The Age of Grief

TheluminousnovellaandstoriesinTheAgeofGrief"explorethevicissitudesoflove,friendship,andmarriagewithallthecompassionandinsightthathavecometobeexpectedfromJaneSmiley,thePulitzerPrize--winningauthorofAThousandAcres."In"ThePleasureofHerCompany,"alonely,singlewomanbefriendsthemarriedcouplenextdoor,hopingtolearnthesecretoftheirhappiness.In"LongDistance,"amanfindshimselfrelievedoftheobligationtocontinueanaffairthatisnolongercompellingtohim,onlytobewaylaidbytheguilthefeelsathiseasyescape.Andintheincandescentlywiseandmovingtitlenovella,adentist,awarethathiswifehasfalleninlovewithsomeoneelse,mustcomfortherwhensheisspurned,whilemaintainingthesecretofhisowncomplicatedsorrow.Beautifullywritten,withawryintelligenceandalivelycomictouch,TheAgeofGriefcapturesmomentsofgreatintimacywithgrace,clarity,andindelibleemotionalpower.