Later Life : Exploring Ageing through Literature

Later Life views older age as a valuable stage of life, argues for the centrality of self-making to its quality and explores, with the help of literary examples, factors both supporting and hindering the quality of later-life experiences.This new book, with the help of literary examples, presents factors both
supporting and hindering the quality of the experience of later life. It demonstrates
how wondering, courage and habit sustain the self-making in older age. After
illustrating that the process of ageing also imposes ordeals, the book depicts
remedies needed to overcome boredom, bitterness and sadness, three torments
caused by the age-specific sense of time.
It is essential reading not only for academics and professionals in age studies,
sociology of ageing, gerontology and health care, but also for a general audience.
The book’s focus on the experiences of later life will appeal to the reader interested
in understanding the complexities of ageing and in enhancing the quality of later
life, while its reliance on literary illustrations will be appreciated by lovers of
literature.