Overview

Contemporary Literary Perspectives on Female Ageing: Insights from Erica Jong offers a nuanced study of contemporary discourses on female ageing as depicted in the oeuvre of American writer Erica Jong. It is the first of its kind to examine the literary universe of a female writer through the lens of longitudinal and interdisciplinary age studies. By focusing especially on Jong’s midlife and later-life writings, Stončikaitė reveals how the author of the ground-breaking novel Fear of Flying (1973) has “aged well” into the 21st century, remaining an important feminist voice in the contemporary milieu. The book examines Jong and her characters’ shifting perceptions of sexuality, corporeality, identity, motherhood, intimate relationships, parental care, dementia, later-life creativity, travelling, and the challenges of ageing. This multifaceted analysis highlights how individual and collective fears of ageing continue to manifest in the current proliferation of gendered ageism and narratives of decline. This book will be of interest to students and scholars exploring the intersections of later life, gender, and contemporary literature, as well as readers interested in Jong’s works.

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9781032941011

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Reviews

""This book provides a multitude of interesting perspectives on Erica Jong’s writings, starting with her controversial first success with Fear of Flying, drawing out the body politics and sexualities of the late 20th century. It covers travel, turning points, parental care and dementia, and brings us up-to-date and into the 21st century with Jong’s later-life creativity. A significant intervention into contemporary literary history."" Heike Hartung, University of Potsdam, Germany ""Dr. Stončikaitė has written a fascinating book that highlights the value of Erica Jong’s fiction as a lens through which to explore the many challenges facing women over the course of their adult lives. It represents a major contribution to the field of literary gerontology and deserves a wide readership among all who are interested in the role of the humanities in the study of age and ageing."" Chris Gilleard, Honorary Associate Professor, UCL Division of Psychiatry, UK ""Ieva Stončikaitė’s Contemporary Perspectives on Female Ageing: Insights from Erica Jong is an inspiring study that illuminates the intersections of literature, feminism, and age studies. With clarity and rigor, Stončikaitė traces Erica Jong’s literary journey across decades, revealing how her work challenges ageism and reimagines female aging beyond decline narratives. Both accessible and scholarly, this book is an essential resource for anyone interested in contemporary literature, gender studies, and the evolving cultural meanings of later life. A timely and compelling contribution to critical age studies."" Ulla Kriebernegg, CIRAC, University of Graz, Austria

Author Information

Ieva Stončikaitė holds a PhD in Literary Gerontology and English Studies from the University of Lleida. She is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Pompeu Fabra University (Barcelona). Her research interests include literary and cultural representations of ageing, health humanities, dementia care ethics, age-friendly education, and travel writing.

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