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Somewhere Towards the End by Diana Athill

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Reviewed by Rosy at Vulpes Libris (the Book Foxes)

A book about extreme old age doesn’t exactly sound a barrel of laughs, but this unusual little book twinkles with wit and wisdom.

Diana Athill is in her nineties. A former editor at publisher Andre Deutsch, Athill has worked with some of the most famous writers of the 20^th century. Somewhere Towards the End is the latest instalment of her autobiography.

A short book, this is less a chronicling of the events of a life and more a series of thoughtful essays about life and the experience of aging. On what you lose and what you gain. On what’s important. On dogs. On gardening. On taking evening classes. On realising that you will never be Rembrandt. On religion. On sex. On the importance of young people. On clothing the older body. On sore feet…

There are intriguing insights into the changing attitudes of different eras – both the bad side (the casual racism for example and the attitude to women) but, also, perhaps, some positive aspects (a world where not everyone was obsessed with becoming a minor celebrity). But Athill is no reactionary and her world view and view of the young and the modern world remains a positive and forward-looking one.

Some youthful obsessions – like sex – tend to dwindle in advanced old age. (Athill devotes a fair chunk of the book to sex – and infidelity – both of which played a large part in her life.) But others are even sweeter if realised when you are old. For example, gaining success when you are very old, Athill tells us, is really rather fun. Athill was 92 when she won the 2008 Costa Biography Award and obviously enjoyed every minute of it. There is none of the angst of youth when you achieve late in life. Your sense of self remains comfortably unaffected and, as you are not about to begin the ascent up any greasy pole (haven’t the time), you can just sit back comfortably and ENJOY.

This is not to say that this book is all touchy-feely and "aging-is-wonderful-no-matter-what-and-let’s-all-sit-about-and-do-a-bit-of-meditation–and-get-in-touch-with-our-inner-nonagenarian”or some other sort of sickening advocation of the selfless acceptance of old-age.

Athill is honest about the negatives – not least the fact that those around start to crumble, forcing everyone to take on the role of carer or caree whether they are temperamentally suited to those roles or not.

But, in a society which idolises youth and youthful beauty above all else, it is a breath of fresh air to hear someone talking honestly about this most unfashionable of subjects. Whilst Athill doesn’t exactly make me wish I was in my nineties, she – at least – makes it seem less frightening and shows that (if you keep your mind) the experience of old-age can be a deeply interesting one.

A fascinating insight that makes you think more deeply about your own experience and consider what is truly important: clear-sighted, engaging and exquisitely written, Somewhere Towards the End is a real gem.

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Price: £7.99

Product Code: SOMM25

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