Now in her ninety-first year and freed from any of the inhibitions that even she may once have had, Diana Athill reflects candidly, and sometimes with great humor, on the condition of being old. Known for the honesty and elegantly expressed wisdom of her memoirs, Athill presents a lively narrative of the people and experiences that have taught her to regret very little, to resist despondency, and to question the beliefs and customs of her generation....

As a young woman, Diana Athill was engaged to an air force pilot "Instead of a Letter" tells how he broke off the engagement, married someone else, and, worst of all, died overseas before she could confront or forgive him.