Wealth


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Aging, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage

Tags LGBTQ, Modern Classic Fiction, Humor, Romance


Publication year 1964

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Identity: Masculinity, Life/Time: Aging, Society: Class, Society: Community, Identity: Gender

Tags Play: Drama, Psychological Fiction, Education, Education, British Literature, History: World, Drama / Tragedy, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: Class, Society: Immigration, Values/Ideas: Art

Tags Romance, Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World

The Japanese Lover is Isabel Allende’s 18th novel. Like most of Allende’s work, it falls under the genres of magical realism and historical fiction. The novel was originally published in 2015, the year after Allende was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In addition to the overarching focus on romance and love, the novel addresses issues relating to World War II (WWII), Japanese American incarceration during the 1940s, racism, homophobia, and the struggles of aging... Read The Japanese Lover Summary


Publication year 1908

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Society: Nation, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Self Discovery, Life/Time: Aging

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Gothic Literature, British Literature, American Literature, History: World, Fantasy, Classic Fiction

“The Jolly Corner” is a short story written by American British writer Henry James. It is one of his most famous ghost stories, along with The Turn of the Screw (1898). It was first published in December of 1908 for The English Review magazine. “The Jolly Corner” is told from a third-person limited point of view and explores themes of The Discontinuity of Identity and The Fear of Missed Opportunity as the protagonist struggles to... Read The Jolly Corner Summary


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Aging

Tags Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Magical Realism, Romance, Fantasy

Ruth Hogan’s 2017 debut novel The Keeper of Lost Things is a romance infused with elements of the paranormal and the magical. Hogan, a career civil servant in the UK, was approaching 50 when the book was published. A prolonged recovery from a car accident and then a struggle with cancer gave her the opportunity to devote time to what had been her childhood passion for storytelling. A voracious reader, she had been writing short... Read The Keeper of Lost Things Summary


Publication year 2001

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Life/Time: Aging, Identity: Indigenous

Tags History: U.S., Philosophy, Philosophy, History: World, Fantasy, Religion / Spirituality

Joseph M. Marshall III, who is from the Sicangu Oglala tribe, grew up on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. He was raised by his maternal grandparents, who told him stories about Lakota traditions and culture. These stories transmit the virtues of Lakota culture, including humility, perseverance, respect, honor, love, sacrifice, truth, compassion, bravery, fortitude, generosity, and wisdom. He dedicates a chapter to each of these virtues, which are at the foundation of Lakota culture. The... Read The Lakota Way Summary


Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Aging, Relationships: Family

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Drama / Tragedy, African American Literature, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey (November 2010) is a novel by award-winning author Walter Mosley. Mosley has enjoyed a distinguished literary career, penning over forty books in the genres of mystery, science fiction, and political nonfiction. He is the first Black recipient of a National Book Foundation Medal in the category of Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. Mosley’s father was African American, and his mother was Jewish with Russian ancestry. Mosley identifies strongly with... Read The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey Summary


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Aging, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Humor, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 1968

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Life/Time: Aging, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Fame

Tags Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Self Discovery, Society: Community

Tags Historical Fiction, Humor, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Aging, Natural World: Environment, Self Discovery

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy, History: World


Publication year 1791

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Life/Time: Aging, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags British Literature, History: European, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Arts / Culture, Class, Depression / Suicide, Religion / Spirituality, Philosophy, History: World, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Biography

James Boswell’s The Life of Samuel Johnson (1791) is often considered to be one of the finest pieces of biographical writing in the English language. Samuel Johnson was an English poet, essayist, and lexicographer who produced a pioneering and influential Dictionary of the English Language. However, he is less well-known today for his writings than as the biographical subject for Boswell, a lawyer from Scotland who first met Johnson in 1763. During their 21-year friendship... Read The Life of Samuel Johnson Summary


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Aging, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: The Past, Self Discovery

Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, Magical Realism


Publication year 1956

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Life/Time: Aging

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Classic Fiction

“The Minority Report,” a short story by science fiction author Philip K. Dick, follows the story of Precrime Commissioner John A. Anderton as he decides whether or not he will commit the murder of a stranger, Leopold Kaplan, of which he has been accused approximately one week in advance of the event. Through this political and psychological dilemma, Dick explores the themes of predestination versus free will, the importance of personal values versus the greater... Read The Minority Report Summary


Publication year 1998

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Food, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Identity: Gender, Identity: Indigenous, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Aging, Natural World: Flora/plants, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Society: Immigration

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature, Magical Realism, Fantasy, Romance, Indian Literature, Food, Asian Literature


Publication year 1982

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Fate, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Aging

Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Mythology, History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Aging

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Humor, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Action / Adventure


Publication year 1952

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Aging, Values/Ideas: Fate, Self Discovery


Publication year 2024

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Self Discovery, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Aging, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Health / Medicine, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Science / Nature