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.

Cat's Eye

by Margaret Atwood

Publication year 1988

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes The Past, Memory, Gender Identity, Art, Aging

Tags Coming of Age, Psychological Fiction, Gender & Feminism, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction

Cat’s Eye is a 1988 coming-of-age novel by Canadian author Margaret Atwood that centers on Elaine Risley, a successful painter who is returning to Toronto for a retrospective show of her work. Throughout the novel, she has vivid recollections of her childhood and adolescence in the city during the postwar years—particularly of her friendship with Cordelia, who persecuted her in a way that had an indelible impact on her life. The novel was a finalist... Read Cat's Eye Summary

Charlotte's Web

by E. B. White

Publication year 1952

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Death, Aging, Community, Safety & Danger, Friendship, Fate, Coming of Age, Animals, Childhood & Youth, Love, Grief, Fear, Loneliness, Gratitude

Tags Classic Fiction, Symbolic Narrative, Children`s Literature, Coming of Age, Animals, Education, Education, Fantasy

Charlotte’s Web was written by E. B. White, illustrated by Garth Williams, and first published in 1952. It is considered a quintessential American children’s fiction novel and has been adapted into two films (1973, 2006) and a stage musical. Over the years, Charlotte’s Web has been awarded the Newbery Honor Award for children’s books, the George C. Stone Center for Children’s Books Recognition of Merit Award, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, and the Massachusetts Children’s... Read Charlotte's Web Summary

Clean Getaway

by Nic Stone

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Conflict, Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Hate & Anger, Fear, Grief, Guilt, Love, Shame & Pride, Race, Aging, Death, Grandparents, Childhood & Youth, The Past, Fathers, Equality, Politics & Government, Justice, Safety & Danger

Tags African American Literature, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction, Action & Adventure, Civil Rights & Jim Crow South, US History, Black Lives Matter, Grief & Death, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read Clean Getaway Summary

Daytripper

by Fábio Moon, Gabriel Bá

Publication year 2010

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Fear, Aging, Death

Tags Fantasy, Magical Realism, Grief & Death, Relationships, Depression & Suicide, Latin American Literature, Surrealism, Arts & Culture

Daytripper is a graphic novel written and illustrated by comic book artists Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá. Originally published in 2010 as a comic book series by Vertigo, the collected series was published as a completed book in 2011. Daytripper won the 2011 Eisner Award for Best Limited Series. Bá has also worked on popular comic series such as Umbrella Academy and Casanova. Both Moon and Bá are twins, and they sometimes refer to themselves... Read Daytripper Summary

Death in Her Hands

by Ottessa Moshfegh

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Grief, Guilt, Loneliness, Memory, Shame & Pride, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Aging, Death, The Past, Animals, Marriage, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Psychological Fiction, Literary Fiction

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Death in Venice

by Thomas Mann

Publication year 1912

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Literature, Guilt, Love, Sexual Identity, Aging, Death, Beauty

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, LGBTQ+, German Literature, World History, Education, Education, Classic Fiction, Arts & Culture

Death in Venice (1912) is a novella by celebrated German author Thomas Mann (1875-1955). The story follows Gustav von Aschenbach, a successful but aging writer who travels to Venice seeking inspiration and respite. There, he becomes infatuated with Tadzio, an exceptionally beautiful young boy whose ethereal presence awakens a profound and dangerous longing in Aschenbach. As Venice succumbs to a cholera epidemic, Aschenbach’s obsession leads to his downfall.Mann, the recipient of the 1929 Nobel Prize... Read Death in Venice Summary

Don Quixote

by Miguel de Cervantes

Publication year 1605

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Aging, Friendship

Tags Classic Fiction, Mental Illness, Social Class, Philosophy, Politics & Government, Renaissance, Religion & Spirituality, Satirical Literature

Don Quixote is a novel in two parts by Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes published between 1605 and 1615. The novel portrays the life of a middle-aged Spanish man who decides to become a knight, just like the characters in the works of fiction he loves. Considered to be a foundational work of Western literature and one of the first modern novels, Don Quixote is one of the most translated books of all time. It... Read Don Quixote Summary

Dreams

by Linda Pastan

Publication year 1979

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Aging, Memory, Love, Grief, Perseverance, Nostalgia, Animals, Place, Appearance & Reality

Tags Lyric Poem, Grief & Death

... Read Dreams Summary

Dream State

by Eric Puchner

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Forgiveness, Grief, Guilt, Loneliness, Love, Memory, Nostalgia, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Aging, Coming of Age, Death, Environment, Loyalty & Betrayal

... Read Dream State Summary

Dr. Heidegger's Experiment

by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Publication year 1837

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Aging, Regret, Good & Evil

Tags Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Gothic Literature, American Literature, Science Fiction, Education, Education, Horror & Suspense

“Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” is a short story about a doctor who invites four elderly friends to his study to participate in a curious experiment that temporarily restores their youth. The story explores themes of Youth and Old Age, Humans Versus Nature, and Good and Evil. It invites questions like: Does age affect an individual’s potential for happiness? If given a second opportunity to relive youthful years, would a person remediate their failures?“Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” was... Read Dr. Heidegger's Experiment Summary

Elizabeth is Missing

by Emma Healey

Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Memory, Aging

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction

Elizabeth Is Missing by British author Emma Healey was published in 2014 and tells the story of Maud Horsham, an old woman suffering from dementia. Maud’s older sister, Sukey, disappeared in the 1940s. Seventy years later, this tragic event continues to haunt Maud, who now thinks her best friend Elizabeth is missing. Maud is desperate to figure out what happened to Sukey and Elizabeth before she loses her ability to piece together the clues. Maud’s... Read Elizabeth is Missing Summary

Everybody's Fool

by Richard Russo

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Marriage, Hope, Memory, Masculinity, Mental Health, Aging, Place, Friendship, Community, Order & Chaos

Everybody’s Fool is a 2016 novel by American Pulitzer Prize–winning author Richard Russo. The second in Russo’s North Bath trilogy, Everybody’s Fool is set in the small, eccentric, and troubled town of North Bath, New York. The tragicomic novel follows a group of characters whose dramas unfold over a single Memorial Day Weekend, exploring how individuals react to and rebel against their emotional and moral ties to their communities. The novel also grapples with existential themes... Read Everybody's Fool Summary

Fellowship Point

by Alice Elliott Dark

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Death, Aging, Love, Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Community, Beauty, Animals, Plants, Place, Literature, Perseverance

Tags Historical Fiction, Depression & Suicide, Health, Love & Sexuality, Mental Illness, Parenting, Social Justice, Science & Nature, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read Fellowship Point Summary