"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 1962
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Place, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Masculinity, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Identity: Language, Society: Community
Tags Travel Literature, Action / Adventure, American Literature, Animals, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, Classic Fiction, Biography
Published in 1962, Travels With Charley: In Search of America is a narrative travelogue by John Steinbeck. The book follows a cross-country road trip the author took with his dog, a brown poodle named Charley. They travel in a camper-style pickup truck named Rosinante, which Steinbeck had custom built for the trip. Steinbeck embarked on the journey because he felt disconnected from the larger picture of American life after years of living in New York... Read Travels With Charley Summary
Publication year 1975
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family
Tags Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Children's Literature, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, American Literature, Education, Education, Historical Fiction, Romance
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt follows the journey of a young girl’s decision to live forever or remain mortal. The book received many honors and awards, including the Janusz Korczak Medal and the 1976 Christopher Award as best book for young people, among others, and it was named an ALA Notable Book. Tuck Everlasting was adapted twice into a full-length feature film (1981 and 2002), and it appeared on Broadway as a stage musical in... Read Tuck Everlasting Summary
Publication year 1842
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Aging
Tags Poetry: Dramatic Poem, Mythology, Education, Education, British Literature, History: World, Fantasy, Victorian Literature / Period, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1606
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags British Literature, Classic Fiction, Play: Comedy / Satire, Jacobean Era, Play: Drama, Classical Period
Volpone is a comedic play by English playwright Ben Jonson, written in 1605-06 and first performed by the King’s Men at the Globe Theatre the same year. The play was first published in a quarto in 1607 and then in an official folio, The Workes of Benjamin Jonson, in 1616. Volpone, like Jonson’s other popular works, is a satire that comments on The Corrupting Power of Greed, The Moral Impact of Performance, and Seeking Justice... Read Volpone Summary
Publication year 1934
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Aging
Tags Classic Fiction, The Lost Generation, Education, Education, British Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction
In 1934, Jean Rhys wrote Voyage in the Dark, her third published novel and a book believed to besemi-autobiographical.Voyage in the Dark is the story of eighteen-year-old Anna Morgan, a woman transitioning from her childhood in the West Indies into her adulthood in England. For Anna, Britain is a foreign landscape that is as mundane and repetitive as it is cold and harsh. Although she appears to adjust herself to England, her thoughts are easily led... Read Voyage In The Dark Summary
Publication year 2006
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Life/Time: Aging, Identity: Disability, Natural World: Animals, Society: Class, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Fathers, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal
Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, Great Depression, Mental Illness, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World
Water for Elephants, a New York Times bestseller and author Sara Gruen’s third novel, was published in 2006 by Algonquin. The novel was adapted into a full-length film in 2011 starring Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattison.Gruen often features animals in her novels, and Water for Elephants is no exception, as she follows two lovers in a forbidden relationship set against the backdrop of a circus and its eclectic mix of characters and exotic animals. The... Read Water for Elephants Summary
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Family
Tags Irish Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1893
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Aging
Publication year 1962
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Aging, Natural World: Appearance & Reality
Tags Play: Drama, Classic Fiction, Education, Education, History: U.S., American Literature, History: World, Drama / Tragedy
Publication year 1986
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Life/Time: The Past, Life/Time: Aging
Tags Holidays & Occasions, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, History: U.S.
Publication year 2019
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Life/Time: Aging, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Joy
Tags Self Help, Psychology, Gender / Feminism, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Sociology, Psychology, Mental Illness, Health / Medicine
Publication year 2024
Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Animals, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Grandparents, Society: Community, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Self Discovery